About Samoa

Email

Phone

685-22345

In 1967, after experiencing a devastating cyclone, Samoa invited the Peace Corps to the country. The first Volunteers worked in rural villages, leading health and hygiene projects for the Department of Health. These early Volunteers remain well known for the introduction of water-seal toilets.

The next groups to follow were civil engineers, architects, accountants, statisticians, and economic planners who served under the Public Works Department. One early Volunteer was the architect of the present Parliament building at Mulinu’u and the supporting offices of the Legislative Assembly.

Volunteers also had a significant impact on infrastructure development, including the Faleolo International Airport terminal and school buildings. Some took up prominent executive positions in various government departments, such as acting directors of public works.

In health care, Volunteers have served as researchers in the effort to control the parasitic disease filariasis and have worked at the National Hospital as nutrition educators and dietitians. Other Volunteers have worked as small business advisers and as youth development workers.

The majority of Volunteers, however, have been classroom teachers and advisers with the Ministry of Education. They have helped build the capacity of local teachers by serving in classrooms, working directly with students and supporting the professional development of teachers. Volunteers have taught in a variety of subject areas, including business, computer studies, English, mathematics, and science.

Many Samoans, including the current prime minister, have been touched by the Peace Corps and are happy to share stories about their favorite Pisikoa teacher, colleague, or friend.

Volunteer satisfaction, health, and safety

Partners

Peace Corps Samoa works with the following partners to implement projects.

Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC)
Peace Corps/Samoa's current project focus area is English Literacy. The Primary School English Literacy Program was developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in 2012. MESC actively supports Peace Corps' work in the schools and is Peace Corps Samoa's primary education partner.

Resources

Peace Corps service is a life-changing experience, and no two Volunteers experience their service in exactly the same way. Check out some of the links below to learn more about our country and the experiences other Volunteers have had serving here.

General Information

Samoa 2018 Annual Report

Manuals and Guides

Home to online resources representing the work and life of Peace Corps staff and Volunteers.

National Peace Corps Association

The National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) is made up of returned Volunteers. You can find links to all the “Friends of” groups for most countries of service.

U.S. Department of State

To find information about countries around the world, including social and political history, travel information, and U.S. embassy websites.

Beautiful Samoa

The Samoan Tourism Authority's website has a wealth of information on Samoan life and culture, places to visit, events, maps, practical information and things to do.

You can also search the Internet for "Peace Corps blogs Samoa" and find the blogs of Peace Corps Volunteers in Samoa, with links to other bloggers as well.

News About Samoa

Samoa Observer

The online link to Samoa’s main daily newspaper.

Samoa Meteorology Services

This is the official site for the Samoa Meteorology Division. Weather reports for Samoa are updated several times daily, and the site includes highlights of current weather-related news from the Pacific region and worldwide.

Development Sites About Samoa

U.S. Agency of International Development

Learn more about other U.S. international development initiatives.

MESC

The Ministry of Education, Sports, and Culture (MESC) website provides information for the general public, anyone involved in the Samoan Education System, and the stakeholders in sports and the cultural life in Samoa.

UNDP

United Nations Development Programme, including links to the United Nations Volunteers Programme

UNESCO

United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

SPREP

South Pacific Regional Environment Programme

JICA

Japan International Cooperation Agency

Recommended Books

Alailima (Calkins), Fay G. Aggie Grey: A Samoan Saga. Honolulu: Mutual Publishing Company, 1988.

Anderson, Charles R. Melville in the South Seas. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 1966.

Beaglehole, John C. The Exploration of the Pacific. Palo Alto, CA: Stanford University Press, third edition, 1983.

Calkins, Fay G. My Samoan Chief. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1971.

Figel, Sia. Where We Once Belonged. New York City: Kaya Press; Kaya Press edition, 2003.

Stevenson, Robert Louis. In the South Seas. Middlesex, England: Penguin Books Ltd., reprinted 1998.

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