Quick recap
In a recent workshop, Dani Arnwine, a former Peace Corps volunteer and Peace Corps UF Recruiter, shared her insights on the transformative mission and values of the Peace Corps. She emphasized its focus on community-driven development, working alongside local communities to achieve their goals rather than imposing external solutions. Highlighting the co-facilitator model, Dani illustrated how Peace Corps volunteers support and empower communities to lead their own projects. She also spoke about the personal and professional benefits of volunteering, including networking opportunities, skill development, and funding for education, encouraging students to consider the Peace Corps as a path to meaningful impact and growth.
Dani provided an overview of Peace Corps programs, explaining the difference between traditional 27-month volunteer roles and shorter response positions, which require more advanced qualifications. She also introduced virtual pilot programs as emerging opportunities. The benefits of Peace Corps service—such as paid travel, housing, medical coverage, student loan assistance, and career training—were key highlights. Dani assured attendees of the organization’s robust safety measures and discussed the importance of aligning with the community’s needs through careful listening and respect for local culture.
Drawing from her own experiences in Malawi, Dani illustrated the importance of counterparts—community members identified to work with volunteers. She shared how this collaboration fosters cultural understanding, facilitates project sustainability, and empowers local leaders to drive long-term change. Her stories, including the innovative role of a traditional spiritual group in addressing school dropout rates, underscored the power of community-led problem-solving. Dani emphasized that true development work is rooted in humility, respect, and the commitment to being an ally rather than a savior.
Dani concluded by inspiring students to reframe their perspectives on aid, encouraging them to see themselves as collaborators who support communities in taking control of their development. With stories of resilience and empowerment, she highlighted how the Peace Corps creates lasting change by building strong, respectful relationships. Students left the workshop with a clearer understanding of the profound impact of community-driven initiatives and the role they can play in fostering global collaboration.
Check out the recording below!
