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The third group of American Peace Corp volunteers to Cambodia were sworn in at a ceremony presided over by Im Sethy, the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, and the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol A. Rodley.
Third Group of American Peace Corp Volunteers to Cambodia Sworn in
September 25, 2009
On September 25th, the third group of American Peace Corp volunteers to Cambodia were sworn in at a ceremony presided over by Im Sethy, the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, and the U.S. Ambassador to Cambodia Carol A. Rodley.
The Peace Corp volunteers will train teachers and teach English in Upper Secondary Schools and Regional Teacher Training Centers in 11 provinces throughout the country. They will also work with community groups, including NGOs, to address their community’s needs. Volunteers with the Peace Corp will live with Cambodian families throughout their two years of service. In Ambassador Rodley’s opening remarks, she commented that, “the Peace Corps combines a number of basic traits from American society - willingness to volunteer, willingness to learn, willingness to share, belief in change, and enthusiasm to focus on the tasks at hand. ”
The Peace Corps have three main goals; to help peoples of other countries in meeting their needs for trained manpower, to promote a better understanding of the American people on the part of the people served, and to promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the American people. Since September 26th 2009, there have been 72 Peace Corp volunteers in service here in Cambodia, with an additional 55 scheduled for next year.
Cambodia has asked the Peace Corp to provide English teachers at the high school level and in teacher training centers throughout the country. The Peace Corp volunteers are also able to learn from the families that they are living with and gain a deeper understanding of Cambodia and its people.
In her closing remarks Ambassador Rodley stressed this point and stated that, “I would like congratulate this year’s group of volunteers on the completion of your training. The road ahead will not be easy, but then again, if it was easy it probably wouldn’t be worth doing. I believe that you represent the best that our country has to offer and that you are about to undertake a life changing journey in which you will learn much more than you are able to teach. Good luck in the coming two years and don’t be surprised if I come and visit your schools no matter how remote they are.”
