PEACE Corps Country Director Mr Brannon Brewer yesterday challenged volunteers at the 25th swearing-in ceremony of the Peace Corps Guyana, at the International Conference Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara, with the following words: “You will teach, motivate and inspire. In return you will learn, be motivated and be inspired,”

Emphasising that working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps requires “fortitude, a careful balance of idealism and pragmatism,” and notably a genuine determination to improve the life of another human being, Brewer declared, “It is based upon sincerity and respect for people and the challenges they face.”
He posited that working as a volunteer in the Peace Corps demands collaboration with counterparts, host organization, and community members through creative and resourceful efforts to seek resolutions “that are often not easily found.”
He also said that manifestation of the Peace Corps spiralled into existence when President John F. Kennedy revealed his dream of a world where camaraderie and harmony would sever “barriers and misconceptions that divide and distance peoples.”
In 1961, President Kennedy had underlined that the Peace Corps “was not an instrument of diplomacy or propaganda, or ideological conflict,” but was instead instituted to cause Americans to apply their duties for world development and friendship.
Brewer said the mission of the Peace Corps remains unchanged in a changing world. Volunteers of the Peace Corps are united under the principle that development is achievable through common appreciation and respect, and also by the celebration of cultural qualities that mutually exist among Americans and other people in the world. He asserted that development is also available by “celebrating those (qualities) that make us distinct and unique in the tapestry of our world.”
He charged the volunteers to treat their service in Guyana as a vocation, and approach it with “professionalism and demonstrated commitment,” because developing such an approach would produce great satisfaction as a result of seeing the permanent effect on lives which would have been intimately affected.
He therefore cautioned the volunteers to be prudent with their utterances, actions and approach to Guyanese. “You are always on the job and on the clock, and everything you do and say may be noted, scrutinized, and added to people’s perception of what qualities constitute all Americans. In a sense, you are all ambassadors, not of a country, but of a people,” he said.
He warned them to make no mistakes because of the great responsibility that rests on their shoulders. However, he expressed confidence that they would meet every expectation, as they are dedicated and enthusiastic about their service to the Guyanese community, and are determined to dedicate two years of their lives to Guyana.
He further encouraged the volunteers to “immerse [themselves] in the experience…. Jump in with both feet, be inquisitive, and approach every situation and encounter with enthusiasm and open-mindedness…. It’s what you leave behind to the benefit of others that counts,” he said.
The people of Guyana and the Ministry of Education have been the beneficiaries of Peace Corps’ activities since 1966. There are some 29 trainers and 600 volunteers of the Peace Corps in Guyana, Chief Education Officer, Olato Sam, said. The Government of Guyana values its relationship with the Peace Corps, and was excited to welcome the new batch of volunteers.
“Over the years, we have been fortunate to have had young, vibrant individuals with wide-ranging skill sets volunteering in schools all across Guyana. They have freely shared their skills and knowledge to support our broader educational objectives. Beyond that, The Peace Corp volunteers, for the most part, serve in the deep hinterland communities, where our teacher shortage issues are well known,” Mr Olato Sam said.
The relationship between the volunteers and the people is, however, the backbone of the partnership, Sam said. He related that because the project is community-based, the volunteers have developed bonds and lasting relationships with communities and host families. “This, I feel, is the essence of the partnership…. They have become mentors for students, shared their life experiences, and learnt from the different cultures existing here,” Sam said.
He recommended that 28 Peace Corp Guyana volunteers be open to venturing out into Guyana and grabbing hold of everything Guyana has to offer. He urged them to ‘soak’ themselves in the culture and people of Guyana. “There is a wealth of opportunity to explore and get immersed in new and different cultures…. Guyana is known for its numerous resources, the most precious among them is the human resource. Our people are among the nicest and most hospitable in the world,” Sam said.
Twenty-eight volunteers were sworn in yesterday at the 25th swearing-in ceremony for the Peace Corps in Guyana. Thirteen of them would be launched out into the health sector, while the others would be dispersed across the country in educational work. They will serve in Guyana for two years, being engaged in community-based assistance. All this, according to Brewer, is made possible through the continuous support of the Government of Guyana and Americans who have funded world development and peace.