"The youngest trainee in this group is 21-years-old and the oldest is 65 years old; 29 percent are over the age of 40, and 77 percent are women. All of them bring a wealth of experience and education to be added to their in-country training that will include a heavy emphasis on language learning and cross-cultural understanding," says US Embassy public affairs spokesperson Angelinah Matenanga. She added that among the group members are lawyers, psychologists, and counsellors, and nearly all have at least a university degree. Former president Festus Mogae invited Peace Corps to return to Botswana in 2002 to address the HIV/AIDS scourge.
Of the 35 volunteers starting their training in Botswana this month, 24 will work in government primary and secondary schools, according to a US Embassy public affairs spokesperson
Education gets highest number of US Peace Corps
BABOKI KAYAWE
Staff Writer
The Ministry of Education and Skills Development (MoESD) will get the lion's share of United States of America (US) Peace Corps volunteers this year.
Of the 35 volunteers starting their training this month, 24 will work in government primary and secondary schools, according to a US Embassy public affairs spokesperson.
Angelinah Matenanga has said that the embassy has been holding discussions with the MoESD to address the need to strengthen the implementation of the life skills curriculum. The curriculum aims at equipping learners with life skills.
Five of the volunteers will work with clinics or the Social and Community Development Department around the country, four with the District AIDS Coordinating offices to help in the coordination of activities related to HIV/AIDS and the remaining two will work with non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The volunteers, who were welcomed in Kanye at the Education Centre on Friday, will be placed in Kweneng, Southern and Kgalagadi districts. In Kgalagadi they will be placed in areas like Tsabong, Kang and Hukuntsi while in the Southern they will be placed in Mabule and Maokane areas.
"The youngest trainee in this group is 21-years-old and the oldest is 65 years old; 29 percent are over the age of 40, and 77 percent are women. All of them bring a wealth of experience and education to be added to their in-country training that will include a heavy emphasis on language learning and cross-cultural understanding,"
Matenanga said. She added that among the group members are lawyers, psychologists, and counsellors, and nearly all have at least a university degree. Former president Festus Mogae invited Peace Corps to return to Botswana in 2002 to address the HIV/AIDS scourge.
Botswana had graduated from Peace Corps' priority needs in 1997 due to the significant development gains the country had achieved since independence.
The current focus of the Peace Corps Botswana Programme is to strengthen implementation of the Botswana National Strategic Framework II to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The placement of volunteers is done in close collaboration with the National AIDS Coordination Agency (NACA) and the ministries of local government, health, and education. More than 2,200 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Botswana since 1966. Currently, 86 volunteers are serving in the country.
