Largest group of US Peace Corps volunteers starts work in Jamaica
Largest group of US Peace Corps volunteers starts work in Jamaica
Observer Reporter
Monday, August 25, 2003
US Peace Corps volunteers pose for a photograph shortly after their arrival in the island approximately seven weeks ago. (File photo)
SEVENTY-SEVEN new Peace Corps workers at the weekend began two-year assignments in Jamaica, forming the largest group of United States volunteers to ever work to promote development at the grass-roots level here.
The volunteers were sworn in Friday evening before more than 400 people at Rex Nettleford Hall, University of the West Indies, Mona campus.
COBB... your work will be one of the greatest or most rewarding experiences
"I really am looking forward to being here, and maybe, in some small way, making a difference for the people of Jamaica," said James Weldon Price of Greensboro, North Carolina.
The current group is the 74th to work here since 1962, and brings to 128, the number of volunteers across the island. The ultimate goal is to increase the number of volunteers to 200 by 2005.
Over the next two years, the volunteers are expected to promote projects in health, water and sanitation; youth development; information and communication technology; HIV/AIDS education and prevention; and environmental education and promotion programmes.
US Ambassador Sue Cobb told the volunteers they were bound to encounter hardships, but that their work would be "one of the greatest or most rewarding experiences" of their lives. She called the volunteers "special ambassadors" who will promote "peace and friendship" in every parish.
Since arriving seven weeks ago, the men and women, ranging from their early 20s to 70s, have been engaged in cultural immersion and training programmes. For much of that time, they lived with host families in the rural communities of Linstead, Old Harbour Bay and Tryall Heights in St Catherine.
Sir Howard Cooke, governor-general, praised the volunteers' spirit of public service. Echoing the words of Jamaica's late prime minister, Michael Manley, he said: "You can only build a nation if you build the communities."
The increase in US volunteers to Jamaica comes after US President George W Bush pledged to nearly double the number of Peace Corps volunteers to 13,000 worldwide.
US president, John F Kennedy, conceived of the Peace Corps in 1961, and approximately 4,000 volunteers have worked here since then.
Worldwide, more than 160,000 Americans have served in 134 countries as volunteers.
Jamaica was one of the 22 countries to receive volunteers in 1962 during the programme's second year.
