Limpho Sello
EIGHTEEN United States Peace Corps were sworn in yesterday by the US Chargé d’Affaires John McNamara during a ceremony held in Ha-Taaso in Berea district.
The ceremony marked the commencement of their duties in the various, remote parts of the country, and followed a 10-week orientation programme among different communities. The new Peace Corps will volunteer their services in the education and health sectors.
The Peace Corps is a volunteer programme run by the United States government. The stated mission of the Peace Corps includes providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand American culture, and helping Americans to understand the cultures of other countries.
The work is generally related to social and economic development. For a period of two years, volunteers work with governments, schools, and non-governmental organisations in their respective countries of operation.
However, Mr McNamara said the Peace Corps volunteers will work with community and national-based organisations such as Blue Cross, Ntlafatso Skills Training Centre and Malealea Development Trust.
“They will critically serve in the Peace Corps’ Health Project, which works with local organisations and engages young people to collaborate in activities that seek to strengthen Lesotho’s response to the HIV and AIDS epidemic,” Mr McNamara said.
He further said teamwork would enable the building of local capacity for the sustainability of interventions.
Mr McNamara noted the volunteers have become part of the proud Peace Corps tradition in Lesotho, with more than 2 100 having served the country since the first group of teachers arrived in Lesotho in 1967.
“The programme puts more emphasis on cultural integration as an effective way to promote development.”
On his part, the Acting Minister of Gender, Youth, Sport and Recreation, Joang Molapo said the volunteers had always shown commitment to make a difference in Lesotho.
“We are grateful for your commitment to help us fight HIV and AIDS, which is currently a major challenge in this country. Your actions have demonstrated you are true friends who share with us the commitment to achieve an HIV-free generation,” Chief Molapo said.
The minister said it takes passion in humanitarian work for people to leave the comfort of their countries for the sake of bettering the lives of others.
Chief Molapo further appealed to communities where the volunteers would be deployed to help ensure they are safe, exercise good hospitality and provide any assistance they might need to ensure the effective delivery of their duties.
Speaking on behalf of the volunteers, Jody Lewis said the Corps were thankful for the support they received from the trainers, the families that accommodated them and the government.
“We are grateful for the support we got, which made life manageable when we arrived here,” Mr Lewis said.
