By Rabindra Rooplall

TWENTY-NINE new Peace Corps volunteers were on Wednesday sworn in by the US Ambassador to Guyana, Sarah-Ann Lynch, after two and a half months of training.
The ceremony, the 32nd of its kind, was conducted at the ambassador’s residence in the presence of First Lady, Sandra Granger; Education Minister, Dr. Nicolette Henry; Minister of State, Dawn Hastings-Williams; Minister within the Indigenous Peoples’ Affairs Ministry, Valerie Garrido-Lowe, other government representatives and members of the diplomatic corps.

Ambassador Sarah-Ann Lynch, in her remarks, said she was once a Peace Corps volunteer and over the past 57 years, more than 230,000 volunteers have served in 141 countries, often in very difficult assignments and sometimes dangerous conditions.

The envoy said before heading out to their posts, volunteers acquire a new technical skill; learn a new language or dialect and they learn to understand a new culture.

“Luckily, Peace Corps training is among the finest the United States has to offer. And, I am not just saying this because I’m surrounded by Peace Corps staff up here. The Peace Corps has devoted itself to developing state-of-the-art training and truly knows how to set the volunteers up for success,” Ambassador Lynch said.

Underscoring the three main goals of the Peace Corps, the US envoy said firstly they provide necessary assistance to the interested nation; secondly, to promote a better understanding of Americans to other people; and thirdly to promote a better understanding of other peoples to Americans.

She explained that the Peace Corps Guyana has contributed to the Peace Corps vision of world peace and friendship since 1966 with close to 1,400 volunteers who have served, lived, and worked alongside the Guyanese people, sharing their aspirations, helping them address their challenges, and celebrating their achievements.

The US envoy said the Peace Corps’ special ingredient in Guyana and globally is a people-to-people approach to learning, reinforcing, and building capacity at the community level.
Underscoring that 53 years later, volunteers are still serving the people of Guyana, having lived and worked in all 10 regions, the envoy said from her time in Guyana she has had the pleasure of interacting with the Peace Corps programme and its volunteers and fully concur with the well-deserved recognition the post receives.

She explained that 10 Peace Corps volunteers will work in the education sector, 10 on environmental issues and nine in the health sector.

“You are being posted to eight of Guyana’s 10 regions, and 40 per cent of you will be serving in some of the neediest Indigenous communities. Your long-awaited arrival almost doubles the number of serving volunteers in the country,” the US ambassador said.
Meanwhile, Minister Garrido-Lowe called on the volunteers to immerse into the culture of Guyana, even learning the Indigenous Languages for the persons dispatched in Regions Seven and Nine.

She explained that the Peace Corps volunteers are always known for helping the communities they serve.

Minister Hastings-Williams said the Guyana Government is grateful for the help of the Peace Corps volunteers in building capacity in various communities in their respective field.
“The government looks forward to village councils, community democratic councils, non-governmental organisations, advocacy groups, among others, are some of the bodies that Peace Corps volunteers can partner with in order to assist with the eco-friendly project drafting and writing, community outreaches, sensitisation programmes, youth development and wildlife activities amongst others,” the minister of state said.

Henry said by the time the Peace Corps volunteers would have completed their stint, they would have forged a bond with Guyanese that will always be a part of their lives.

“I believe that Guyana has benefitted from this opportunity in a large way and while we may never be able to adequately compensate, we most certainly welcome, embrace and thank you for your service. I urge you to feel free to explore and enjoy what we have to offer so that the exchange may be balanced in every aspect as you interact with teachers, students, parents and communities,” the education minister said.

The new volunteers make up the 32nd group of Peace Corps volunteers to serve in Guyana since 1995; representing 19 out of the 50 US States, with ages ranging from 21 to 54 and coming from diverse ethnic backgrounds.

In March 1961, President John F. Kennedy created the Peace Corps to provide human resource and technical assistance to developing countries that requested support. The Peace Corps was first active in Guyana from 1966-1971.

The agency later returned in 1995 upon the re-invitation of President, Dr. Cheddi Jagan. Since its establishment, more than 900 American volunteers have supported numerous communities throughout Guyana.