|
On May 21, 2003, President George W. Bush expanded his call to service and announced “Volunteers for Prosperity,” a new volunteer-based initiative designed to support major U.S. development initiatives overseas using the talents of highly skilled Americans who will work with U.S. organizations helping to promote health and generate prosperity in countries around the world. A Presidential initiative of the USA Freedom Corps, Volunteers for Prosperity provides opportunities for highly skilled American professionals in a variety of fields to volunteer for a flexible term in developing countries and emerging economies overseas.
President Bush launched the Volunteers for Prosperity initiative to help
those individuals with skills in such areas as health care, information
technology, financial services, trade and investment, education, and
agricultural development, to answer the call to service and help meet global
needs. How It Works Coordinated and administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), federal departments and agencies overseeing major U.S. development initiatives in countries abroad will seek ways to expand and enhance volunteer service opportunities for international development activities. As part of Volunteers for Prosperity, the USA Freedom Corps will match doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, economists, computer specialists, and others with U.S. organizations working on specific U.S. development initiatives including: the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; the Trade for Africa Development and Enterprise Initiative; the Water for the Poor Initiative; the Digital Freedom Initiative; the Middle East Partnership Initiative and the Millennium Challenge Corporation. For example, a doctor in Chicago who wants to volunteer for three months to help HIV/AIDS patients in Uganda can contact the USA Freedom Corps and be matched with an organization that is working in Uganda and needs highly skilled volunteers. Major U.S. Development Initiatives Volunteers will work on projects that advance the objectives of specific federally-supported programs, beginning with the following initiatives: Digital Freedom Initiative The goal of the Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI) is to promote economic growth by transferring the benefits of information and communication technology (ICT) to entrepreneurs and small businesses in the developing world. Elements of this initiative include:
The Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief The Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief is a five-year commitment to turn the tide in combating the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. The initiative will help the most afflicted countries in Africa and the Caribbean. Specifically, the initiative will:
Middle East Partnership Initiative The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) reaffirms President Bush’s commitment of the United States to promote and support reform in the Middle East. The initiative:
Millennium Challenge Corporation The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) funds initiatives to improve the economies and standards of living in qualified developing countries. The goal of the MCC is to reward sound policy and decisions that support economic growth and reduce poverty. MCC funds will support developing counties that demonstrate a strong commitment toward:
The Trade for African Development and Enterprise Initiative The Trade for African Development and Enterprise (TRADE) initiative is a multi-year trade capacity building initiative. It supports:
Water for the Poor Initiative This initiative improves the sustainable management of fresh water resources in developing countries. It supports:
To find out more information about Volunteers for Prosperity, visit www.volunteersforprosperity.gov. |
||||||||||||||
|
|