Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn: Knee-Sah Boo-Laha!

Honorable Minister Sakiasi Raisevu Ditoka, Honorable Assistant Minister Jovesa Vocea, Permanent Secretary Isoa Talemaibua, friends and honored guests, what an honor it is to be here with all of you today as we open a new chapter in the relationship between the Peace Corps and the people of Fiji.

56 years ago, the government of Fiji invited the Peace Corps to this nation rich in culture, history, and natural beauty and to work in partnership with the Fijian people. And together, we have fostered peace, friendship, and understanding between our two nations, while working to open doors of opportunity and strengthen the capacities of local communities.

But the unique challenges of today are far different from those of 1968.

We live in a world, today, whose climate is changing at an ever-more rapid pace, threatening our delicate ocean ecosystems, our agriculture, our infrastructure, our communities, our livelihoods, and our heritages.

We live in a world where all of our communities, including our remote and indigenous ones, are still working to recover from a once in a century global pandemic.

A world which is growing more digital and more interconnected by the day, meaning it is more important than ever that we work together to invest the socioeconomic growth of all of our communities so they – and everyone living in them – have the tools and resources to compete in the global economy.

The agreement we sign today builds on the decades of our shared partnership and friendship as it signifies our joint commitment to tackling these challenges together – especially when it comes to disaster management, climate resilience, and community development in rural and maritime communities.

Working together, we can empower Fiji’s communities – especially those in rural areas – to thrive in the face of adversity.

I know that it has taken a while for us to get to this point…that this agreement has been a work in progress for at least three years. But I am deeply grateful to Fiji’s Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management for their collaboration and their steadfast commitment to making this day and this testament to our shared values of service, collaboration, and community empowerment a reality.

This is a very exciting moment. And I know that I speak for all of us at the Peace Corps when I say that we are eager to collaborate with our friends at the Ministry so that we can bring about meaningful and sustainable development that benefits the people of Fiji, enriches the lives of our Peace Corps Volunteers, and that strengthens our enduring friendship.

Vinaka vakalevu. (Thank You)