2007.09.25: September 25, 2007: Headlines: COS - Burkina Faso: Directors - Tschetter: Figures: Directors: COS - India: Peace Corps Press Release: Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Burkina Faso
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2007.09.25: September 25, 2007: Headlines: COS - Burkina Faso: Directors - Tschetter: Figures: Directors: COS - India: Peace Corps Press Release: Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Burkina Faso
Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Burkina Faso
During the busy three day visit to this West African country, Tschetter traveled to visit Volunteers in their village sites including Jennifer Popham, of Alabama. Popham is an Education Volunteer with a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Washington. She is applying her education and experience working with a middle school in central Burkina Faso where she emphasizes the importance of girls' education. Popham said, "It didn't take long before Burkina Faso became my home. I am a teacher but I am also a student. The community is my teacher." Ron Tschetter is the seventeenth Director of the Peace Corps. He served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in India in the 1960's.
Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Burkina Faso
Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers in Burkina Faso
Caption: Director Ron Tschetter with Peace Corps Volunteer Jennifer Popham at her living quarters in Burkina Faso.
OUAGADOUGOU, BURKINA FASO, Sept. 25, 2007 - Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter departed Burkina Faso yesterday following a productive visit with Peace Corps Volunteers, staff and government officials, including Prime Minister Tertius Zongo.
There are currently 103 Peace Corps Volunteers serving in Burkina Faso in the areas of community health development, education, small business development and girls' education and empowerment. The Peace Corps program in Burkina Faso began in 1966 and 1,500 Volunteers have served here.
In his meeting with Prime Minister Zongo, Director Tschetter expressed his appreciation for the friendship and hospitality of the people of Burkina Faso, saying, "The Peace Corps is delighted to be in Burkina Faso and to work in a country with such great opportunities and strong friendships."
Prime Minister Zongo thanked the Peace Corps and said, "Burkina Faso has challenges, but the Peace Corps Volunteers are a great source of inspiration for us. They want to help the people help themselves."
During the busy three day visit to this West African country, Tschetter traveled to visit Volunteers in their village sites including Jennifer Popham, of Alabama. Popham is an Education Volunteer with a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of Washington. She is applying her education and experience working with a middle school in central Burkina Faso where she emphasizes the importance of girls' education. Popham said, "It didn't take long before Burkina Faso became my home. I am a teacher but I am also a student. The community is my teacher."
Tschetter also met with the Peace Corps' Burkina Faso staff, including several staff members who recounted personal stories of their first experiences with Peace Corps Volunteer teachers in their home villages. One staff member, Harouna Congo, displayed his 20-year-old primary school report card and pointed out his Peace Corps teacher's signature. Congo said, "He was a wonderful teacher and changed my life—he taught me English and was the first American I had ever known."
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Headlines: September, 2007; Ron Tschetter; Peace Corps Burkina Faso; Directory of Burkina Faso RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Burkina Faso RPCVs; Ron Tschetter (Director 2006 - ); Figures; Peace Corps Directors; Peace Corps India; Directory of India RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for India RPCVs
When this story was posted in October 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: Peace Corps Press Release
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Burkina Faso; Directors - Tschetter; Figures; Directors; COS - India
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