WASHINGTON – Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen completed a visit to Ecuador this week. She met with Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno and with Fander Falconi, Minister of Education, to discuss further cooperation efforts with Peace Corps in Ecuador. Director Olsen also delivered remarks at a conference for Peace Corps Country Directors from the Inter-America and Pacific region and visited with Peace Corps/Ecuador staff and volunteers. The visit marks 56 years of uninterrupted service of Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador.

At the beginning of the visit, Director Olsen traveled to Imbabura Province to learn more about volunteers’ work. Today, Peace Corps volunteers in Ecuador work in the sectors of education, youth and family development, and community health education, all of which align with the country’s national development plan, “Toda Una Vida.” There are currently approximately 150 Peace Corps volunteers serving in Ecuador in 17 provinces around the country.

“I can see that the work our volunteers do at the community level is both relevant and meaningful,” said Olsen during her visit. “I was able to experience firsthand the significant impact their work has on local communities, and their continued interest in doing more to help the people of Ecuador achieve their goals.”

U.S. Ambassador Todd C. Chapman, an avid supporter of Peace Corps in Ecuador, met with Director Olsen to discuss the program and accompanied her in meetings with local authorities. “Peace Corps volunteers are the face of America in Ecuador,” said Chapman. “They are people-to-people ambassadors engaged in grassroots diplomacy across the country. Welcoming new volunteers to Ecuador is one of my favorite responsibilities as Ambassador.”