(Suva, Fiji | Friday, August 16, 2024) – Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today with the Honorable Sakiasi Raisevu Ditoka, Fiji’s Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, to align the agency’s work with local priorities through collaborative and impactful service. This agreement represents a renewed and strengthened commitment to inclusive economic development and climate resilience.

"This agreement is a testament to the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to the people of Fiji,” said Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn. “For more than fifty years Peace Corps Volunteers have worked side-by-side with Fijian communities across this beautiful country. This new agreement deepens our resolve to learn from each other and strengthen our global community.”

This MOU solidifies Peace Corps/Fiji’s new Community Economic Empowerment Project established in April 2022, where volunteers partner with iTaukei villages to build capacities in project design and management, improve income-generating activities, and strengthen personal money management skills. During her visit, Director Spahn met with volunteers, local organizations, and the Blue Pacific Youth Champions, young leaders from rural communities across the Pacific who are participating in a year-long program to learn about climate adaptation and resilience strategies to facilitate projects in their own communities.

Since 1968, more than 2,600 Peace Corps Volunteers have lived and worked side-by-side the Fijian people since the governments of Fiji and the United States signed a bilateral agreement to establish a country program to promote world peace and friendship.

The Peace Corps invites U.S. citizens from all backgrounds, who embody the spirit of service and cross-cultural understanding, to become volunteers. The next application deadline is October 1, 2024. Interested individuals are encouraged to apply online to contribute to global peace and friendship. Visit PeaceCorps.gov/Bold to learn more about Peace Corps Volunteer service and how volunteers connect with immersive experiences in over 60 countries.