The 23rd batch of Peace Corps volunteers were on April 14 sworn in at a ceremony held at the Theatre Guild. The volunteers were encouraged to continue their work in helping to deliver services in the health and education sectors here.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Assistant Chief Education Officer Melcita Bovell, representing the Education Ministry, stated that the work of Peace Corps volunteers is one that cannot be matched, since the best service they can offer is service to humanity. “This is what links us as a people; this is where we cross borders; this is where we stop being Guyanese citizens and American citizens,” she said.
One of the 36 new Peace Corps volunteers receiving her pin of service
Bovell noted that many volunteers believe in the idea that their legacy lies in the work they have done over the years of Peace Corps’ existence. However, she said that their legacy is how in doing their work, they have empowered men and women in every part of Guyana and given them the courage to raise their voices, the ability to make decisions they may have been scared to make, and the know-how to be the best that they can be.
“So the legacy of the Peace Corps is perhaps ministers of government, head teachers, regional chairmen, people who are making important authoritative decisions to steer our country forward. This is so, because your work starts in the classroom and in the health centre where you are empowering young minds and helping to build a nation,” she said.
She explained that Guyana stands tall today because of its partnership with groups like the Peace Corps. She stated that there will be tough times up ahead, but encouraged the volunteers to remember that they stand on the strong shoulders of those who came before.
Nazeem Hussein, representing the Health Ministry, recalled the work of influential Peace Corps volunteers that made a difference in Guyana. One such volunteer was Julia Rehwinkle-Roberts, who is now an HIV/AIDS activist working with USAID in Guyana. He went on to mention the fact that several of these volunteers – including Rehwinkle-Roberts – even end up marrying and settling in Guyana or taking their spouses with them. “So, you see, not only do they come and fall in love with Guyana, but many of them fall in love with the people of Guyana,” he said.
Chargé d’affaires of the U.S. embassy Thomas Pierce before reciting the formal oath with the volunteers, welcomed them to Guyana and encouraged them to enjoy every aspect of its pristine beauty. He explained though that Guyana’s diversity is not only limited to its natural beauty, but is also visible in its culture. He also extended gratitude to the host families with whom the volunteers stayed during their pre-service training course since they arrived on February 15.
The 36-member team had been involved in preservice training over the past nine weeks in different parts of Guyana learning how to integrate into Guyanese society, understand Peace Corps policies and procedures to enhance their field work, and how to function effectively in the areas of community health education and community education promotion.
The volunteers will now be dispatched into more than 31 communities throughout the country to perform humanitarian projects over the next two years.
The Peace Corps arrived in Guyana in 1966 and served through 1971 before the termination of its operations here.
The corps returned in 1995 and since then, more than 400 volunteers have served the people of Guyana. The year 2011 also marks 50 years of the Peace Corps promoting world peace and friendship. Since 1961, more than 200,000 volunteers have served in 139 countries.
