The US embassy will be relaunching Peace Corps volunteers in Samoa. The ceremony will be held this morning at the Ministry of Education Sports and Culture.
Last December, the United States Peace Corps and MESC signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to continue their partnership.
Signed by the Country Director of the US Peace Corps, Gini Wilderson, and Minister of Education, Sports and Culture (MESC) Seu’ula Ioane. The US Peace Corps have brought nearly 56 years of service to Samoa, with the first Volunteers arriving in 1967.
“Nearly 2,000 Volunteers have served in Samoa since that time in sectors ranging from agriculture to engineering to public health.
At the invitation of MESC, volunteers work together with teachers and schools to improve the English literacy of primary school students; including raising reading scores, establishing school libraries and inspiring a love of reading.”
The Peace Corps volunteers have been part of U.S. assistance to Samoa since 1967, however, due to COVID, there was a worldwide evacuation of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers in March 2020.
Today’s event will include the re-launching of Peace Corps volunteers in Samoa through the swearing-in ceremony conducted by U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa, Tom Udall, and the ava ceremony conducted by the Ministry of Education, Sports and Culture.