Ninth Group of Peace Corps Volunteers Begins Service in Macedonia
Ninth Group of Peace Corps Volunteers Begins Service in Macedonia
Veles, Macedonia - On Monday, December 6, 2004, the ninth group of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers in the Republic of Macedonia completes their pre-service training and begins two years of service.
Thirty-Seven new Volunteers have completed 12 weeks of pre-service training in Veles and the surrounding communities, and will begin their service in twenty-four communities in Macedonia.
Peace Corps Country Director Diana Schmidt said, "Mayor Ace Kocevski and the people of Veles, the training center hub, have been very gracious. The communities of Gradsko, Chaska, Buzalkovo, Bashino Selo, and Prevalec, which hosted the Volunteers during training, have been wonderfully warm and welcoming to the Peace Corps."
Training included intensive Macedonian language instruction, and for those volunteers who will work in western parts of the country, both Albanian and Macedonian Language instruction. It also provided information about the Macedonian educational system, the economic and business situation, an orientation to governmental and non-governmental organizations and programs, and environmental issues. Volunteers also received practical hands-on training by practice- teaching at local schools, working at municipal and non-governmental organizations, and implementing small community development projects in the Veles area. Each Volunteer lived with a host family to gain a better understanding of the Macedonian community and culture, and to help them more quickly develop their language skills.
The newly-qualified Volunteers will move on to their assignments throughout the Republic of Macedonia. Thirteen Volunteers will work with English language education, twelve will help non-governmental and local government organizations, and another twelve will work on environmental education and management activities with various organizations throughout the country. Volunteers will work in the communities of Delchevo, Stip, Veles, Tetovo, Kicevo, Prilep, Kumanovo, Zrnovci, Kriva Palanka, Ohrid, Struga, Sveti Nikole, Strumica, Zletovo, Berovo, Kratovo, Bistrica, Debar, Leskoec, Belcishte, Vrapcishte, Makedonski Brod, Demir Kapija, and Skopje .
A tenth group of 31 trainees is expected in September of next year, and will begin serving in additional communities throughout Macedonia next December.
The Peace Corps, now in its 42nd year, was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy. The Peace Corps has three goals: 1. to assist countries requesting skilled individuals to provide technical assistance, 2. to help promote a better understanding of the American people through the individual Volunteers, and 3. to share with American communities and families information about the communities and countries where Volunteers live and work. Through these efforts, Peace Corps Volunteers work to foster peace in the international community and better understanding among people of different cultures and heritages.
More than 7,500 Peace Corps Volunteers currently live and work in local communities in 70 countries around the world. Volunteers work with projects in education, business development, agriculture, environmental awareness, youth development and health care. Peace Corps Volunteers are now serving in a number of Eastern European countries including Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova, Albania and Ukraine.
For more information about the Peace Corps program in Macedonia, please contact the offices at Ul. Oslo 6, 1000 Skopje, or telephone 02/3090-012.
