Background Information
WHAT IS PEACE CORPS?
Peace Corps is a United States Volunteer Organization dedicated to grassroots development and economic growth in developing countries. It was officially created by the United States Congress in September 1961 under the leadership of President John F. Kennedy.
As the Peace Corps comes to celebrate its 50th year anniversary in 2011, more than 195,000 Americans will have served in over 139 countries as representative of the United States commitment to helping people around the world achieve economic independence and sustainable development.
THE GOALS OF PEACE CORPS
Peace Corps provides technical assistance by sending qualified Volunteers to work on development projects requested by the host country.
Peace Corps concentrates most of its efforts on rural development and adheres to a philosophy of helping people help themselves, emphasizing the transfer of skills to host country counterparts and the use of appropriate technology. During a two year tour of service, a Volunteer is assigned to work on a specific project in agriculture, health, environment, small business development, education or community development.
Peace Corps is not a political organization. The Volunteers are placed at the grassroots level to live and work directly with the people of the countries in which they serve. They are guided by the three goals set forth by President Kennedy in 1961 to help to promote world peace and friendship:
1. Help the people of interested countries meet their needs for qualified people:
Peace Corps relies on the host country to select projects and decide what role the Volunteers will play in the host country’s development plan. Volunteers often work in close collaboration with other development organizations such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors under the direction of the relevant Government Ministries. Volunteer efforts complement the development strategy of host governments.
2. Promote a better understanding of Americans on behalf of other people of the world:
Volunteers reflect the diversity of the American people and therefore enable the people of the country where the Peace Corps serve to better understand the United States and its people. For many people in the developing world, the United States is forever linked to the Peace Corps Volunteer who served in their village or town. The friendship formed by working and living together are lasting bonds that continue across the continents.
3. Promote a better understanding of other people in the world on behalf of Americans:
When Volunteers return to the United States, they become unofficial host country ambassadors. They share their understanding of the countries and people they have known for two years by speaking at schools, business and social organizations. Their pictures, artifacts and stories allow thousands of Americans to expand their understanding of other cultures and places.
President Kennedy on July 4, 1963: "Peace Corps Volunteers bring home important skills and experience which will greatly enhance our knowledge of the world and strengthen our role in international affairs"
THE PEACE CORPS IN ZAMBIA
HISTORY: Peace Corps Zambia first opened its program in 1994 with a group of Water and Sanitation/Hygiene Education Volunteers (WASHE). In 1996, the program expanded to include a Community Action for Health Project (CAHP) and a Rural Aquaculture Promotion (RAP) project. In 2001 the WASHE and CAHP programs were merged and a new project was added, Linking Income, Food, and Environment (LIFE). In 2003 a fourth program was initiated, Learning at Taonga Market (LTM), which was later changed to the Rural Education Development (RED) project. Through funding from PEPFAR, a fifth HIV/AIDS project (HAP) was started in 2004 focusing on HIV/AIDS prevention and care. In November 2009, the HAP and CAHP projects were merged to form the new Health Project, called Community Health Improvement Project (CHIP).
PRESENT STATUS: Approximately 160 volunteers live and work in eight of Zambia’s nine Provinces. A staff of 30 based in Lusaka and a staff of 6 based in six provinces provide volunteer support.
Additionally, there are up to 10 Peace Corps Response Volunteers who work primary with NGO’s on HIV/AIDS education and prevention.
PROGRAMS: Community Health Improvement Project: The Health Project strives to complement the Zambian government’s effort to decentralize health care services to the community level. Volunteers primarily work with and empower the village level Neighborhood Health Committees. Preventative health care is their primary emphasis, including HIV/AIDS and malaria prevention and reducing food and water contamination.
Rural Aquaculture Promotion: Volunteers involved in rural aquaculture, in close collaboration with the Department of Fisheries, help develop the quality and quantify of fish culture activities in rural farming communities. These activities increase food security and provide cash incomes for the fish farmers.
Linking Income, Food and Environment: In the LIFE project Volunteers focuses on promotion of adoption of sustainable agriculture technologies and techniques, capacity building for teachers in schools to organize environmental clubs in undertaking activities linked to the environmental education themes identified by schools and surrounding communities, helping community members to improve their incomes and income-generating opportunities by either implementing alternative income generating activities or expanding current micro-enterprises
Rural Education Development: The Rural Education Development (RED) Project aims to assist the Ministry of Education (MOE) in improving the quality of and access to basic education, particularly at the zonal level. By working closely with Zone Center Schools, Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) support the effective implementation of current MOE initiatives (SIMON, SPRINT & others) in all GRZ and community schools within their assigned zone. They work with teachers to implement learner-centered teaching methods, and with parent committees to encourage community investment in education. PCVs also often work at District Education offices, and with other MOE partners in implementing projects.
Time Difference: (GMT+2) (EST+7)
PO Box Address Street Address Pouch Address
P.O. Box 50707 71A Kabulonga Road c/o American Embassy/Lusaka
Lusaka Kabulonga, Lusaka Department of State
Zambia Zambia Washington, DC 20521-2310
Email: FSurname@zm.peacecorps.gov
e.g. inawa@zm.peacecorps.gov
PEACE CORPS AND EMBASSY OFFICE NUMBERS
PC Primary 260-211-260-377/264-958/264-995
PC Alternate 260-211-261-072/260-946/262-026
24 hour PC duty phone/emergencies 260-976-645444
Embassy 260-211-250-230
Embassy 260-211-250-955/252-225
Embassy After Hours 260-211-252-234
Embassy Fax 260-211-252-225
PC Fax 260-211-260-685
PC Medical Duty Cell Phone 260-0979-093444
PC Medical Eyes Only Fax 260-211-260-529
PC Medical Office 260-211-260-529
PC Training Center 260-211-097-790-345/0966-780-675
PEACE CORPS ZAMBIA OFFICES AND STAFF
Name Title Home Phone Cell Phone
COUNTRY DIRECTOR
Cindy Threlkeld, Country Director 260-211-260658 260-979-836605
Dorothy Musonda, Executive Secretary 260-977-788460
Allan Mukonta, Safety and Security Coordinator 260-966-782326
PROGRAMMING & TRAINING
Nancy Yuill, Program and Training Officer 260-977-720577
Dr. Cynthia Bowa, PEPFAR Director 260-977-848665
George N. Sikota, Training Manager 260-966-780675
Donald Phiri, APCD/Environment LIFE 260-966-951629
Cleopher Bweupe, APCD/Fisheries RAP 260-966-438118
Musonda Kaluba, APCD/Health CAHP 260-977-775250
Mary-Lu Schweitzer, APCD/Education RED 260-978-616312
Susan Mwanza, APCD/Health Health project 260-977-783448
Beene Hang’omba, Program Assistant for Health Project 260-977-784389
Henry Chilufya, Program Assistant for RAP/LIFE 260-977-359778
Silvester Mwanza, Program Assistant for RED 260-976-299179
Mizhi Kakoma, Program Assistant for Health project 260-977-960076
Eness Phiri, Admin Assistant/ Program Secretary 260-977-872526
Sally-Rose Mwachilenga, Program & Training Assistant 260-966-762974
MEDICAL
Gillian Hill, PCMO 260-966-757730
Dr. Nobutu Shakankale, PCMO 260-966-756688
Nalishebo Kwaleyela PCMO 260-966-638085
ADMINISTRATION
Ivy Nawa, APCD /Admin. 260-966-756733
Milimo Miyanza, Chief Accountant 260-977-630551
David Nyambe, Voucher Examiner, 260-977-798515
Wina Lisulo, Cashier 260-977-867326
Linah Mahembe, Receptionist 260-966-744876
Teddy Mbweeda IT Specialist 260-977-788571
GSO
Sibong’ile M’hambi, GSO 260-977-430507
Frank Lungu, Driver/ Expeditor 260-977-879196
Jameson Mubanga, Driver 260-966-756646 |
