The US Peace Corps is tripling the number of Peace Corps volunteers who will serve communities in Myanmar, Mizzima News reports.
A total of 31 new Peace Corps volunteers were sworn in at a ceremony at Karaweik Palace at Kandawgyi Lake on April 6. The volunteers will serve for two years in the English education sector in Myanmar. During their two years of service, volunteers will teach English at basic education middle and high schools in Yangon Region, Bago Region and for the first time in Mon State. They have joined 14 Volunteers who are currently serving in Myanmar.
“The strong bonds of friendship and respect that Peace Corps volunteers build with communities in Myanmar are deeply important for our two countries,” US Ambassador Scot Marciel said.
This is the third and largest group of American volunteers to serve in Myanmar. They come from all parts of the United States and reflect the country’s great diversity. These volunteers successfully completed a ten-week pre-service training programme on Myanmar language and culture, job-specific skills, and health and safety. To facilitate their learning, the volunteers lived in a local community in Bago Region, learnt from local sponsor families, and conducted practice school lessons for Myanmar students.
Country Director Maura Fulton administered the volunteer pledge and told the new volunteers, “You will help to strengthen friendships and cross-cultural understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Myanmar, bringing our two nations’ hearts closer together through your work in the community.”
Peace Corps volunteers began working in Myanmar in 2016. With the addition of this new group, Peace Corps is tripling the number of volunteers serving the people of Myanmar; 45 Volunteers now live and work side-by-side with their Myanmar counterparts.