Director's Welcome

Over five decades ago, President John F. Kennedy challenged the American people to serve their fellow man through public service abroad. To do something bigger than themselves, and for the benefit of someone other than themselves.

The more than 250 currently serving Volunteers of Peace Corps Ethiopia are the most recent to answer President Kennedy’s call. They promote the noble ideals of world peace and friendship by providing technical support through a model of cross-cultural exchange, whereby each serves the interests and development aspirations of communities in which they live for two years. These Volunteers strive to earn a place as active and participating members of their host communities, living and working side by side, both sharing in the challenges and celebrating in the achievements, together. In the end, the reward for Volunteers is solely in knowing that they have given of themselves for the benefit of another and have become better citizens of the world by doing so.

I am pleased to join the entire Peace Corps Ethiopia team in welcoming you to this website that describes the many activities pursued by our Volunteers in the development sectors of Secondary Education, Community Health, and Environment and Agriculture. From the information in this site you will gain an understanding of how Volunteers contribute to positive change at the grass-roots level within the regions of Amhara, Oromia, Southern Nations, and Tigray, and how this positive change helps to improve both the lives and opportunities of those we are here to serve.

We are proud to support the communities and government of Ethiopia as a partner for development and progress since re-establishment of this program in 2007, and we look forward to many more notable contributions in the years to come.

Obie Shaw
Country Director