U.S. Ambassador stressing the importance of the Peace Corps mission for the people of Turkmenistan
U.S. Ambassador Welcomes New Peace Corps Volunteers
Encouraged by President Bush
U.S. Ambassador Tracey A. Jacobson welcomed a new group of Peace Corps Volunteers to Turkmenistan on September 19, 2003. Ambassador Jacobson met the volunteers in the Gokdere (formerly Chuli) resort settlement, outside of Ashgabat, and wished them success in their two-year assignment in Turkmenistan.
"Peace Corps Volunteers touch many lives. Every year Peace Corps Education Volunteers in Turkmenistan support hundreds of teachers and students. Health Volunteers reach out to hundreds of pregnant women and children in their communities," said the U.S. Ambassador stressing the importance of the Peace Corps mission for the people of Turkmenistan.
The new group of 58 Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Turkmenistan on September 11 and will have a two-month orientation course in communities near Ashgabat. After the swearing-in ceremony, to be held in mid-November, the volunteers will work in all five welayats of Turkmenistan. Thirty-one Education Volunteers will co-teach English with local teachers and conduct regular seminars on English teaching methods. Twenty-seven Community Health Volunteers will work with medical establishments under the Ministry of Health to provide training in healthy lifestyles, reproductive health, and nutrition to community members.
President Bush posing for a picture with Edward and Jane Bardons at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.
Among the newly arrived volunteers are the Bardons, Edward, 70, and Jane, 68, who received President Bush's best wishes and appreciation for their service before they departed for Turkmenistan. On August 26, the U.S. President met them during his visit to St. Paul, Minnesota, where the Bardons had lived for many years. The Bardons had an opportunity to speak privately with the President of the United States about their family, Peace Corps service for older Americans and their upcoming assignment in Turkmenistan.
President Bush was very interested in the Bardons' decision to serve the people of Turkmenistan as Peace Corps volunteers. "The President was very responsive, pleased and appreciative that we were going to Turkmenistan," said Jane Bardon recalling her impressions of her conversation with the U.S. President.
In Turkmenistan, the Bardons will work in the field of preventive health education. "I have a lot of medical knowledge, Jane has the skills to organize great programs. We'll be looking for ways to use these in Turkmenistan," said Edward Bardon, a doctor, psychiatrist and professor of medicine, outlining his and his wife's professional plans for the next two years. The couple is also excited about living with a Turkmen family and learning the Turkmen culture and language.
This year marks the 10th Anniversary of Peace Corps in Turkmenistan, which began its work here in 1993. Since then at least 350 volunteers have served here. The mission of the Peace Corps is to help interested countries meet their needs for skilled professional men and women and to promote better mutual understanding between Americans and citizens of other countries.
