25 new peace corps volunteers sworn-in

A team of 25 new Peace Corps Volunteers yesterday took their oath of allegiance to performing their duties as expected, in a swearing-in ceremony held at the residence of the American Ambassador in Fajara.

The ceremony came in the wake of an intensive 10 week community based training which the volunteers have undergone upon their arrival in Banjul. The team comprised 13 volunteers for environment and 12 volunteers for health and community development. Delivering the keynote address at the ceremony, the Secretary of State for Forestry and Environment, Momodou Kotu Cham said Peace Corps uninterrupted relationship with The Gambia dates back to some 42 years and since then the partnership has been growing, supporting mutual strength of cooperation and collaboration, thereby benefiting countless number of Gambians.  

He noted that Peace Corps The Gambia has been strategically in line with the government’s policy initiative and it is currently implementing projects in three sectors notably; environment, education and health and community development. SOS Cham also expressed his department’s appreciation on the volunteers’ efforts in their recent interventions in food security, as well as their annual tree planting competitions in The Gambia.

"As a result of their food security initiative, for the first time ever, The Gambia participated collectively in a rice distribution and seed multiplication campaign and the tree planting campaign, which has resulted to the planting of over 60,000 new trees annually with the help of our school children," SOS Cham remarked.

SOS Cham also spoke at length about the environmental challenges facing The Gambia and the tremendous contribution of the Peace Corps volunteers in overcoming these challenges.  He hailed the Peace Corps for their love, kindness and passion that made them to become volunteers.

Speaking earlier, the American ambassador to The Gambia, Mr Barry L Wells remarked that the trainees will be more than happy to contribute to the growth and development of the communities. He said the volunteers have brought a wide range of experience and they have chosen to serve for peace, noting that it is time that  the  whole  world work towards   attainment of peace. Ambassador Wells advised the volunteers to always plant commodities that will promote economic development.

He also reminded them that the task ahead of them in the course of the two years is not easy, noting that sometimes they will  fall sick but they should always endeavour to remember their oaths since it’s an oath to the Constitution of the USA.

The director of peace corps The Gambia, Mike Mconnell, said that president John F Kenedy created the peace corps with 3 goals notably; to help the people of interested countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people who served and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of American.

He said since its establishment they have not departed from these goals. He reminded the newly sworn in volunteers that they have several primary assignments, among them, is; to improve community health, improve the environment and to improve food security and to work as part of their community in which they live.

He further reminded the volunteers that they represent all that is good and generous in their country, they  have to expand the capacity of the people communities to let them meet and understand Americans and to tell people in America about the lives and the people of The Gambia for the next two years.

The volunteers on their part, reaffirmed their commitment, dedication and readiness to serve the people of The Gambia. The ceremony was attended by senior government officials and several dignitaries.