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US Peace Corps volunteers to tackle health, education
The 32 United States Peace Corps volunteers, who recently completed their two-month training in Guyana and were sworn in officially as volunteer workers yesterday, are expected to tackle the areas of health and education
The US Peace Corps volunteers taking the Oath at yesterday’s ceremony.
as they move forward in their two years of service.
After two days of commencing their training, the volunteers were already making recommendations for the areas where they were placed and it was recognized immediately, that much work has to be done in the areas of adult literacy, community waste management and health among other areas.
Ambassador Brent Hardt who administered the Oath to the volunteers at the Conference Centre on the East Coast of Demerara, recognized Guyana as a developing country which is faced with challenges of poverty, HIV/AIDS epidemic, ethnic/ racial divisions, crime and security threats and education gaps. The US, he said, has a strong interest in the partnership with Guyana to support national interest in addressing diverse challenges.
Minister of Health Bheri Ramsaran, after giving a history lesson on the contribution of American-born former President Janet Jagan and speaking extensively on the partnership of Guyana and the US, expressed eagerness in the volunteers commencing their service in the health sector. He highlighted that the Ministry would be advocating feverishly in addressing the issue of non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
The Minister hopes to launch, this year, a Presidential Commission on NCDs. The Minister hoped also that the Peace Corps and the Ministry on the next occasion would work closer in looking at areas to address, since he touched on environmental areas where he thought the Corps would be more effective.
Deputy Chief Education Officer, Donna Chapman, explained that literacy development is an integral part of the Education Ministry’s 2008-2013 strategic plan. She said that now that the Ministry is in the process of completing the new plan, literacy continues to be emphasized. She was enthused that the volunteers would be working in the areas of teaching strategies, development and maintenance of school libraries and remedial work to list a few.
Peace Corps Country Director, Linda Arbogast, explained that the Peace Corps officers are the 26th batch to offer their services in Guyana. The thirty-two persons will operate in the service Corps which was started by former American President John F. Kennedy in 1961.
The group received their pins and certificates yesterday. They will be posted in Regions one, two, three, four, five, six and ten.
Arbogast pointed out that the volunteers have recognized gaps in adult literacy among other areas and suggested the operation of community clean-up campaigns; compost systems, book clubs, after school homework clubs, and healthy cooking classes, among lessons on the kindness to and respect of creatures.
Volunteers will reside with host families, and will receive stipends from the Embassy for modest living.
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