Embassy Press Release

New Group Of Peace Corps Volunteers Arrives In Romania

New Peace Corps Volunteers being sworn-in by Jeri Guthrie-Corn, U.S. Charge d’Affaires and Ken Goodson, Director, Peace Corps Romania

- RELATED INFO -

Remarks Delivered By The Chargé d’Affaires, A.I. Jeri Guthrie-Corn Discursul Insarcinatului cu Afaceri A.I. al Statelor Unite Ale Americii, Jeri Guthrie-Corn

August 14, 2009

On Friday, August 14th, a group of 37 new Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) was sworn into service by Embassy of the United States of America Charge’ d’Affaires, Jeri Guthrie-Corn, for two-year assignments throughout the country. The Volunteers have been in Targoviste for the past 11 weeks undergoing intensive training in Romanian language, culture and history. During their training the Volunteers have lived with Romanian host families. The ceremony will take place at Centrul International de Conferinte of Universitatea Valahia in Targoviste.

Peace Corps Romania began operations in 1991 at the request of the Romanian government. There are currently 116 volunteers working in 38 counties throughout the country. Since its beginning in 1991, over 1000 Volunteers have supported grassroots development efforts across the country. Today Peace Corps Romania provides four program sectors, noted below:

• Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)
• Community Economic Development (CED)
• Institutional Development (ID)
• Environmental Management and Education (ENV)

Peace Corps Romania focuses on high priority needs identified by Romanian organizations, and places qualified Americans for two years of service with Romanian organizations to help meet these needs.

Sensitive to Romanian culture, PCVs work in close cooperation with their local counterparts to facilitate the exchange of ideas, skills and expertise between the two parties, which in turn enhances both the personal and professional development of all involved. By working and living with counterparts, PCVs and Romanians are able to develop lasting friendships. And when these PCVs return to the United States, they promote a better understanding of Romania and its people among Americans.

The Peace Corps was created in 1961 by United States President John Kennedy to promote world peace and friendship by providing American volunteers who would contribute to the social, economic and human development of the host countries in which they serve. Over the past 48 years, more than 180,000 Americans have served in the Peace Corps in 134 countries.

The Peace Corps has 3 simple goals:

• To help people of interested countries meet their needs for trained men and women.
• To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served.
• To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of the Americans.

Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have fostered people-to-people relationships that help establish a foundation for peace. They continue the tradition of working in partnership with people worldwide to improve basic conditions and create new opportunities, and learn to speak the local languages and live in the communities where they work. In this process, PCVs share and represent the culture and values of American people of various races, ethnic and religious backgrounds. Upon their return to the United States they help expand Americans' understanding of the world by bringing their personal understanding of the cultures, customs, languages, and traditions of other peoples.

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