Welcome to a world where ordinary individuals embark on extraordinary journeys, and become change-makers across borders. In this blog post, we hear the inspiring stories of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) who have given TED Talks. There, they shared their innovative ideas and unwavering commitment to making a difference. From physicians to engineers, educators to entrepreneurs, these remarkable individuals have not only served in the Peace Corps but have continued their mission to transform the world.
As you watch the Ted Talks of these RPCVs, imagine the impact a single person can have on communities. If you’re considering joining the Peace Corps or currently serving, let these stories bring inspiration. These RPCVs show you the limitless possibilities that await when you embark on a journey dedicated to positive change.
Mae Jemison
PCMO Sierra Leone, Liberia
Astronaut, engineer, entrepreneur, physician and educator
Dr. Jemison combines science, art, and culture to solve problems and encourage new ideas. She leads the 100 Year Starship project, funded by DARPA, to make interstellar travel possible. Using her skills as a doctor, engineer, social scientist, and dancer, she’s creating a global movement for big advancements in knowledge, technology, and humanity.
As a member of the National Academies, Dr. Jemison started two tech companies and a nonprofit called the Dorothy Jemison Foundation. She also served as a Peace Corps Medical Officer in Sierra Leone and Liberia, and you might recognize her from Star Trek.
Mae Jemison’s Ted Talks:
Erica Frenkel
RPCV El Salvador
Medical technologist
Leading Gradian Health Systems, a social enterprise focused on safe surgery, Erica uses innovative anesthesia technology. She was a Peace Corps volunteer in El Salvador, managed the Global Media AIDS Initiative for the Kaiser Family Foundation, and contributed to public health projects with the Clinton Foundation, Liberian Ministry of Health, Merck Vaccines, and the Wellcome Trust.
Erica Frenkel’s TED Talks:
Reed Hastings
RPCV Swaziland
Entrepreneur, philanthropist
Reed Hastings co-founded Netflix in 1997. Today the company delivers entertainment to 193 million of people in 190 countries. In 1991, he founded Pure Software, which made tools for software developers.
Hastings is an active educational philanthropist and served on the California State Board of Education from 2000 to 2004. He is on the board of several educational organizations including DreamBox Learning, KIPP and Pahara. He’s also a board member of Facebook and was on the board of Microsoft from 2007 to 2012. He received a BA from Bowdoin College in 1983 and an MSCS in artificial intelligence from Stanford University in 1988. Between Bowdoin and Stanford, he served in the Peace Corps as a high school math teacher in Swaziland.
Reed Hastings’ TED Talks:
Amy Smith
RPCV Botswana
Inventor, engineer
Amy Smith is a mechanical engineer. And she has a practical and down-to-earth approach to solving problems in developing countries. She believes in creating affordable and simple devices using local materials. This is so communities can easily replicate her solutions and become self-sufficient. At MIT’s D-Lab, where she works with her students, they’ve developed useful tools like an electricity-free incubator, a basic grain mill, and a device that turns farm waste into cleaner-burning charcoal.
For her innovative work, Smith has received many prestigious awards. Her class, “Design for Developing Countries,” is groundbreaking for introducing humanitarian design to major institutions’ curricula. She served in the US Peace Corps in Botswana. And now, looking ahead, she is determined to do even more. She is using her creativity and limitless energy to tackle some of the world’s most enduring challenges.
Amy Smith’s TED Talks:
Jessica Shortall
RPCV Uzbekistan
Strategy consultant, social entrepreneur and author
Jessica Shortall, a mom of two and the author of “Work. Pump. Repeat: The New Mom’s Survival Guide to Breastfeeding and Going Back to Work.” She has tackled various challenges to make a positive impact. Whether it’s breastfeeding support, paid leave for working moms, sustainable eye care, or promoting LGBT equality in business, she sees them all as chances to change the world.
Shortall brings her expertise in strategy consulting to businesses, social enterprises, and non-profits. Her book is inspired by her global breastfeeding journey. It provides practical advice for working moms based on interviews with hundreds of mothers and HR professionals.
Shortall started her career as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Uzbekistan. She has remained dedicated to making a difference, bridging the gap between non-profit and for-profit sectors. In the early 2000s, she co-founded a non-profit organization now active in over 40 communities.
Jessica Shortall’s TED Talks:
Lucy Marcil
RPCV Namibia
Pediatrician, social entrepreneur
Dr. Lucy Marcil creates new solutions to help kids who are growing up with little money or in poverty. As a pediatrician, she cares for children at Boston Medical Center. She founded a nonprofit group called StreetCred. StreetCred helps families with money issues right there in the doctor’s waiting room.
StreetCred gets low-income families important tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. They do this by helping with tax preparation at pediatric clinics. Since 2016, they have gotten $3.2 million in tax credits for 1,700 clients at 9 locations in 4 states. StreetCred also now connects tax help with other services to help families financially.
Internationally, Dr. Marcil has also worked to improve kid’s health care systems. As a Peace Corps volunteer focusing on HIV/AIDS and community health in Namibia, she created partnerships for orphan care and girls’ leadership camps. In Bangladesh, she found ways communities could engage to build healthcare for moms and kids in urban slums. In Kenya, she advised Jacaranda Health to make their newborn care better.
Dr. Lucy Marcil’s TED Talks:
TED Talks Take Aways
In the grand tapestry of global change, everyone contributes to the progress. These TED Talks of these RPCVs remind us that no act of service is too small. And that every unique skill set has the power to shape a brighter future.
Whether you’re a prospective Peace Corps applicant or a current Volunteer facing the challenges of service, remember that you are part of this story. Your journey has the potential to be the next chapter in the story of positive transformation.
Let these tales of resilience and impact be a call to action. If you haven’t yet considered joining the Peace Corps, we invite you to take that bold step. Your skills, your passion, and your commitment can become the driving force for change in communities around the world. Together, let’s continue the legacy of service and bring about a wave of positive transformation.
Apply to the Peace Corps today, and be the change you wish to see in the world. Because, as these TED speakers show us, each one of us has the power to make a lasting impact.
Feature Photo by Miguel Henriques on Unsplash
