OUR 60TH ANNIVERSSARY

 

These group photos represent both the original Brazil I 4-H U. S. Peace Corps Project [1962-1962] and replacement group Brazil VI [1964-1966]. The first one trained initially at the National 4-H Center in Washington, D. C., and the second at the University of Wisconsin.

As we approach our SIXTIETH anniversary in January 2022, our Brazil One and Brazil Six will render posthumous tribute to all of our fellow RPCVS and staff that had departed. 

The Brazil One project began training on January 2, 1962, organized and supervised by the National 4-H Foundation, Washington, D.C. This was a collaboration between the National 4-H Foundation and the Associação de Crédito e Assistência Rural [ABCAR]. Our project ended in late January 1963 and continued by Brazil Six until it ends in 1966.

This is the 60th Anniversary issue of World View, published by the National Peace Corps Association, to commemorate the first sixty years of the establishment of The U. S. Peace Corps.

https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/cpages/worldview-magazine?utm_source=National+Peace+Corps+Association+E-Newsletter&utm_campaign=13b341b0c4-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_03_04_55_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_be0534d28a-13b341b0c4-118560713&mc_cid=13b341b0c4&mc_eid=69dc1f6a5b 

The following group of photos are dated back to the Peace Corps Parade at the Washington Mall in 50th anniversary commemoration, Summer of 2011. Parading were members of Brazil I and Brazil VI, serving in this country from 1963 to 1966.

Also there is a sample of the letter sent by President John F. Kennedy to the initial volunteers or candidates to be, many of us received this letter. Image from https://www.peacecorpsconnect.org/articles/now-is-the-time?utm_source=National+Peace+Corps+Association+E-Newsletter&utm_campaign=eb4f5933e7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2019_03_03_04_55_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_be0534d28a-eb4f5933e7-118560713&mc_cid=eb4f5933e7&mc_eid=69dc1f6a5b

Warren E. Schmidt, Coordinator

4-H Peace Corps Projects

National 4-H Club Foundation 

 

A Peace Corps experience is something to be remembered. The volunteers in the original Brazil 4-S project felt this was a particularly true of their experience. They were the pioneer group in Brazil, blazing a trail for others to follow, and setting standards of performance for others to emulate.

They reached out into the interior of Brazil, exposing many rural people to the first Americans they had ever seen. They helped to introduce a significant education program, 4-S Club work into many rural communities. They have shared the fun and laughter, the sweat and toil, the hopes and dreams, and the sorrows and fears of many new found friends across this infinite country. Brazil will always be their second home.

They have had their share of problems and of satisfactions. The joy of success and the struggle of adversity has drawn them together, fostering a spirit of friendship, loyalty and spirit de corps. 

These things are worth remembering, the volunteers have attempted to preserve some remainders of their 1962-63 adventure together.

The Brazil 4-S Peace Corps project provided the first opportunity for the U.S. 4-H Club Movement to actively assist with the development a counterpart rural youth movement abroad. The National 4-H Club Foundation has been pleased to share in the effort with the volunteers and the Peace Corps. It has been a source of great satisfaction to follow the successful efforts of this group.

We commend the work of the Brazil I volunteers.

1964

 

HISTORY OF BRAZIL 4-S PEACE CORPS

 

W. Francis Pressly

Project Director

 

The Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Brazil in March, 1962. This group consisted of 43 4-S Club workers whose goal was to assist in the development of rural youth clubs.

Most of the volunteers had many years of experience in 4-H Clubs. Several were junior and adult leaders and even some were county 4-H club agents. Approximately one-third were college graduates. They ranged in age from 18 to 34 years.

The volunteers were requested by the Brazil agricultural extension service, ABCAR, to provide needed manpower in this field. Basically an agricultural country, Brazil does not suffer for a lack of potential 4-S members. The main problem is finding adequately trained agricultural and home economics personnel to work with the agricultural extension service which supervises 4-S Club work.

The Brazil project actually began in January 1962 when 55 volunteers trainees gathered at the National 4-H Foundation in Washington, D.C. for the initial phase of the training program, from January 3 to February14. Then de volunteers went to the Peace Corps training camp in Puerto Rico for 3 weeks of physical ad health training. They also spent a week observing the 4-H work in county offices of the Puerto Rican Extension Service.

On march 24, forty-three volunteers left for Brazil for the final and longest phase of their training. They spent six weeks al the Rural University near Rio de Janeiro where they studied Portuguese six hours a day.

On May 5 the PCVs returned to Rio de Janeiro for three weeks of special training by Brazilian Agricultural extension personnel as well as additional language classes.

This final week-long phase of training was held in the states to which the PCVs were assigned. The volunteers worked in nine states stretching nearly 2,000 miles from north to south. They received orientation on their state's 4-S Club program. At the end of this period they moved to  their assigned municipios and settle into permanent quarters to begin their jobs. From then the volunteers worked under the local Brazilian extension agents, who introduced them into their communities and have helped them to become acquainted with specific local conditions.

The volunteers were generally responsible for recruiting and training local 4-S leaders. developing demonstrations projects in agriculture and home economics, preparing audiovisual materials and other teaching aids, and assisting with club organization, training and recreational activities. The addition of the volunteers to the Brazilian agricultural extension service has more than doubled the total personnel available in Brazil for full time work with 4-S Clubs.

In addition to the regular volunteers, four volunteer leaders work as area supervisors. Working in close cooperation with the state extension affiliates, these leaders are responsible for providing logistical and technical support to the volunteers. In addition they counsel and assist the volunteers regarding their personal welfare (e.g. health morale, living and working conditions). Supervision of the working responsibilities of the PCVs, however, is provided by the Brazilian  extension supervisors under whom they are assigned. At intervals of approximately four months, area or national meetings are held for the purpose of providing project evaluation and further training.

The National 4-H Club Foundation, a non-profits, educational corporation closely related to the 4-H movement, is responsible for project administration under contract with the Peace Corps.

Many of our extension counterparts agree that the PCVs have made a tangible contribution to the development of the 4-S Club program and have requested more volunteers. 

To fill the vacancies in the first volunteer group 13 additional persons (12 women, one man) were assigned to this project. This add-on group called the Mail Order Brides (MOBs), began training in July 1962, at the University of Oklahoma, Norman, Okla. After two months of Brazil and U.S. country study there, they spent two months at he University of Kansas for technical training. Just before coming to Brazil in October 1962, they spent four weeks at the National 4-H Foundation, Washington, D.C.

In 1963 was decided to continue the Brazil I project in four states. So a replacement group of 30 P.C.V.s were trained and began their work in the places of the old volunteers in February 1964.

It is possible that the 4-H Peace Corps project may be extended for several more years, sufficient time to make a significant contribution to the program of youth development in rural Brazil.

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