A Program Already Serving the World
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Walter Isaacson's July 9 op-ed, "A Vision to Match the Threat," outlined six bold ideas to combat new global challenges. One of those ideas -- "a corps of trained doctors, engineers, teachers, administrators and municipal workers" for service abroad -- is already in place.
Volunteers for Prosperity, which was created in 2003, mobilizes 22,000 U.S. professionals every year to meet the most urgent challenges -- HIV-AIDS, malaria, water for the poor, trade for African development and more. This program at the State Department is a nice complement to the Peace Corps, which mobilizes 7,800 volunteers every year and after Sept. 11, 2001, received 215,000 requests for applications. These two programs could help fulfill John F. Kennedy's dream to have at least 100,000 Americans serving abroad every year, which not only would help meet critical needs in some of the most desperate places on Earth but also would form the basis of a better-informed U.S. foreign policy.
JOHN M. BRIDGELAND
Chief Executive, Malaria No More
New York
