Joining the Peace Corps When You're Over 50

Meaning and Moxie After 50

Can wisdom and service deepen with age? Join us as we sit down with Bill Bridgeford, a passionate Peace Corps recruiter who found his true calling after 35 years in the private sector. Bill shares his inspiring story of lifelong admiration for the Peace Corps, which he saw as a beacon of heroism since childhood, and how he finally realized his dream of serving with the organization later in life.
Curious about the true essence of the Peace Corps experience? Listen as Bill unpacks the profound impact of the Peace Corps' commitment, stressing the importance of cultural adaptation and community-driven projects. He shares insightful anecdotes from his service in North Macedonia, highlighting both the extraordinary and ordinary moments that make the volunteer journey unforgettable.
Is it ever too late to make a difference? We challenge the notion that aging limits one's potential for impactful work, showcasing inspiring stories of older volunteers carving out new horizons into their 60s and beyond. Bill outlines the various volunteering options within the Peace Corps, from traditional 27-month commitments to shorter, specialized response roles. Discover how the Peace Corps ensures volunteers' medical needs are met 100% of the time and gain insight into the application process designed to match volunteers with roles that align with their skills and passions. This episode is a testament to the lifelong gifts and sense of purpose that come from meaningful service, proving that it's never too late to contribute to global communities.
Peace Corps Links:
https://www.youtube.com/user/peacecorps/playlists
https://www.peacecorps.gov/connect/blog/how-do-you-apply-peace-corps-couple/
https://www.peacecorps.gov/how-to-apply/preparing-to-apply/
Bill's Bio:
Bill came to international humanitarian service after spending almost 35 years in the private sector as an entrepreneur, consultant and corporate manager. He served as a World Teach Volunteer in the Republic of the Marshall Islands (2009-11), and as an Organizational Capacity Development Advisor in Myanmar (2013-15) prior to serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in North Macedonia (2016-19). His overseas work has spanned education, youth empowerment, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods, and building communities’ engagement capacities.
Bill’s 30 months of Peace Corps service was spent at a high school in the North Macedonian city of Ohrid (pronounced “OAK”-rid), a UN Cultural Heritage site on the shores of Lake Ohrid. He and his colleagues developed the “Student Resource Center”, which offered student-centered skills development curriculum in IT, Business, Community Leadership, Conversational English, and Personal and Life Skills. He launched the GLOW/YMLP Youth Leadership Club and mentored its members through community service projects, many of which focused on raising community awareness of the need for environmental stewardship. He supported a consortium of diverse community organizations for a community garden which brought the generations together for knowledge exchange, taught leadership skills through community service, and raised awareness of food insecurity issues affecting neighbors in the Ohrid community. He also mentored his fellow Volunteers in grant development and management skills and served as a resource to new Volunteers in North Macedonia after his return to the United States.

In his present role as a Peace Corps Senior Recruiter, Bill brings his passion for diversity, equity and inclusion to audiences as he carries the message of service to college and university campuses, veterans’ groups, seniors, and other civil society organizations.

He holds a BA in Political Science from the University of Connecticut, and an MA in Applied Community Development from Future Generations University.
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Luvut

1. Joining the Peace Corps When You're Over 50 (00:00:00)

2. Meaning and Moxie After 50 (00:00:01)

3. Peace Corps Service Experience and Impact (00:11:52)

4. Peace Corps Cultural Adaptation and Growth (00:22:38)

5. New Horizons and Continued Contribution (00:35:18)

6. Peace Corps Benefits and Opportunities (00:41:05)

7. Medical Clearance and Volunteer Placement (00:57:32)