COLORADO SPRINGS — The people in our state are known for their generosity and kindness but when it comes to making a difference globally, we are on the map!
The Peace Corps released a 2020 report, ranking Colorado as the seventh highest state with the most Peace Corps Volunteers.
Agency officials say the people are the change makers and their impact is lasting. Peace Corps Volunteers are the people who are on the ground, helping different nations address problems in education, health, agriculture, and economic development.
Every volunteer has a story and the back drop to this one takes place over 7,000 miles away.
Colorado native Travis Tasto entered the Peace Corps in 2014. After three rigorous months of training, Travis was sent to a small providence in the middle of China.
Tasto taught English education to college students who want to become English teachers.
"It really is about cultivating more of a global mindset and becoming more of a global citizen," Tasto said.
According to Tasto, he was the first foreign teacher his students had ever had. He learned a new language and made lasting connections and relationships.
"I was able to put myself in a position to experience what other people experience around the world," he said.
Tasto wasn't surprised at all when Colorado placed seventh in the nation with the most Peace Corps volunteers.
"Coloradans are compassionate, very conscientious, hard-working, and not afraid to roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty," Tasto said.
There are a lot of misconceptions and myths surrounding the Peace Corps. The volunteers are not just dropped off in a remote area and left to fend for themselves.
Once you enter the agency, the act of service is taken seriously. To be a volunteer requires months of training, a serious commitment, and a passion for helping others.
Click here to learn more about the Peace Corps or to find out how you can get involved.
