"CARING FOR OTHERS IS THE PRACTICE OF PEACE" SARGENT SHIVER
The seven new Peace Corps Volunteer Trainees attending a welcoming ava ceremony at the M.E.S.C Falesamoa.
Photo : M.E.S.C/ Facebook
Samoa shores have again welcomed a group of 7 new Peace Corps volunteer trainees after almost 3 years of the Global Evacuation that occurred in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is the first volunteer trainees to arrive in Samoa since then.
A traditional ava ceremony was conducted by the Ministry of Education Sports & Culture to officially welcome the delegates who have been assigned to assist the Primary Level in Government Schools around Samoa with English Literature, intercultural diversity , equity and inclusion and of course the Gagana Samoa.
According to a P.R by the Ministry on Tuesday this week the Peace Corps volunteers will be on assignment for 2 years with Peace Corps Director Sargent Shriver encouraging the 7 volunteers by stating that “Caring for others is the practice of peace”.
The Minister of Education Seu'ula Ioane who was at the forefront in welcoming the respected guests from the United States welcomed guests such as Ambassador Tom Udall who is the U.S Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa together with Noriko Horiuchi representing the U.S Charge d'affaires.
Peace Corps volunteers have entered Samoa in the late 60's up until now , reaching almost 56 years of their continued assistance to Samoa according to a Press Release by the M.E.S.C (Ministry of Education Sports & Culture).
"Since then more than 2,0000 Volunteers have served in Samoa, living and working alongside their partners and catalyzing positive change" the release read.
Peace Corps Country Director Gini Wilderson stated “Peace Corp’s biggest factor for success is our partnership with local communities, especially the local primary schools and communities who have graciously embraced hosting and working with the Volunteers".