FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, June 19, 2008

Peace Corps Director Visits Ukraine

Tschetter tours Southern Ukraine, meets with U.S. Ambassador, Volunteers in Peace Corps largest country program

KYIV, UKRAINE, June 19, 2008Yesterday, Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter wrapped up a seven day tour of Ukraine, where he met with the U.S.
Ambassador to Ukraine William B. Taylor, toured the country surveying the work of the Peace Corps, and visited over 100 Volunteers.

Ukraine is Peace Corps largest program and hosts 288 Peace Corps Volunteers. Volunteers are serving in the areas of community development, education, and youth development. Since 1992, nearly 2,000 Volunteers have served in Ukraine.

Director Tschetter visited several Volunteer projects and sites in Southern Ukraine. In the city of Sevastopol, Tschetter met Volunteer Jason Gilpin, a community development Volunteer and Masters International student at the University of Denver. Gilpin is working with an NGO, Club Modus, assisting their work with democracy building initiatives, HIV/AIDS prevention, drug abuse programs, and legal advocacy and public trust issues. Lydmilla Litvinenko, Gilpins Ukrainian counterpart, praised his working saying, Jason is simply the best. He doesnt deny assistance to any organization that needs his expertise or help. We are so thankful of for his contribution to our community.

Tschetter also had the opportunity to learn about the project of Peace Corps Volunteer Scott Slankard, who is working with the Crimean Tatar Museum of Art to preserve the history and culture of the marginalized Tartar people. Slankard obtained funds to introduce computerized archiving and research tools. With Slankards help, the museum and its mission has been transformed into a project vital to the preservation of the history of the Tartars in the Crimea. Of Slankards projects, Tschetter said, I am proud of the initiative that Scott has demonstrated and the important preservation work he is doing along with his Ukrainian counterparts. It is a fascinating project.

To learn more about Peace Corps/Ukraine, visit the Where Do Volunteers Go? web page.

The Peace Corps is celebrating a 47-year legacy of service at home and abroad, and a 37-year high for Volunteers in the field. Since 1961, more than 190,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served, including Ukraine. 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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