Twenty-three new Peace Corps volunteers and five Peace Corps Response volunteers were sworn in on Wednesday, marking the start of a two-year service to support education, literacy and community development across Guyana.
The 37th group took the oath at a ceremony at the Theatre Guild in Georgetown following weeks of intensive training, Peace Corps Guyana Country Director Christie Scott said.
Scott described the occasion as the start of a journey that would transform both the volunteers and the communities they serve, noting that the trainees had spent 10 weeks developing technical teaching skills, studying Guyanese Creole and learning about the country’s history and culture.
United States Ambassador to Guyana Nicole Theriot, who administered the oath, said the volunteers were beginning their service during a difficult period for Guyana following a recent national tragedy, adding that the bonds they build with host communities would carry added significance at this time.
Senior Education Officer within the Literacy Department of the Ministry of Education Donella Shamsudeen said the volunteers would help strengthen learning outcomes across the education system and foster closer ties between schools and communities.
Volunteers assigned to nursery schools will focus on early language development, play-based learning and early literacy habits. At the primary level, they will support reading, writing and numeracy, while secondary school volunteers will assist with youth development, functional literacy, communication skills, leadership and global citizenship.
