Period poverty is the lack of access to menstrual hygiene products (aka period products). It also means an inability to access the necessary education and support for good menstrual health. This leads to negative health, social, and economic consequences. There are many contributing factors including cost and stigma. To tackle the period poverty problem, we need to…
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John F. Kennedy once asked what can we do for our country. Many stepped up. We have skills to share. Initially, the overwhelming majority of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) were from a very narrow demographic (race, gender, age, abilities, etc.) of the general public. Over time, the demographics slowly evolved to be more diverse. And…
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Getting a care package from home means a lot to Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs). It might contain items that you need for your service assignment. There may be items for you to share with your host family or counterpart. But regardless of what is in that care package, just receiving one could mean a significant…
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Going to the local ethnic restaurant in your US hometown is very different than dining out in your Peace Corps host country. And Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) taking meals with Host Country Nationals (HCNs) is an experience in itself. Make the effort to learn the expected dining rituals in your host country. Learn the about…
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RPCV Health Crusade needs your packing suggestions and ideas. Applicants, Invitees, and Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) keep asking for suggestions. They want to know how to pack and what to take. Despite being entirely volunteer run (and self-funded), we decided to help assemble a list and house it on this website so that it is…
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Our breathing patterns are often subconscious. When we are stressed, we anticipate something negative. Then our bodies go into fight or flight mode. Our breathing pattern changes. But this is not healthy to stay in that mode. We need to be conscious of when this happens. We need to learn how to go back to…
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Is there really a culture of food? Yes, food is a culture in itself. There could be generations of stories and traditions in the recipes, preparation methods, eating, and more. And the version of food at a restaurant in the USA is not usually the same recipe that you get in country. In the USA,…
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Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) shared some of their medical challenges with RPCV Health Crusade. Medical healthcare, prescription costs, and prescription medication access are consistently at the top of the list of concerns. According to academic researchers, the cost of medical challenges causes 66.5% of all bankruptcies in the USA. While employer-sponsored health insurance is…
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The USA is arguably one of the richest countries in the world. Yet, many in the USA cannot afford adequate medical care or prescriptions. Access to prescription medication can be limited. Many have to choose between the high cost of their prescription medication and other basic necessities like food or rent. For some, the largest…
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Yes, there is an international gesture for help! But don’t jump up and call the police as soon as you see it. They may just want you to check in on them. But if it is someone you don’t know giving you that signal, then you need to get some immediate help. The person in…
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