For one ambitious Auburn couple, traveling throughout the world has brought wonders and a willingness to lend a helping hand.
Jan and Tom Hunter are retired, enthusiastic and ready to embark on their first assignment as resourceful Peace Corps volunteers.
The new year will bring the Hunters, both 62, to Morocco, where they will train for three months in March, the beginning of a 27-month commitment in the North African nation. Volunteers live with a host family and study the local language and culture before being assigned a community, where they will live, work and achieve goals in such areas as education, health, business, agriculture and the environment.
The Hunters primarily will teach English, share computer skills and other talents, and help organize and run activities – all in an effort to advance youth development.
The couple raised three boys. They have seven grandchildren. As difficult as it is to leave behind family and their West Hill home for more than two years, they are up to the great challenge.
“In the 30 years that we’ve been married, my wife and I have been fortunate to independently travel in numerous Third World countries,” Tom said. “We couldn’t help but be struck by the suffering, lack of opportunity and misallocation of resources in many of the places that we’ve visited.
“We hope we can utilize the skills developed during our working career to help improve the conditions that we have observed during our travels,” said Tom, a successful hair salon proprietor for many years before selling the company and retiring with his wife, who helped manage the business. “We also hope that we can help the folks of Morocco better understand the United States and the lives of average Americans.”
Joining the Peace Corps has been in the back of their minds for many years.
“Dating from the first few years of our marriage, we’ve discussed joining the Peace Corps,” Tom said.
The Peace Corps often is associated with young minds and hands chipping in to do the hard work. But the reality is that among the more than 9,000 Peace Corps volunteers serving today, 7 percent are over the age of 50, said Melanie Forthun, a public affairs specialist and returned volunteer (Bulgaria, 2006-08) with the Peace Corps Northwest Regional Office.
In fact, the oldest, currently-serving volunteer is 84 years old, from Portland, who is now working in the Southern Africa nation of Botswana.
The Hunters continue a strong tradition of Washington willingness. The state is the No. 3 all-time producer of Peace Corps volunteers. Since 1961, 8,631 Washingtonians have served in the Corps.
In fact, the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area ranks No. 7 in the country for producing Peace Corps volunteers with 196 residents currently serving.
In 2011, the Peace Corps celebrated 50 years of international service. More than 200,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 countries since President John F. Kennedy established the agency in 1961.
Today, 8,655 Peace Corps volunteers serve in 76 countries – the largest number of volunteers in 40 years.
Volunteers receive many benefits, including a living stipend, but mainly exist on modest means in their assigned countries.
It took two years to be accepted, but the Hunters are excited about the opportunity to help others. To qualify, Jan needed to go back to school, where she completed her degree in liberal arts at The Evergreen State College in 2007.
The Morocco mission is just what they wanted.
The Hunters have been to Africa before, but it was for a vacation, not a relief role. They climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in 2005.
The Hunters’ worldwide travels have taken them to many continents and countries, including Vietnam, China, Europe and South America.
Jan went on a trip to Nicaragua with a different organization several years ago. It was there she realized how much need there is in the world for volunteers.
She also recalls a vivid visit to Kathmandu, witnessing some of Nepal’s most deplorable living conditions.
“There isn’t a social safety net in those countries. They are without Social Security, welfare, disability,” Jan said. “They are pretty much on their own.”
The human condition is different in Third World countries. The Hunters want to roll up their sleeves to help.
“We’re super excited about it. You don’t enter into something like this without some apprehension,” Tom said. “Twenty-seven months is a long time. You’re talking about a foreign culture. There’s a lot of issues involved.”
The couple’s sons are planning to visit them during their leave from the U.S.
“No doubt we will get a lot more out of it than they would get out of it,” Tom said of the Moroccan people. “You’re the one who comes away with the greatest amount of benefit.”
It is a chance to do their part – in a new land, new year.
“I always come back from these experiences being so thankful to be living in a place like the United States,” Tom said.
“We’ve worked hard. We’ve had a nice life. But if you can help people out a little bit … “
A little help and understanding go a long way, especially in an overpopulated country struggling to sustain itself.
“We’re looking forward to working with the youth in Morocco,” Jan said, “and helping them develop skills needed to compete in their town or village.”
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For more information and online applications, please visit www.peacecorps.gov.
