KATHMANDU, Aug 24: US Ambassador Dean R. Thompson and Peace Corps-Nepal Country Director Troy Kofroth presided over the swearing-in ceremony of 21 Peace Corps volunteers, marking the commencement of their impactful two-year service in Nepal.
This group of volunteers is a significant addition to the nearly 4,000 Peace Corps volunteers who have devoted themselves to Nepal's development since 1962. Notably, these volunteers constitute the first group to arrive after the global evacuation triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the US Embassy in Kathmandu.
First group of Peace Corps Response Volunteers in Nepal sworn i...
The occasion also carries historical resonance, coinciding with the anniversary of a pivotal day - August 24, 1962 - when the governments of Nepal and the United States inked an agreement to establish the Peace Corps program in Nepal.
Ambassador Thompson, drawing from his personal connection as the son of a founding Peace Corps staff member and a former volunteer parent, underscored the profound impact that the Peace Corps has on both volunteers and the communities they serve.
In Nepal, countless narratives have emerged about Volunteers who have made transformative differences in lives and communities. With the rich legacy of nearly 4,000 volunteers contributing their efforts in Nepal since 1962, these impactful stories continue to flourish. Ambassador Thompson expressed his enthusiasm about the Volunteers' return to the country and expressed his eagerness to hear the stories that will emanate from their interactions in communities across Nepal.
Having arrived in June 2023, the 21 Peace Corps volunteers underwent an intensive 11-week training program encompassing language acquisition, cross-cultural understanding, and technical skill development in Kavre District. This rigorous preparation equips them for their diverse assignments across five districts in Gandaki and Bagmati provinces. Their roles include English teaching in government schools and active involvement in vital food security and health initiatives in collaboration with Nepal's Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Health and Population, and Agriculture and Livestock Development.
