• Promote a better understanding of Malaysia and its people among Americans
• Improved education in Malaysia
• Support the Malaysian people in protecting their environment
• Support the Peace Corps Agency in its work around the world

The recent earthquake in the Indian Ocean produced one of the most devastating natural disasters in history reaching over 12 coastal nations and creating a yet untold level of damage. The flooding was severe, but as the waters start to recede, the clean-up has begun and we must also prepare for a secondary wave of destruction which could be brought on by the devastation created by the flooding.

The Crisis Corps is a program of the Peace Corps that mobilizes Returned Peace Corps Volunteers and current volunteers completing their service to provide short-term assistance to countries dealing with natural disasters such as this emergency.

Crisis Corps is in the process of completing an assessment throughout the region and we anticipate a great need for volunteers in Southeast Asia. We are looking for volunteers experienced in the following areas:

• Agroforestry

• Civil Engineering

• Construction

• Crisis and Grief Counseling

• General Public Health

• Water and Sanitation

If you are available for a short term (2-6 months) assignment, please send in your resume and application materials immediately to:

        crisiscorps@peacecorps.gov

Applications may be downloaded from the Crisis Corps section of the Peace Corps website 

If you have any questions or need further information, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at 1-800-424-8580 ext 2260 or through e-mail at mghiselli@peacecorps.gov .

Thank you in advance.

Michelle Ghiselli Morocco '93-'96 Cote d'Ivoire '97 (Crisis Corps)

It is with great sadness that we report the passing of Sherry Zembower, a past president and co-founder of the Friends of Malaysia, and a member of the Board of Directors of the NPCA (National Peace Corps Association).  Sherry lost her fight with breast cancer on January 22, 2005 in Colorado Springs, after having served a long career as a youth counselor, social worker, and a Peace Corps volunteer teacher in Malaysia (1969-71).

Please read the moving tributes to Sherry written by her sister, and by her other friends, on this website.

She was an avid outdoorswoman and actively involved in the returned Peace Corps community. Gifts in her memory should be directed to the Friends of Malaysia’s Karen Bowlsby Breast Cancer Awareness Project , an effort which Sherry spearheaded, or the Susan G. Komen Foundation. A celebration of Sherry’s life will take place on February 12 in Colorado Springs, and on the East Coast some time this spring

If you knew Sherry, and would like to share some stories or pictures of her, please contact the webmaster of this 

The Ministry of Health of Sabah, Malaysia, has suggested that they would welcome assistance in their campaign to improve education and awareness of breast cancer. We learned that as Malaysia has progressed economically, breast cancer has become a major cause of death among Malaysian women.

The Friends of Malaysia is undertaking this project to raise money for Malaysian programs designed to improve awareness and early detection of breast cancer, in order to save lives. In particular, we are supporting a campaign, run by the Sabah Ministry of Health and various non-government organizations, that teach women, primarily in rural areas, on methods of self examination so that breast cancer might be detected at an earlier stage when it can be treated.

We are raising money and dedicating this project in memory of Karen and Sherry, two dedicated Peace Corps volunteers who passed away recently from breast cancer.

The Karen Bowlsby / Sherry Zembower Breast Cancer Awareness Project and Links to Breast Cancer Related Resources

My Mother, Karen Bowlsby, by Amy Perez

My Sister, Sherry Zembower, by Susan Poling

Donate to the Karen Bowlsby / Sherry Zembower Breast Cancer Awareness Project