Dear Supporters,

More than a decade ago, I stepped off a plane in the Kingdom of Morocco to begin my service as a volunteer with the Peace Corps. I arrived as many volunteers do—filled with optimism, curiosity, and a belief that service could make the world a little more just. Yet like most who begin this journey, I quickly discovered that service abroad is as humbling as it is inspiring. Living and working in a community very different from my own required patience, cultural humility, and above all the willingness to listen before acting.

In the early days of my service, I spent far more time learning than leading. I learned the rhythms of Moroccan life, shared meals with neighbors, and began studying Darija so I could communicate more meaningfully with the people around me. Those small acts of connection—conversations over tea, laughter with students, and quiet observations of daily life—became the foundation for everything that followed.

During my service, I worked alongside community members to create projects that reflected their own aspirations. One of the initiatives I am most proud of was helping establish the first book-borrowing library in the community. Before then, children could only read books while physically inside the library space. By allowing books to be taken home, families could share stories together and children could continue learning beyond the classroom walls. It may have seemed like a modest change, but the impact was profound.

That experience reinforced a lesson that has stayed with me throughout my life: real progress often comes from small, thoughtful actions carried out consistently over time. A library shelf filled with books might appear simple, but behind it lies a powerful belief—that knowledge should be accessible, that every child deserves the chance to learn, and that communities themselves are the architects of their own futures.

My time in Morocco shaped everything that came afterward. It deepened my commitment to human rights, cultural preservation, and humanitarian service. Today, whether I am working with refugees, advocating for human dignity, or founding institutions dedicated to celebrating the world’s cultures, I carry with me the lessons I learned as a volunteer: listen carefully, work collaboratively, and respect the wisdom of the communities you serve.

Projects like Peace Corps Park are important because they ensure that the spirit of service represented by generations of volunteers is never forgotten. The Peace Corps has touched hundreds of thousands of lives across the globe. Its legacy lives in the relationships built between people of different cultures who chose to learn from one another.

A permanent place honoring that tradition in our nation’s capital reminds future generations that service matters, that global understanding matters, and that ordinary individuals can contribute to extraordinary change.

For those of us who served, the Peace Corps was never simply two years of our lives. It became a lifelong commitment to partnership, cultural respect, and the belief that a more peaceful and humane world is possible when people choose to work together.

Yours in service and partnership,

Dr. Justin D. Bibee
RPCV Morocco, 2014–16