Peace Corps Established in Georgia
Peace Corps Established in Georgia
Tbilisi— On April 24th, the Ambassador of the United States, Kenneth Yalowitz, and the Foreign Minister of Georgia, Irakly Menagarishvili, signed an agreement at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tbilisi establishing the Peace Corps in Georgia.
Founded by U.S. President John F. Kennedy in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship, the Peace Corps’ mission is to make available trained American men and women to help with the social and economic development of interested countries, and promote better mutual understanding between Americans and other nations worldwide. Georgia joins over 75 other countries throughout the world currently hosting Peace Corps Volunteers. Other countries in this region with Peace Corps programs include Armenia, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.
This year is especially noteworthy as Peace Corps celebrates its 40th anniversary. More than 155,000 Americans have volunteered to contribute their skills and experience to the social, economic and human development of countries requesting assistance.
Georgia will receive its first Volunteer group on May 1. This pioneer group of 24 men and women, ages 22 - 41, will teach English in secondary schools throughout Eastern and Western Georgia. Later groups, approximately one a year, will work in other projects where their skills are needed. The Peace Corps intends to build up to approximately 70 Volunteers countrywide within the next three years.
Peace Corps volunteers have no special privileges and are often assigned to remote towns and villages where they are expected to become part of the communities in which they serve. The Volunteers receive a modest living allowance that affords them only the same standard of living as their Georgian teacher co-workers. Volunteers commit to serve for two years and work under the supervision of the local school principal. Before starting their assignments, the Volunteers will undergo eight weeks of intensive training in Georgian language, history and customs.
For more information, please contact the Peace Corps office in Tbilisi at 93 Nutsubidze Street, Saburtalo.; tel. 537-283
PUBLIC AFFAIRS SECTION / EMBASSY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Atoneli St. 25, Tbilisi 380026, Georgia Telephone (995-32) 98-99-67 Fax (995-32) 93-37-59
