Tirana, May 31, 2011 NOA - This week, 39 American Peace Corps Volunteers began working with Albanian municipalities, community organizations, schools and health centers throughout Albania.
Last Thursday in Elbasan, upon completion of their training, the Volunteers took the oath of service in a ceremony headed by the United States Ambassador Alexander Arvizu. Ambassador Arvizu congratulated the new group of Volunteer for their spirit of voluntarism, noting their role as informal “ambassadors,” and administered the oath of service.
The Volunteers studied Albanian language and culture for 10 weeks in the Elbasan region before being assigned to the communities around the country where they will work for the next two years as English teachers, health educators, and community development advisors.
The Volunteers came to the country at the invitation of the Albanian government. The cooperation between Peace Corps and the Albanian government is a clear sign of the strong bond that exists between the United States and Albania.
The 38 new Volunteers joined 52 Volunteers from three earlier groups who are currently serving around the country in towns such as Has, Kukës, Rrëshen, Ersekë, Leskovik, Ksamil and others. Peace Corps brings additional groups of Volunteers each year to address the needs identified by Albanian communities.
At the invitation of the Albanian government, Peace Corps started its program here in 1991, but suspended in 1997 and reopened in 2003. Including this newly sworn-in group, more than 300 Volunteers have come to serve in Albania since the program’s reopening.
On March 1, 1961 President John F. Kennedy signed the Executive Order establishing the Peace Corps. In the 50 years since that time, over 200,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 host countries. Although times have changed, the Peace Corps remains true to its mission of promoting world peace and friendship through 3 goals:
Helping the people of interested countries meet their needs for trained men and women
Promoting a better understanding of Americans on the part of people served Promoting a better understanding of other people on the part of Americans.
There are currently over 8000 Peace Corps Volunteers serving 74 countries around the world.
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