Twenty-one Peace Corps volunteers have been sworn in by the US Ambassador to Nepal, Dean R. Thompson, and Peace Corps Nepal Country Director Troy Kofroth, starting their two-year service in Nepal.
These volunteers mark the first group to arrive after the global COVID-19 evacuation, joining nearly 4,000 predecessors who have served in Nepal since 1962. The ceremony on Thursday also coincided with the 61st anniversary of the signing of the agreement between Nepal and the United States to establish the Peace Corps programme in Nepal on August 24, 1962.
Ambassador Thompson, recognising the transformative potential of the Peace Corps, expressed excitement about the volunteers returning to Nepal.
After 11 weeks of intensive training in Kavre District, the volunteers have been assigned to five districts across Gandaki and Bagmati provinces.
They will contribute to English teaching in government schools and work on food security and health projects in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology, the Minister of Health and Population, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
The Peace Corps, founded in 1961 by former late US President John F. Kennedy, engages volunteers, community members, and partners globally in projects prioritising education, health, the environment, agriculture, economics, and youth development. With a history of over 240,000 Americans serving in 143 countries, their mission revolves around world peace and friendship.
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