FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, December 11, 2003

Peace Corps Honduras Receives Donation from Teachers Without Borders

WASHINGTON, D.C., December 11, 2003 – Christmas came early this year for Peace Corps volunteers in Honduras who received 352 computers, equipment and software for schools, libraries and other educational facilities in their communities. The in-kind donation from Teachers Without Borders, totaling $54,825, was geared to increase the scope of computer usage throughout communities and schools in Honduras.

A total of 35 schools, libraries, and other educational facilities in the 25 Honduran communities where Peace Corps volunteers work will benefit from this donation. The Teachers Without Borders organization received the computers from the Montgomery County Public School District in Rockville, Maryland, and then donated the equipment to the Peace Corps through the Peace Corps’ Office of Private Sector Initiatives.

“Peace Corps Honduras greatly appreciates this extremely generous donation and all of the work that has gone into making it a reality. Peace Corps volunteers and staff are scheduling a series of workshops for these entities to ensure that the communities have the technical knowledge and abilities to receive these computers and put them to good use,” stated Jeff Cohen, the Program Training Officer in Honduras.

The donation grew out one volunteer’s initial computer request for a Peace Corps Partnership sponsored library. The span of this tremendous donation will now not only benefit the one volunteer’s community, but also equip the community’s surrounding areas. Teachers Without Borders also provided the money needed to fund the shipping costs.

Fred Mednick, founder of Teachers Without Borders said, “It is an honor for Teachers Without Borders to work with the Peace Corps to help close the educational divide in Honduras.”

The Peace Corps Partnership Program accepts donations for Peace Corps volunteer projects worldwide. All projects are community-initiated and include a 25 percent community contribution. The Peace Corps projects receive 100 percent of any donations. A list of Peace Corps projects in need of funding can be found on the Peace Corps Web site at www.peacecorps.gov/contribute, on the volunteer projects link. If you are interested in donating, you may reach the Office of Private Sector Initiatives at 1-800-424-8580, ext. 2170, or via e-mail at [email protected].

Since 1961, more than 170,000 volunteers have served in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, 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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