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New Peace Corps Director Welcomed by Moroccans and Volunteers



Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter traveled to the Kingdom of Morocco from November 9-13 — his first official trip — to meet with Peace Corps Volunteers and government officials. Tschetter, the 17th director of the Peace Corps, was a Peace Corps Volunteer in India from 1966-68 with his wife, Nancy, who accompanied him in Morocco. Shortly after his arrival in Morocco, Director Tschetter met with Peace Corps Volunteers serving in a variety of programs in the four sectors of environment, youth development, health, and small business development. Ron Tschetter is the seventeenth Director of the Peace Corps. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in India in the 1960's.

New Peace Corps Director Welcomed by Moroccans and Volunteers

On First Overseas Visit, New Peace Corps Director Welcomed by Moroccans and Volunteers

Caption: Volunteer Lindsay Kurlak and Director Tschetter stand in front of an embroidered cloth hanging, representing the work of the women's textile association.

WASHINGTON, D.C., November 15, 2006 – Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter traveled to the Kingdom of Morocco from November 9-13 — his first official trip — to meet with Peace Corps Volunteers and government officials. Tschetter, the 17th director of the Peace Corps, was a Peace Corps Volunteer in India from 1966-68 with his wife, Nancy, who accompanied him in Morocco.

Shortly after his arrival in Morocco, Director Tschetter met with Peace Corps Volunteers serving in a variety of programs in the four sectors of environment, youth development, health, and small business development.

His first visit was to Lindsay Kurlack, of Pittsburgh, who is working with a women's artisan association in a village near Marrakech, helping them to develop more marketable textile products, a computer training program, and better business skills.

In a meeting with Director Tschetter, Atika Ait Nejjar, the president of the women's artisan association, and Kurlack's local counterpart, said, "I want to thank the Peace Corps for its help with the artisan community. Lindsay has touched our lives and expanded our opportunities."

Director Tschetter visited another small business development Volunteer, Nam LaMore, who has over 15 years of Silicon Valley, Calif., marketing experience.

LaMore is providing training to woodworking artisans to improve their sales profit and explore new markets for their cedar wood goods.



Caption: Volunteer Nam LaMore and a local artisan show a carving from the wood working cooperative.

"Nam is a great example of how relevant Peace Corps' three goals remain after 45 years," said Director Tschetter. "Nam has brought his training and unique background to the woodworkers and has integrated into the community. Not only is Nam creating a better understanding of Americans here in Morocco, but he has a deep appreciation of Moroccans that he will bring back to the United States to share."

U.S. Ambassador Thomas Riley, a strong supporter of the Peace Corps, hosted Director Tschetter at a reception honoring the Peace Corps, attended by many of Morocco's government officials, including the Minister of Health.

"I am very impressed and pleased with the warm welcome of the Moroccan people, and the tremendous work of the Peace Corps Volunteers in Morocco. The Peace Corps Volunteers are all serving at the grassroots level, providing valuable skills and forming strong friendships with the Moroccan people," said Director Tschetter.



Caption: Director Tschetter participates in Volunteer Tia Tucker's English class.

Director Tschetter also visited Tia Tucker, a youth development Volunteer from Sulfur, La. Tucker is teaching English and developing youth programs in a mid-Atlas Mountain community vocational school for girls. Tucker observed how eager the young women in her community are to learn English and experience American culture through her creative instruction of film, handicraft projects, and the choreography of hip-hop dance.

"I want the people of Morocco to know that I'm more than just an English teacher: I'm their American friend," she said.

In addition to meeting current Volunteers, Director Tschetter met many of the 54 Peace Corps trainees in Morocco, who will be sworn-in shortly. The trainees include several married couples, including one couple who will bring significant experience to their work as Peace Corps small business development Volunteers.

Since 1963, more than 3,800 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Morocco, one of the three Muslim Arab countries in which Peace Corps operates. Today, there are 139 Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Morocco. Currently, 20 percent of all Peace Corps Volunteers are serving in predominately Muslim countries. To learn more about Morocco, please visit the Where Do Volunteers Go? section.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2006; Ron Tschetter; COS - Morocco; Ron Tschetter (Director 2006 - ); COS - India

When this story was posted in November 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

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