FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, April 9, 2015

Peace Corps & Moroccan Foreign Minister Honor Longstanding Partnership

Kingdom of Morocco announces $100,000 donation to support volunteers’ work

WASHINGTON, D.C., April 9, 2015 – The Peace Corps today welcomed Moroccan Foreign Minister Salaheddine Mezouar, Moroccan Ambassador to the U.S. Rachad Bouhlal, U.S. Ambassador to Morocco Dwight L. Bush, Sr., and other high-level Moroccan officials to the agency’s headquarters for a ceremony to commemorate Peace Corps’ longstanding partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco.

During the ceremony, Moroccan Foreign Minister Mezouar announced a $100,000 donation to the Peace Corps to support and extend the work of volunteers in Morocco in memory of President John F. Kennedy. The donation is part of an ongoing gift – following a commitment made during the visit of King Mohammed VI to the White House in November 2013 – that will fund sustainable, community-based volunteer projects through the Peace Corps Partnership Program’s Morocco Country Fund.

“We are incredibly grateful for the strong partnership we have with the Kingdom of Morocco and for this very generous gift,” Peace Corps Chief of Staff Laura Chambers said. “Over the past 52 years, Peace Corps volunteers have made significant contributions to Moroccan communities, and this commitment will help to expand and enrich our volunteers’ development impact.”

Over the past ten years, the Peace Corps Partnership Program has supported the implementation of 227 volunteer projects in Morocco. Resources from the Morocco Country Fund are allocated by the Peace Corps Country Director across a variety of volunteer projects throughout the country.

The Peace Corps has 180 volunteers in Morocco working with their communities on youth development projects. During their service, volunteers learn to speak local languages, including Derija, Tamazight and Tashelheet. More than 4,730 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Morocco since the program was established in 1963.

About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest Americans abroad on behalf of the United States to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Volunteers work at the grassroots level to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. Through their service, volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a life-long commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today’s global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, nearly 220,000 Americans of all ages have served in 140 countries worldwide. For more information, visit www.peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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