Speeches
Remarks by Van Nelson, Peace Corps/Cambodia Director, July 4, 2007 TV Special
July 04, 2007
Questions 1: Peace Corps swore in its first ever group of Volunteers for Cambodia this year. Can you tell us about the ceremony?
Van Nelson: The swearing-in ceremony was a great affair. There were hundreds of Cambodians there, the Minister of Education, the Director of the Peace Corps from Washington D.C., dignitaries, people from the district and provincial education offices, host families from Kampong Cham where they lived during training, and host families who will host the Volunteers for the next two years. It was a lot of fun and great excitement.
Question 2: Can you tell us more about the Peace Corps program in Cambodia?
Van Nelson: The Peace Corps program now in its first year in Cambodia is basically working with English education. We have volunteers working in upper secondary schools and in provincial teacher training centers, where of course they tech English to students and work with co-teachers helping to refine their skills. Also Volunteers work with their communities on community projects which are defined by the Volunteers. Volunteers live basically in districts and four or five live in provincial capitals.
Question 3: Can you tell us about the cooperation PC has received from the Cambodian government?
Van Nelson: I must tell you that the cooperation of the Cambodian government has been wonderful. The Peace Corps is an agency of the U.S. government. We are here at the invitation of the government of Cambodian, and at all levels -- district, commune, provincial, national -- we've had great cooperation from the government, from the police, from the education department. Throughout the country, we've had great cooperation.
Question 4: What has been the reaction of the Peace Corps Volunteers to working in Cambodia?
Van Nelson: The Volunteers are very, very happy in Cambodia. They first lived in Kampong Cham with host families for two months, and they had families, new families, a whole new start in Cambodia. And now they live in Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Kampot, Takeo, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, and Battambang and they have new families, new friends. And they feel very productive. They enjoy teaching new students; they enjoy working with their fellow teachers, and it's been very, very positive for them.
