“This will be a life-changing experience for you” – US Ambassador

…as new Peace Corps volunteers sworn in to serve in Guyanese communities

A new cohort of Peace Corps volunteers is gearing up to commence their service in communities across Guyana – something that United States Ambassador Nicole Theriot says will be a “life-changing” experience.

“This will be a life-changing experience for you. You will have hard days, where nothing seems to go as planned and I can tell you, here in Guyana, that happens. It happens everywhere, but you have to just pick yourself up and keep moving. And you will also have those days that will remind you exactly why you’re here. You need to hold on to both of those. They are both part of your Peace Corps experience,” the Ambassador stated.

She made these remarks during the swearing in of the 37th group of Peace Corps volunteers, comprising some 28 members, on Wednesday in Georgetown.

Since the establishment of the Peace Corps programme in 1961, some 1132 volunteers have come to Guyana, creating a legacy that spans generations.

In her charge to the volunteers, Ambassador Theriot told this new group that they would add to the work being done here and bring about changes.

“Peace Corps volunteers have co-taught more than 3000 science lessons alongside 168 teachers across the country. Those teachers are now more confident, better equipped and more inspired to keep teaching using those best practices. That is exactly how lasting change works,” the US diplomat stated.

In the same breath, she added that the meaningful work done by the volunteers are sometimes difficult to measure such as a community-driven beautification project that was led by a member of the previous Peace Corps cohort.

Nevertheless, Ambassador Theriot told this new group of volunteers that unlike their predecessors, they were going to serve communities at a time when the country was reeling from the MV Barima tragedy.

“In moments like this, what sustains a community is not any single institution or Government. It is its people. People who show up for one another. People who cross oceans or simply cross the street to say ‘I’m here and I’m with you’. That is the essence of Peace Corps… You have arrived at a very important moment. The bonds you will build with your communities will have an added resonance in this time of sadness,” the US diplomat stated.

Willingness to serve

nering with the Education Ministry to bring libraries to primary schools across the country. They not only helped to establish libraries in schools, but also trained more than 200 teachers and students in library management so that the libraries can function properly even after their departure.

In fact, the Peace Corps volunteers were commended for their willingness to serve the Guyanese people and communities, especially in the area of educational development.

According to Senior Education Officer (Literacy Department) at the Education Ministry, Donella Shamsudeen, their work affirms a shared commitment to service, education, cultural exchange and community development. In addition to the library initiative, the volunteers also work alongside community leaders to support literacy, numeracy, youth development, classroom engagement, reading clubs, and school learning support systems.

Currently, the Peace Corps is assisting with early language development, play-based learning and early literacy habits at the nursery level. At the primary level, volunteers are expected to support reading, writing and numeracy, while contributing to youth development, functional literacy, communication skills, leadership, and learner motivation.

Moreover, at the community level, the Peace Corps members will help to build bridges between schools, families, and communities by encouraging participating, volunteer work and the culture for learning.

National priorities

Shamsudeen said these efforts closely align with Guyana’s national priorities, on which the Peace Corps volunteers are important partners.

“You are entering schools and communities, not as replacement for our teachers, but as partners to work for the betterment of education. You will support, collaborate, encourage and contribute. You will bring new perspectives, but you will also learn from the professional knowledge, the cultural understanding, and the lived experiences of our Guyanese educators, learners, and their families,” the Education Ministry official noted.

Ahead of their deployment, the 37th Peace Corps volunteer cohort had undergone a 10-week training, which, according to the Country Director Christie Scott, prepares them to integrate into local communities.