The United States Embassy has announced that 43 Peace Corps trainees arrived in Georgetown on Wednesday to begin two years of service to Guyana.
In a press release, the embassy said the group will soon start its pre-service training for the next 12 weeks, during which the trainees will live with host families who will teach them the Guyanese way of life as they learn to cook local food, negotiate in the market place and participate in community activities.
Pre-service training also entails a technical component within both the education and health sectors, where trainees will be engaged in field practicum in local schools and health centres.
This enhances their abilities to meet the needs of the communities they will serve, the release noted.
The group is expected to be officially sworn in as Peace Corps volunteers on July 8. They make up the 27th group of Peace Corps volunteers to serve in Guyana.
The Peace Corps was first active in Guyana from 1966-1971. In 1993, it was invited to return to Guyana by the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan and the first group arrived in 1995. Since its establishment, more than 700 American volunteers have served here.
The late US President John F Kennedy created the Peace Corps in March 1961 to provide human resource and technical assistance to developing countries that have requested such engagement.
The release said the Peace Corps welcomes the opportunity to work with Guyanese and extends its gratitude to the government and people for their hospitality and for the possibility they offer the volunteers in working together to advance Guyana’s development aspirations.
