Historic Meeting a First for a Peace Corps Director and a Secretary General as Director Tschetter and Secretary General Ki-moon Discuss Possible Collaboration.

New York - Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter traveled to New York yesterday to meet with the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki-moon. This is the first time in the 46-year history of the Peace Corps that a meeting has been held between the Peace Corps Director and the Secretary General of the United Nations. During the meeting, the two discussed possible areas of meaningful collaboration.

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon acknowledged that he shares the vision of the Peace Corps and is a proponent of its work promoting world peace and understanding. “Your organization might be the largest and most respected Volunteer organization in the world,” says Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to Director Tschetter.

After a recent visit to Africa, Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says that he is “impressed by the efforts of the Africans to develop,” and that the real key to development is “capacity building amongst African people and organizations.” Over one-third of all Peace Corps Volunteers are serving in Africa and providing meaningful contributions in training and skill development throughout the continent.

A native of South Korea, the Secretary General thanked Director Tschetter for the work that Peace Corps accomplished during its time in South Korea. Over 2,000 Peace Corps Volunteers served in South Korea from 1966 – 1981. “Many successful Koreans in the private and public sector were taught by Peace Corps Volunteers,” said the Secretary General, “and now Korea is using the Peace Corps as a model to do aid work in Africa.”

Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is the eighth serving Secretary General of the United Nations and has spent 37 years serving both in the government and in the global arena. The United Nation is renowned for its efforts in maintaining international peace and security.

The Peace Corps is celebrating its 46 years of service at home and abroad. Since 1961, more than 187,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

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