The new volunteers, 5 in the agriculture sector, and 6 in the health sector - underwent weeks of intensive pre-service training and are ready to serve the country in the next two years. This group of volunteers will be deployed to various communities in the regions of North Bank, Lower River, Central River and Upper River.
Initiated in 1961 by former United States President J.F. Kennedy, Peace Corps is an international service network of volunteers, community members, host country partners and staff, who are driven by the agency’s mission of promoting world peace and friendship.
At the swearing-in ceremony, Siiri Morley, Peace Corps The Gambia Country Director, referenced the feeling of being a Peace Corps Trainee herself over 20 years ago in Lesotho - on the other side of this continent - getting ready to begin her service.
“It is an exciting and scary moment and I am delighted to be supporting these 11 trainees as they embark on this moment,” she said. “Everything in your lives is about to change - and that is a beautiful thing! As the Peace Corps Country Director, it gives me great pride to say that these 11 trainees … are ready and prepared to swear in to become full-fledged Peace Corps Volunteers.”
To the host communities, Morley said Peace Corps The Gambia is so proud to be celebrating the swearing-in of its 6th group of Volunteers since COVID-19.
“We have had Peace Corps Volunteers here since the late 1960s and it is truly hard to find anyone in this beautiful country who has not known a PCV,” she pointed out, saying: “We could not do this work without the support of the Gambian government and the many communities and families who keep our PCVs safe.”
She reiterated that the Peace Corps' founding mission of promoting world peace and friendship among all countries remains as relevant as ever, saying the ideals of the programme is timeless and they’re proud to be working in partnership with the Gambian government.
To Peace Corps The Gambia Staff, she said they have poured their hearts and souls to keeping the Peace Corps mission alive.
“Our work is stronger than ever. This pre-service training of our new PCTs could not have been accomplished without your intense dedication. You truly deserve the credit for everything that we are doing here in The Gambia.”
While congratulating the trainees for making the decision to serve as Peace Corps Volunteers, Morley equally thanked the government and host community partners and by extension key ministries as well as local partners, for their efforts.
Mustapa Drammeh, Deputy Director General, Department of Agriculture, representing the minister, recalled the first Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in The Gambia in September 1967 at the invitation of the Gambia government in pursuit of three goals.
“This year, 2024, marked the 63rd anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps and the 57th anniversary of the partnership between Peace Corps and the government and people of The Gambia,” he said.
DDG Drammeh stated that the partnership has continued to go from strength to strength, saying the numbers of communities, farmers, institutions, agencies and NGOs that have benefited from PC Volunteers services are increasing.
“It is almost impossible to go to any Gambian community which has not benefited or meet any Gambian farmer who has not worked with or been taught and trained by a Peace Corps Volunteer,” he said. “This incredible collaboration and support can only be attained in a meaningful, mutual, and symbiotic partnership.”
The present policies and priorities of this programme, he added, are targeting building knowledge, skills and technical capacities and farmers, especially women and youth and the physically challenged as well as agencies.
This, he said, has led to recruiting and posting Peace Corps Volunteers to work with interested ministries and agencies across the country through specialised technical departments and communities.
Rebecca Taylor, Chief Political and Economic Officer, who spoke on behalf of the US Ambassador, describes the work of Peace Volunteers as most-rewarding, saying they signify and facilitate true understanding and friendship between the people of The Gambia and the United States of America.
“Our Peace Corps volunteers are shining examples of the spirit of volunteerism and community service, which has long been a defining characteristic of American society. Since our country's founding, volunteer work has been our lifeblood, helping to improve people's lives, unite our communities and strengthen our democracy.”
She added that seeing all of the volunteers together brings her so much hope for the future. “The human connections and intercultural exchanges that you are pursuing are truly the building blocks of deeper understanding of others, and global peace.”
She recalled that the idea came about more than half century ago, when former US President J.F. Kennedy challenged American college students to leave the comfort of their homes and communities to devote two years to people in the developing world.
Nikel Bailey, Director of Programming and Training at Masembeh Peace Corps Training Center, expressed similar sentiments, commending the new volunteers for their dedication and openness as they about to integrate into their different regions as well as host communities .
However, as a requirement, the new volunteers took the oath of service to serve alongside people of the Gambia, share culture with an open heart and to foster an understanding of the people of The Gambia with creativity, cultural sensitivity and respect.
The ceremony, which also witnessed entertainment, was attended by government officials, Peace Corps Gambia staff and a cross section of the community of Masembeh and surroundings.
