FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, November 24, 2010

101 Americans Sworn-In as Peace Corps Volunteers in Morocco and Tanzania

Nearly 180 Americans will be sworn-in as Peace Corps volunteers throughout Thanksgiving week

Washington, D.C., November 24, 2010Sixty-three Americans today were sworn-in as Peace Corps volunteers in Morocco; 38 Americans were sworn-in as Peace Corps volunteers in Tanzania. Each American was sworn-in for two years of service.

Thanksgiving this year has a special meaning for all Americans who will be sworn-in as Peace Corps volunteers after completing their training, said Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams (Dominican Republic 1967-70). I remember my first Thanksgiving as a Peace Corps volunteer and how special it was to share American traditions with new friends. I wish all of our volunteers serving overseas a joyful Thanksgiving and thank them for sharing their generosity and commitment to public service with their local host communities.

In Morocco, 63 Small Business and Youth Development volunteers were sworn into service in the capitol city of Rabat, Morocco. U.S. Ambassador Sam Kaplan gave the keynote address at the swearing-in ceremony. Following the ceremony, the new volunteers had a Thanksgiving-style lunch with Moroccan turkey. On Thanksgiving Day, the new volunteers will depart for their local host communities.

In Tanzania, U.S. Ambassador Alfonso Lenhardt presided over the swearing-in ceremony at the American Embassy in Dar es Salaam for the 38 Peace Corps volunteers, who will work in education. The volunteers will teach in secondary schools, universities, and teacher training colleges throughout Tanzania. Following the ceremony, the volunteers ate a Thanksgiving meal at the Ambassadors residence, which included cranberry sauce, stuffing, corn pudding, and apple pie made by the Ambassador and his family.

For the past two months, each of the new volunteers has undergone intensive cultural, language, and technical training in their country of service. After they are sworn-in, each volunteer will leave for his/her permanent Peace Corps site in a local community. Each volunteer will serve for 27 months, including their training. There is no deadline to apply to serve with the Peace Corps. The agency is recruiting, placing, and training Americans for service in 77 host countries throughout the year.

Over 4,316 Peace Corps Volunteers have served the Morocco since 1963. Peace Corps/Morocco Volunteers are assigned to projects in five primary areas: youth development, health, environment, NGO development, and small business development. Currently, 289 Peace Corps Volunteers are serving in Morocco. Volunteers are trained and work in the following languages: Darisha (Moroccan Arabic), French, Tamazight, and Tashelheet.

Over 2,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Tanzania since 1962. The Peace Corps provides trained American volunteers who work with communities in the fields of secondary education (math, science, and information and communications technology), health promotion, and environmental education.

Nearly 180 Americans will be sworn-in Thanksgiving week as new Peace Corps volunteers in Macedonia, Morocco, Tanzania, and Nicaragua.

About the Peace Corps: President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961 by executive order. Peace Corps will commemorate 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world through 2011. Historically, more than 200,000 Americans have served with the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of 139 host countries. Today, 8,655 volunteers are working with local communities in 77 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

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