Does anyone have experience/information on working for the US Agency for International Development? We are a late career couple wishing to break into development work after rewarding careers in education in the U.S. We are also considering the Peace Corps.

Unless you are talking specifically about Thailand, this topic will close.

If you want to work in Thailand for USAID you will have to apply in Washington D.C. to the U.S. Department of State, which has taken over USAID, which used to be a separate agency, but you will not be able to pick exactly where you will work if selected, hired and trained. Assignment are made out of Washington based upon "the needs of the Service"

Your chances of working in Thailand would be greater with the Peace Corps since they will look more favorably on assigning you where you want to go, especially as , what they call a "tandem couple"

Thank you. This is sort of what I figured. Any idea how likely it'd be to get hired, having spent our careers as public school teachers?

With the way the budget process is "not" working in Washington, who knows but you must be able to do at

least 10 years before you hit mandatory retirement @ 65. No Age limit that I am aware of at The Peace Corps

I am sure you can find out more @State.gov

Try working for a NGO non-profit. Thousands of them. Of course being taken care of by the government (Peace Corps) is best if you need help finding people who need help.

Those who can, do.
Those who can't, teach.
Those who can't teach, administrate.

Peace Corps placements in Thailand as a couple... not very many if any... from an adm and goal positions not wanted... couples would stick together and that is a problem because you need to be out in the field...rather than being home. Transition issues at site are a challenge as single pcv...being a older married couple compounds the adjustments.

The placement, sorry, Thai schools want them single and younger... As teachers... the deal now, is teacher trainers and community based learning... are you willing to baby sit 60 kids in your classes. When one of you does adjust well to the language and culture and your principal are you going to pack it up and early terminate as a couple?

These of course questions you need to consider... PC takes all your energy..sorry to say, being in your golden years has complications for the PC staff... unless, you had the same clout as former President Carter's mother, Miss Lillian...it will be a challenge.

As an older person, are you willing to live in very spartan living conditions? One of you will be better at language and the other hopeless to ok...that affects how the Thais will interact will you.. and are you physically fit?

There have been very few PCVs over 60 in PC Thailand...many try but do not make it out of training and go home.

PC is not a retirement step, you will be very active..

Just being honest here...

However do give it a try, contact your local pc recruiter in your area.

Edited February 21, 201610 yr by Rhys

How old are you?