The Peace Corps in Zambia
PEACE CORPS ZAMBIA
Peace Corps Flag
Background Information
Volunteer Selection and Orientation | What is Peace Corps?
The Goals of Peace Corps | Project Funding | Peace Corps in Zambia
Peace Corps Zambia Staff | The Volunteers | Peace Corps Zambia Projects
Peace Corps Zambia, 71A Kabulonga Rd,
Kabulonga, P.O.Box 50707,
Lusaka, Zambia.
Phone: +(260) 1-260-377
Fax: +(260) 1-260-685
E-mail: cd@zm.peacecorps.gov
Embassy Homepage
Peace Corps in Washington, DC
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Background Information
WHAT IS PEACE CORPS?
Peace Corps is a United States Volunteer Organization dedicated to grassroots development and economic growth in developing countries. It was officially created by the United States Congress in September 1961 under the leadership of President John F. Kennedy.
Over the past thirty-nine years, more than 150,000 Americans have served in Peace Corps as representative of the United States commitment to helping people around the world achieve economic independence and sustainable development. At the request of host governments, Peace Corps Volunteers have worked in over one hundred countries in Africa, Asia, South America and Eastern Europe. Currently there are 6,500 serving in 89 countries around the world. In Sub-Saharan Africa, there are 2,600 Volunteers and Trainees working in 22 countries.
THE GOALS OF PEACE CORPS
Peace Corps provides technical assistance by sending qualified Volunteers to work on development projects requested by the host country.
Peace Corps concentrates most of its efforts on rural development and adheres to a philosophy of helping people help themselves, emphasizing the transfer of skills to host country counterparts and the use of appropriate technology. During a two year tour of service, a Volunteer is assigned to work on a specific project in agriculture, health, environment, small business development, education or community development.
Peace Corps is not a political organization. The Volunteers are placed at the grassroots level to live and work directly with the people of the countries in which they serve. They are guided by the three goals set forth by President Kennedy in 1961 to help to promote world peace and friendship:
1. Help the populations of interested countries meet their needs for qualified people:
Peace Corps relies on the host country to select projects and decide what role the Volunteers will play in the host country’s development plan. Volunteers often work in close collaboration with other development organizations such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and donors under the direction of the relevant Government Ministries. Volunteer efforts complement the development strategy of host governments.
2. Promote a better understanding of Americans on behalf of other people of the world:
Volunteers reflect the diversity of the American people and therefore enable the people of the country where the Peace Corps serve to better understand the United States and its people. For many people in the developing world, the "United States" is forever linked to the Peace Corps Volunteer who served in their village or town. The friendship formed by working and living together are lasting bonds that continue across the continents.
3. Promote a better understanding of other people in the world on behalf of Americans:
When Volunteers return to the United States, they become unofficial host country ambassadors. They share their understanding of the countries and people they have known for two years by speaking at schools, business and social organizations. Their pictures, artifacts and stories allow thousands of Americans to expand their understanding of other cultures and places.
President Kennedy on July 4, 1963
"Peace Corps Volunteers bring home important skills and experience which will greatly enhance our knowledge of the world and strengthen our role in international affairs"
PEACE CORPS IN ZAMBIA
In February 1992, President Chiluba raised the idea of opening Peace Corps program in Zambia during his visit to the United States. He received positive response from President Bush and an agreement between the two governments was signed on September 14, 1993.
The first 12 Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Zambia in January 1994 to work in the area of water and sanitation in collaboration with the Ministries of Health and Energy and Water, NGOs and local communities.
Since that time, two projects: Community Action for Health and Rural Aquaculture Promotion were initiated. In addition, two Volunteers are working in special placements as instructors at the University of Zambia School of Law. Since 1997, several Volunteers have been assigned to work in Eastern Province with the Administrative Management Design Project under the auspices of the Zambia Wildlife Authority. In 2000, Crisis Corps, a division of Peace Corps, assigned 5 Volunteers to work on projects addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic.
Zambia today has more than 120 Volunteers serving in Eastern, Central, Northern, Luapula, North-western, Lusaka and Copperbelt with approximately 30 – 40 Volunteers serving in each of the three main projects. Each project works with its respective Ministries at District, Provincial and National levels.
THE VOLUNTEERS
The members of Peace Corps are United States citizens who voluntarily offer their services for a period of two years. They are paid an allowance by Peace Corps to cover their expenses at roughly the same amount as their host country counterparts and are expected to live modestly. At the end of their service, they receive a small sum to help them readjust to the United States.
Americans of all ages and ethnic backgrounds volunteer for Peace Corps. They are motivated by a desire to help and to understand and experience new cultures, by living and working with the people. They learn local languages and customs and share the daily life of their adopted communities.
Selection and Orientation
Peace Corps selects Volunteers based on their educational experience, skills and character. The selection process is rigorous. In 1994 the organization accepted one in six applicants. Once chosen, Volunteers receive an intensive 10 – 12 weeks training at our Pre-service Training Center in Mwekera, Kitwe, to prepare them for their work. They receive technical local language and cross-cultural training so that they can better adapt to, and serve their communities.
Volunteers and their Zambian counterparts share ideas, information and skills and work with community leaders to design and implement projects which reflect the needs of the community.
PROJECT FUNDING
Peace Corps is a people-to-people assistance program, "helping people to help themselves". While Peace Corps provide Volunteers with a modest stipend to support all their basic costs of living in Zambia and covers for their basic and emergency medical care, it does not fund projects. Peace Corps promotes a common sense approach: sustainable development starts with the people themselves.
President Kennedy on March 1, 1961
"Our aid should not be concentrated on large-scale monuments of American engineering but on the village and the farm."
PEACE CORPS ZAMBIA STAFF
Country Director: Brian Cavanagh
Programming
Associate Director/ Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education: Musonda Kaluba
Associate Director/ Community Action for Health: Henriette Koubakouenda
Associate Director/ Rural Aquaculture Promotion: Dan Irvine
Associate Director/ Black Rhino Project: Kimberly Jenkins
Program Assistant: Cleopher Bweupe
Program Secretary: Hope Sibanda
Volunteer Records Assistant/ Secretary: Dorothy Musonda
Pre-Service Training
Director: George Sikota
Language Coordinator: Catherine Mulima
Cross Culture Coordinator: Expeditor Mumba
Home-stay Coordinator: George Musanya
Logistics Coordinator: Obbedy Muloloma
Driver: James Mubanga
Medical
Medical officers: Gillian Weingartner and Dr. Nobutu Shakankale
Administration
Associate Director/ Administration: Ivy Nawa
Cashier: Chabala Komeki
Administrative Assistant: Priscilla Nkandu
Receptionist: Tabitha Chibowa
General Services Office
General Services Officer: Steve Banda
General Services Assistant: Alex Musipa
General Services Secretary: Linah Mahembe
GSA/ Mechanic: Shepard Mwandalesa
Driver: Joseph Phiri
Cleaners: Dorothy Musole, Violet Chinyemba and Wakunuma Musebu
Gardener: Rosewerls Syampande
Addresses and contact numbers:
71A Kabulonga Road, Kabulonga,
Lusaka, Zambia
(Opposite Kabulonga Boys' Secondary School)
P.O. Box 50707, Lusaka, Zambia.
Phone: 260 1 260377
Fax: 260 1 260685
Email: cd@zm.peacecorps.gov
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Tel: (260)-1-227993/4 ; Fax: (260)-1-226523 ; E-Mail: embpas@zamnet.zm
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