On Tuesday, March 17, 2015 at 9:30 am, 42 new Peace Corps Volunteers were sworn-in at the US Embassy in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. They are ready to serve Burkina Faso communities for the next two years. 19 of the new Volunteers are part of the Community Health program, increasing the total number of Community Health Volunteers to 33. The remaining 23 new Volunteers are part of the Community Economic Development program, bringing the total number of Volunteers in this sector to 31.
The ceremony was attended by many guests: government partners and non-governmental organizations, international organizations, associations and service providers. The guest of honor was the Minister of Health, Mr. Prosper Amédée Djiguimdé, who mentioned in his speech that “Volunteers have proven that with ideas and human resources, one can have a significant impact, even with limited resources.” According to the Ambassador of the United States of America in Burkina Faso, Dr Tulinabo Mushingi, “The success of the Peace Corps is a result of the good relations between the USA and Burkina Faso.” The director of the Peace Corps, Dr. Keith Hackett, in his speech, thanked the governmental, administrative and traditional authorities and members of different communities for their involvement in the training of the new Volunteers.
The Peace Corps mission is to provide assistance to interested countries and to promote cultural exchange between the people of Burkina Faso and the American people. Peace Corps Volunteers in Burkina are place in local communities in 12 regions. Each volunteer is committed for at least two years. Peace Corps Burkina currently has 110 volunteers serving in three sectors: Education, Community Health and Community Economic Development. There are also third-year Volunteers, who have already served for two years in Burkina Faso and who spend up to an additional year of service for the benefit of some of our partners who request Volunteers.
This growth in the number of Volunteers demonstrates their seamless integration, and Peace Corps’ commitment to community development in Burkina Faso. The ceremony of March 17, 2015 testifies once again the fruitful collaboration between the United States and Burkina Faso.
Long live the friendship between Burkina Faso and the United States!
