Interview with Wesley Mukoyama, August 16, 2021

Interview Summary

This is the second of two interviews with Wesley Mukoyama. He served as a PCV in Tanzania 1965-1967, then in Peace Corps staff roles: in Western Samoa, 1979-1982; in Solomon Islands, 1998 to mid-2000; and in Washington, D.C., to January 2001. This interview is the second of two about his staff roles. He finishes describing the challenges he faced as Country Director in evacuating the Peace Corps from the Solomon Islands during civil unrest in mid-2000. He tells of his long advocacy for the Peace Corps to return to the Solomon Islands. He reflects on the many positive impacts his Peace Corps service had on his career. He speaks about his post-retirement community service roles. He observes that the Peace Corps has been ineffective achieving its Third Goal, but that the personal relationships the Peace Corps fostered had a great impact. An interview about Wes’s time in Tanzania is in the Stanford Historical Society “Peace Corps 50th Anniversary” archives.

Interview Keyword

Peace Corps (U.S) Peace Corps Staff Peace Corps Staff Job: Country Director Peace Corps (U.S.) -- Management Peace Corps (U.S.) – History Solomon Islands (Country of service) 1998-2000 (Date of service) Solomon Islands – History Evacuation Vanuatu Lay Buddhist Chaplin Santa Clara County Jail.

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Interview Usage

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