29 March 2006Peace Corps To Begin Volunteer Service in Cambodia
Volunteers to teach English, work with communities on public health
By Todd Bullock
Washington File Staff Writer
Washington - The U.S. Peace Corps announced a partnership with Cambodia March 29 that will bring American volunteers to the Southeast Asian country for the first time in the agency's history.
"Cambodia, with its growing economy and nascent democracy, is an ideal partner as the Peace Corps looks to expand into new countries where volunteers have never had the opportunity to serve before," Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez said at a ceremony with Cambodian officials.
According to Vasquez, the Peace Corps will be working with local community leaders to evaluate areas where volunteers could apply their skills.
The Peace Corps will establish an office in Phnom Penh; U.S. volunteers will begin service early in 2007, teaching English and performing work in health education, he said.
"Establishment of a Peace Corps program in Cambodia is another example of the American people working with Cambodians to rebuild their country," said Senator Richard Lugar (Republican of Indiana), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Joseph Biden, a Democrat from Delaware and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: "The Peace Corps will take that which is best about America, the boundless optimism of our young people -- and share it with the citizens of Cambodia."
In East Asia, the Peace Corps currently has active volunteer programs in China, Mongolia, the Philippines and Thailand. (See related article.)
Since 1961, more than 178,000 U.S. citizens have volunteered to serve in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, information technology, business development, the environment and agriculture.
"Cambodia, with its growing economy and nascent democracy, is an ideal partner as the Peace Corps looks to expand into new countries where volunteers have never had the opportunity to serve before," Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez said at a ceremony with Cambodian officials.
According to Vasquez, the Peace Corps will be working with local community leaders to evaluate areas where volunteers could apply their skills.
The Peace Corps will establish an office in Phnom Penh; U.S. volunteers will begin service early in 2007, teaching English and performing work in health education, he said.
"Establishment of a Peace Corps program in Cambodia is another example of the American people working with Cambodians to rebuild their country," said Senator Richard Lugar (Republican of Indiana), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Joseph Biden, a Democrat from Delaware and ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said: "The Peace Corps will take that which is best about America, the boundless optimism of our young people -- and share it with the citizens of Cambodia."
In East Asia, the Peace Corps currently has active volunteer programs in China, Mongolia, the Philippines and Thailand. (See related article.)
Since 1961, more than 178,000 U.S. citizens have volunteered to serve in the Peace Corps, working in such diverse fields as education, health, HIV/AIDS education and prevention, information technology, business development, the environment and agriculture.
Additional information is available on the Peace Corps Web site.
(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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