Peace Corps director visits Malawi
The director of the United States of America (USA) Peace Corps, Carrie Hessler-Radelet, arrived in the country on Saturday for a five-day visit that is expected to be concluded tomorrow.
During the visit, Hessler-Radelet is engaging government leaders, civil society partners and volunteers across the country to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Peace Corps Response Programme.
US Ambassador Virginia Palmer expressed delight to welcome Hessler-Radelet to Malawi to celebrate the anniversary.
I n a s t a t e m e n t , Palmer said: “More than 2 840 American Peace Corps volunteers have served in Malawi since the programme was established in 1963.
During their service, volunteers work with their Malawian communities on projects in education, the environment, and health, including serving as physician and nurse educators through the Global Health Service Partnership.
“Peace Corps volunteers have made an outstanding contribution to Malawi’s development and built immeasurable goodwill between the people of Malawi and the United States of America.”
Hessler-Radelet, the 19th Peace Corps director, was sworn in 2014. She served as acting director and deputy director from 2010 to 2014.
The Peace Corps Response Programme s e n d s ex p e r i e n c e d American professionals to undertake short-term, high impact service assignments in communities around Malawi and the world.
There are currently 129 Peace Corps volunteers serving in Malawi in four sectors, namely community h e a l t h , s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n , t e a c h e r training and community based natural resource management.
