FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 03, 2004
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Peace Corps
Contact: Press Office
Phone: 202.692.2230
Fax: 202.692.1379
Email: pressoffice@peacecorps.gov |
Morocco Welcomes New Peace Corps Volunteers to Work in Health and Environment |
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – A group of new Peace Corps volunteers officially began
their service on Thursday, May 20 in Morocco. The swearing-in of this second
group marks the successful re-entry of the Peace Corps into Morocco.
United States Ambassador to Morocco Thomas T. Riley attended the ceremony and
addressed the volunteers and their host families. Morocco’s Peace Corps Director
Bruce J. Cohen presided over the ceremony and expressed his appreciation for the
support of Ouarzazate’s Governor, Ahmed Merghich, who also participated in the
event.
The new Peace Corps volunteers have completed 11 weeks of intensive training
in the Berber language dialects of Tashelhit and Tamazight, in Arabic, and in
cross-cultural communications skills. They also received technical training.
These new volunteers will work for two years in the sectors of health and
environment in predominantly rural Moroccan communities.
In the health sector, the volunteers’ objective will be to increase
sanitation and safe water supplies in rural areas. Environmental volunteers are
stationed in Morocco’s national parks and ecological reserves with the dual goal
of making these areas user-friendly for eco-tourism while increasing
environmental awareness among local community members. A second group of
volunteers, who will work in the areas of youth development and small business
development, will arrive for training in Morocco this fall.
Volunteers reentered Morocco earlier this year based on the successful
42-year history of the program as well as the Moroccan people and government’s
strong support of the Peace Corps in the country. Morocco is one of five
predominately Muslim countries that the Peace Corps either entered or reentered
since 2003. Currently, 20 percent of Peace Corps volunteers serve in
predominately Muslim countries.
Since 1962, more than 4,000 Peace Corps volunteers have worked in Morocco in
education, environment, health, and small business development. Volunteers in
Morocco have completed projects ranging from designing English curricula to
working with artisan groups on income generating projects to helping address
water quality and sanitation concerns.
Since 1961, more than 171,000 volunteers have served 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. Peace Corps volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years
of age. Peace Corps service is a two-year commitment.
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