FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Wednesday, August 27, 2003

Listen: Westwood One`s Jan Sluizer Interviews Peace Corps Volunteers Upon Their Departure for Uzbekistan

WASHINGTON, D.C., August 27, 2003 – On August 16th in Philadelphia, PA, a group of 57 Peace Corps volunteers headed for service in Uzbekistan gathered for a two-day pre-departure orientation session. Westwood One\'s Jan Sluizer was on hand to interview staff and volunteers about their Peace Corps experience. Click here to listen to the interview.

The 57 volunteers in this training group will be on assignment in Uzbekistan as teachers of English as a foreign language (TEFL). The volunteers will teach in a variety of areas including secondary schools, universities, and as teacher trainers.

Peace Corps volunteers first arrived in Uzbekistan in December 1992. Since then, over 600 volunteers have worked in English education and resource development, business education and development, and health. In addition, volunteers across all sectors have worked on numerous "secondary" projects including regional craft centers, environmental education, and local baseball leagues.

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health and HIV/AIDS education and awareness, information technology, business development, the environment, and agriculture. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.

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