 | Above and beyond |
 |  | Part three - Guidelines for success |
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Part three - Guidelines for success
Go to the people,
Live with them,
Learn from them,
Love them.
Start with what they know,
Build on what they have.
But, with the best leaders
When the work is done,
The task accomplished,
The people will say
"We have done this ourselves."
Perhaps this quote by Chinese scholar Lao Tsu in 700 BC best describes how you should view your role as a PCV. You may be an important resource in your community, but in the end, it is the community that will determine your success or failure.
In our sampling we have tried to suggest the various ways in which Peace Corps Volunteers have reached out into their communities to encourage people to act on their own behalf. As you think about an activity you might like to undertake, keep in mind the principle of putting the community first, its needs as well as its limitations, before moving ahead on your own.
From our success stories, some common elements emerge that may guide your thinking. You probably discussed many of these elements in your Pre-Service Training. Let's consider what they are.
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