THE PEACE CORPS IN COLOMBIA, 1961-1981.

Colombia I, the first groups of volunteers to enter Colombia, reported to training on June 25, 1961. They arrived in Colombia on September 18, 1961. They were the second group of volunteers to arrive overseas.

The first Peace Corps Colombia director was Christopher Sheldon. The movie “White Squall” was about his adventures with his life long passion with sailing ships.

Many of the first groups to enter Colombia were in community development, Accion Comunal. They helped organize rural communities to build/improve roads and schools, educate people about new methods and ideas to improve their lives, and-- most importantly-- give them the confidence that they can, by their actions, improve their lives.

Subsequent groups-- and there were many-- were in sports, university teaching, cooperatives, health and nutrition, architecture, educational television, literacy, agricultural development and diversification, and small business development.

Volunteers often came to Bogotá for meetings or R and R. They often stayed at a local pension called the Residencies Montreal (also known as “the pit”) and ate hamburgers and ice cream at the Crème Helado (ice cream).

During the 1960’s the average number of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV's) in Colombia was about 1,200 at any one time.

A total of 5,289 volunteers served in Colombia.

The program ended in 1981, lasting 20 years.