FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 3, 2019
YANGON — The U.S. Peace Corps is strengthening its commitment to Myanmar by increasing the number of Peace Corps Volunteers who will serve Myanmar communities. On April 5, 32 new Peace Corps Volunteers will be sworn in at a ceremony at the Summit Parkview Hotel in Yangon. The Volunteers will serve for two years, teaching English at basic education middle and high schools in Bago region, Mon State, and now also in Magway region. They join 42 Peace Corps Volunteers who are currently serving in Myanmar.
This is the fourth group of American Volunteers to serve in Myanmar. They come from all parts of the United States and reflect the country’s great diversity. These Volunteers are just completing a ten-week pre-service training program concentrating on Myanmar language and culture, job-specific skills, and health and safety training. To facilitate their learning, the Volunteers have lived in a local community in Bago Region, learned from local sponsor families, and conducted practice school lessons for Myanmar students.
Representatives of the Ministry of Education and other Government of Myanmar partners will attend the swearing in ceremony. Also in attendance will be Myanmar regional and local government officials, collaborating schools and local families, Peace Corps staff, and U.S. Embassy officials.
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, more than 230,000 Americans have served in 141 host countries. The Peace Corps operates at the request of the Government of Myanmar and provides qualified men and women who contribute to education goals while also promoting a better understanding between the people of the United States and Myanmar. Peace Corps Volunteers began working in Myanmar in 2016. With the addition of this new group, Peace Corps is significantly increasing the number of Volunteers serving the people of Myanmar; at the start of the new school year, 60 Volunteers will live and work side-by-side with their Myanmar counterparts.
### END ###
