PRESS RELEASE

45 U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers Take Oath of Service

August 17, 2007. Lusaka

LUSAKA – The U.S. Ambassador to Zambia, Carmen Martinez, and the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Mr. Albert Mulonga, today participated in the swearing-in ceremony of 45 U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers, who will be posted in rural communities across Zambia.

The 45 Americans, who took their oaths of service after nine weeks of intense training, will reinforce the 123 Peace Corps Volunteers currently serving in Zambia.  The volunteers will transfer knowledge and skills to communities where they will live for the next two years, particularly in the areas of agriculture, health, fisheries, and the environment. 

In her remarks, Ambassador Martinez said, “I believe that Peace Corps Volunteers’—through their service and commitment—represent the best the United States has to offer the world.”  She also noted that the volunteers, who will be assigned to work with the Ministries of Agriculture and Health, as well as the Ministry of Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources, will complement existing resources.  

Mr. Mulonga welcomed the new Peace Corps Volunteers on behalf of the Zambian Government and the Ministry of Agriculture.  He said, “I am pleased that the American government, through the Peace Corps, has provided us with highly skilled volunteers to help us meet our human resource needs.  We fully anticipate the continued close collaboration between Peace Corps and Zambian ministries in the years to come.”

Volunteers, who attended the Peace Corps Training Center in the chiefdom of the Senior Chieftainess Nkomeshya Mukamambo II, showed their appreciation by singing a Soli song.

The U.S. Embassy and the Government of Zambia have provided strong support to the Peace Corps program in Zambia, since the first group of volunteers arrived in the country in 1994.  To date, 700 American volunteers have served in various communities in Zambia and have returned to the United States to share their stories and experiences.

The U.S Peace Corps program was established by former President John F. Kennedy in 1961 with the aim of providing technical assistance to host countries in order to meet their development needs.  The program also seeks to promote understanding between citizens of the United States and those of host nations.
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