CDU to complete this section

Country: Bolivia
Staging Date: August 21-22, 2006
Training Class # : 511-06-03
Director Greg Clark
CDU Representative Saba Firoozi
Coordinator Saba Firoozi

Purpose:
The Country Update for Staging Event is designed to provide the staging event team an
update of concerns, policies, issues or hot topics that post would like addressed with
trainees at the staging event.

Rationale:
Safety and security information should be provided to Volunteers/Trainees before their
departure overseas and throughout their service. This information should include an
overall assessment of potential safety and security risks to V/Ts, any country-specific
conditions that may require V/Ts to adjust their lifestyles, and the support that V/Ts can
expect from the Peace Corps. (MS 270)

The staging event team will discuss country specific information referenced in this
Country Update for Staging throughout the staging event where appropriate.
Comprehensive information about the host country and the Peace Corps is currently
available to Trainees on the Peace Corps website, in the Country Welcome Book and in
the Volunteer Assignment Description. The information provided in the Country Update
should complement existing sources and be reinforced by Peace Corps staff during Pre-
Service and In-Service training.

Instructions:
Please complete and return to your CDU at least one week prior to the staging event.

Examples:

1) List any country specific issues that you would like addressed during the
Staging event.

a. There is a Volunteer from Bolivia who has been missing since March, 2001.
2)
b. Bolivia has frequent strikes and protests. The cause of these protests and
roadblocks is opposition to various government policies, ranging from the
export of natural gas, coca eradication, and gas and water prices, and other
economic policies. Strikes and roadblocks were prevalent throughout 2005
in some areas of the country, especially in the cities of El Alto, the city
above La Paz where the international airport is located, and Santa Cruz.
Strikes and roadblocks will most likely continue periodically in 2006.
3)
4) State what message post would like the staging event team to convey regarding
these issues.
5)
c. Peace Corps Volunteer Walter Poirier was declared missing on March 6,
2001 in La Paz, Bolivia. Since that date, the U.S. Embassy, Peace Corps,
and Bolivian authorities have maintained an extensive search and
investigation into his whereabouts. This search has included a physical
search of his Peace Corps site in the Zongo Valley, areas in La Paz where
he frequented, as well as a national media campaign and reward for any
information on his disappearance. Post has had a number of campaigns to
find PCV Poirier, and the Embassy continues to follow-up on the
investigation, along with a private investigator hired by Peace Corps on
behalf of the family. PC no longer has PCV’s in the La Paz department.
6)
d. Trainees/Volunteers will have to be flexible if protests and roadblocks
affect PST activities and scheduled sessions. Training staff will do their
best to make sure that Trainees are safe in their training communities. As
long as a PCV/PCT or PC staff member does not venture into angry
crowds or attempt to cross a blocked road, there is little danger. However,
it is a major logistical and transportation inconvenience (to say the least).