FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, October 18, 2019
Peace Corps re-establishes program in Solomon Islands
WASHINGTON – Almost 20 years after departing Solomon Islands, the Peace Corps announced it will re-establish operations in the South Pacific nation. Peace Corps Director Jody Olsen and the Honorable Harry Kuma, minister of Finance and Treasury of Solomon Islands, celebrated the announcement during a reception today at Peace Corps headquarters.
“Based on the results of a thorough assessment earlier this year, we are pleased to support the return of Peace Corps volunteers,” said Director Olsen. “We are grateful to the Government and people of Solomon Islands for their invitation to have Peace Corps volunteers serve side-by-side with Solomon Islanders in their beautiful country.”
Peace Corps’ efforts in Solomon Islands will initially focus on education and will recruit short-term volunteers with experience in Peace Corps’ education sector to help re-establish the program. This first group of volunteers is scheduled to arrive mid-2021.
In late 2021, the second group of volunteers is slated to arrive. They will undergo three months of comprehensive cultural, language and technical training before they are given their two-year assignments.
From 1971 to 2000, more than 700 Peace Corps volunteers served in Solomon Islands.
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About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad on behalf of the United States to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in education, health, community economic development, agriculture, the environment and youth development. Through their Peace Corps experience, 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, more than 235,000 Americans of all ages have served in 141 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
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