Inaugural Edition

Dear VfP Friend:

I am delighted to welcome you to the first edition of the Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP) electronic newsletter! This e-newsletter is intended to be an easily accessible source for important updates on President Bush’s VfP initiative and the activities of the Office of Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP Office) at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

More importantly, this newsletter will serve to highlight and share the good work of VfP partners, the nation’s leading international non-profits and companies, and the highly skilled American professionals they deploy around the world in service to others.

Future editions of this online publication will be e-published (no print copies) whenever important information needs to be communicated, and will be posted at www.volunteersforprosperity.gov. You are invited to send suggestions for content to Nancy Barnett at nbarnett@usaid.gov.

We look forward to being of service to you.

Sincerely,

Jack Hawkins

Director, Office of Volunteers for Prosperity
U.S. Agency for International Development
Washington, DC

Volunteers for Prosperity (VfP) Participates in a White House Volunteer Fair in Support of National Volunteer Week

In support of National Volunteer Week, USA Freedom Corps hosted a White House Volunteer Fair on April 25th which provided staffers with ideas for volunteer opportunities in the local DC/Virginia area as well as international volunteer opportunities. White House Chief of Staff, Joshua B. Bolten participated in the volunteer fair, thanking staffers for answering the Call to Service.  Read more.

New Partners Initiative for Global AIDS Fight

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), one of five presidential programs that VfP supports, has launched the New Partners Initiative, seeking to enlist nongovernmental organizations with little or no previous experience working with the U.S. Government. PEPFAR plans to make $200 million in grants available to such new partners through 2008. Some VfP partner organizations, or potential new VfP partners, may be eligible for this program. See details by clicking on New Partners Initiative.

VfP MISSION: Volunteers for Prosperity promotes the energy and idealism of the United States through support of international voluntary service by highly skilled American professionals to advance the global health and prosperity goals of the U.S. Government.

Global AIDS Coordinator is New Head of USAID

On March 29th Ambassador Randall L. Tobias was confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the fourteenth Administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). Ambassador Tobias also will serve as the first U.S. Director of Foreign Assistance. In this latter role, he will coordinate all foreign aid programs of both the State Department and USAID. Ambassador Tobias addressed USAID staff on his first day on the job and answered questions from agency employees. Click here to view Ambassador Tobias’ remarks.

VFP Partner Spotlight: International Medical Corps

Established in 1984 by volunteer doctors and nurses, IMC is a private, voluntary organization located in Santa Monica, California. Its mission is to improve the quality of life through health interventions and related activities that build local capacity in areas worldwide. In the aftermath of violent conflicts and natural disasters, IMC provides emergency interventions for vulnerable populations and makes lasting improvements to devastated health care systems. In 2005 approximately 200 volunteers assisted with emergencies in Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Indonesia. IMC seeks volunteers with professional expertise in the following areas: Health, Engineering, mental Health, Management, Education/Training, Logistics, Finance, and Communication. Volunteers serve on assignments ranging from a period of 4 weeks to 1 year. For more information visit www.imcworldwide.org.

Volunteer Profile: Maqsud Ahmad Dean — Medical Assistant Brings Relief to Pakistan Quake Survivors

After the Pakistan earthquake struck on October 8, 2005, Maqsud Ahmad Dean took an unpaid leave of absence from his job as a physician's assistant at a private medical practice to care for the critically injured in Pakistan as a volunteer for International Medical Corps (IMC), a humanitarian non-profit organization located in Santa Monica, California ( see VfP Partner Spotlight ). Although he was born in America, his family's origins were in Punjab and he spoke the language fluently, which made it easy for him to pick up the local dialects. Dr. Max, as he now is affectionately called by the people in the area, has served as a healing force - as a medical professional, a musician and a man with compassion - and he is a role model for others. "My mission is not yet over," he says. "I foresee more such visits in the near future, as a lot more work needs to be done."

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Volunteers for Prosperity was established by Executive Order in September 2003. VfP works through leading U.S. non-profits and businesses to deploy highly skilled American professionals in volunteer opportunities that support the global health and prosperity goals of the U.S. Government. For more information visit: www.volunteersforprosperity.gov