Peace Corps have served Guyana well – Olato Sam

Peace Corps Guyana on Wednesday swore in the 25th group of volunteers (Guy 25), consisting of 28 volunteers to give their services in the health and education sectors. The ceremony took place at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) at Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown.

The trainees arrived in Guyana on May 2, and have since been involved in pre-service training designed to equip them with the necessary practical skills to meet the needs of the communities they will serve.
The components of the training include a focus on technical and cross-cultural concepts, local language, and maintaining personal health, safety and security.
According to Training Manager Julie Kanhai-Trapnell, upon being sworn in, the volunteers would support primary level education and community health education, by serving two years in seven of the 10 administrative regions of Guyana.
Meanwhile, Chief Education Officer Olato Sam said the Peace Corps volunteers have positively impacted the local education and health sectors.
“Peace Corps have serve d Guyana’s education sector very productively and efficiently… their volunteer teachers have served in the hinterland and riverine areas where there is a lack of teachers,” said Sam, noting that the experiences shared among the volunteers and Guyanese will give great meaning to their attachment.
During the pre-service, trainees time with host families, who teach them the Guyanese way of life as they learn how to cook local food, negotiate in the market place, and participate in community activities.
There is a technical component within both the health and education sectors.
The trainees would engage in field practicum in schools and health centres to enhance their abilities to meet the needs of the communities they will serve as volunteers.
Meanwhile, U. S. embassy Charge d’ Affaires Thomas Pierce noted that in addition to Guy 25, since 1996, Guyana has had 639 volunteers from the Peace Corps. He noted that the programme seeks to work with communities and this will somewhat solidify the relationship with Guyana and the United States.
“The United States of America has strong interest in working with Guyana to form a more productive relationship and active diplomatic engagement,” said Pierce.
He noted that the Peace Corps solidify the relationship with Guyana and plays an important role in aiding in the building of a more secure, prosperous and healthy Guyana.
The Peace Corps was first active in Guyana from 1966-1971. In 1993, the organisation was invited to return to Guyana by the late President Dr Cheddi Jagan, and the first group arrived in 1995.
Upon accepting the invitation to serve, Peace Corps volunteers agree to live and work in Guyana for two years. The late U. S. President John F Kennedy created the Peace Corps in March 1961 to provide human resource and technical assistance to developing countries that have requested such engagement.