Ron Tschetter visits Namibia



Ron Tschetter leaves the Republic of Namibia today following a successful four day trip that included meeting Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, and government officials. “The people of Namibia are so warm and gracious, and Peace Corps Volunteers are assisting them as they continue to develop and grow,” said Director Tschetter. “I visited with outstanding Volunteers who are training the next generation of educators, as well as the next generation of children with innovative farming techniques and information technology.” Ron Tschetter is the seventeenth Director of the Peace Corps. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in India in the 1960's.

Ron Tschetter visits Namibia

Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter Visits Namibia

Director Tschetter visited Peace Corps Volunteers, staff and government officials during his visit to the Republic of Namibia.

WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20, 2007 - Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter leaves the Republic of Namibia today following a successful four day trip that included meeting Peace Corps Volunteers, staff, and government officials.

“The people of Namibia are so warm and gracious, and Peace Corps Volunteers are assisting them as they continue to develop and grow,” said Director Tschetter. “I visited with outstanding Volunteers who are training the next generation of educators, as well as the next generation of children with innovative farming techniques and information technology.”

The Peace Corps entered into Namibia in 1990, with Volunteers working primarily in education. Today, Volunteers work in education and health, particularly with HIV/AIDS prevention and in reaching orphans and vulnerable children. Nearly 1,000 Volunteers have served in Namibia.

In addition to visiting Volunteers, Director Tschetter met with Prime Minister Nahas Gideon Angula, who had signed the original Peace Corps country agreement with Namibia in 1990. The Director also met with King Elithas Kauluma, a traditional local leader, and officials from the Ministry of Education.

“The innovation Peace Corps Volunteers bring to the projects where they serve is endless,” remarked Director Tschetter. “Young people in Namibia are eager to learn and continue the growth of their nation, and the Peace Corps is honored to serve there.”

Jason Sears is a Peace Corps Volunteer from Idaho serving in Namibia. He teaches basic and advanced computer skills to youth and has a select group of students who go to other schools to teach. These students are learning how to become information technology specialists themselves and repairing old computers for use in local libraries.

Judith Harper from Michigan was a school principal and teacher in the United States before retiring and becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer. She is taking her experience and training student teachers. Namibia has lost many teachers due to the HIV/AIDS pandemic, and the important work Judith is doing will ensure the country has high-quality teachers in the years to come.

A returned Peace Corps Volunteer, William “Kyle” Orth, just came to Namibia as a Crisis Corps Volunteer. He is developing better financial systems for a project refurbishing old bicycles to be sold at low costs to struggling Namibians and to organizations supporting local volunteers who provide home-based care to people living with HIV/AIDS. Transportation can be a major issue for home-based care, and providing bicycles will allow caregivers to reach more people more quickly.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: February, 2007; Ron Tschetter; Peace Corps Namibia; Directory of Namibia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Namibia RPCVs; Ron Tschetter (Director 2006 - ); Peace Corps India; Directory of India RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for India RPCVs

When this story was posted in March 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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February 23, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Hill announces Draft Accord in North Korea Nuclear Talks 12 Feb Dodd builds connections in New Hampshire 19 Feb PCVs accused of counterinsurgency activities 19 Feb Harris Wofford declares support for Obama 18 Feb Tschetter becomes the first Director to visit Malawi 16 Feb New Fellows Program at Yale University 15 Feb Sidney Slover helps start donut production in Honduras 16 Feb Kevin O'Donnell's Daughter and Granddaughter are PCVs 14 Feb Joe Krueger helps restore Liberia's timber industry 14 Feb Peace Corps Hippies 13 Feb Maryland RPCVs to screen "American Idealist" on March 3 9 Feb Aaron Kase writes: Moon over Africa 8 Feb Margaret Krome writes: 'Rogue nations' aren't only threat 8 Feb Shays says he would Support McCain 8 Feb A Mistrial for Lieut. Watada 8 Feb Chris Matthews drops the F-bomb 8 Feb RPCVs - Believe it or not 07 Feb White House requests $334 Million for Peace Corps 5 Feb Carol Bellamy writes: We need an Earth Corps 3 Feb First Group of PCVs arrive in Cambodia 2 Feb Mae Jemison wears red for charity 2 Feb Dear Miss Lonelyhearts 30 Jan

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Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

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PCOL readership increases 100% Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

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History of the Peace Corps PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.

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