Peace Corps Returning to Indonesia



Cameron Hume, the US ambassador to Indonesia, said that the presence of a Peace Corps program here reflected strengthening ties between the two nations. "Aside from bringing welcome English-language teaching expertise, the relationships that the volunteers will make with their Indonesian hosts, both friends and colleagues, will promote people-to-people ties and cross-cultural understanding and communication between our two nations," he said. The Peace Corps' mission has been to promote world peace and friendship through public service opportunities in developing countries around the world. The program was halted in Indonesia in 1965 after just two years of operation.

Peace Corps Returning to Indonesia

US Peace Corps Returning to Indonesia

The United States and Indonesia on Friday officially agreed to restart the Peace Corps program here after a 44-year hiatus.

Friday's agreement follows a joint announcement by US President Barack Obama and President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to revive the program, following their meeting at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Singapore last month.

A statement from the US Embassy said the agreement had been signed by US undersecretary for political affairs, William Burns, and deputy to the state minister for national development planning, Bambang Sutedjo.

The first group of Peace Corps volunteers is expected to arrive in Indonesia by mid-2010. They will work as English instructors in high schools and teacher training institutions.

Cameron Hume, the US ambassador to Indonesia, said that the presence of a Peace Corps program here reflected strengthening ties between the two nations.

"Aside from bringing welcome English-language teaching expertise, the relationships that the volunteers will make with their Indonesian hosts, both friends and colleagues, will promote people-to-people ties and cross-cultural understanding and communication between our two nations," he said.

The Peace Corps' mission has been to promote world peace and friendship through public service opportunities in developing countries around the world.

The program was halted in Indonesia in 1965 after just two years of operation.

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: December, 2009; Peace Corps Indonesia; Directory of Indonesia RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Indonesia RPCVs; Expansion

When this story was posted in February 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:




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