he East African nation of Ethiopia was one of the first countries to invite Peace Corps to establish its program in 1962, just one year after the Peace Corps was founded. The primary focus of the program was on education, with the goal of training skilled workers and promoting economic development. In addition, Volunteers worked in agriculture, basic education, tourism, health, economic development and teaching English as a foreign language.

In December 2007, Director Ron Tschetter swore-in 42 Peace Corps Volunteers, marking the return of the Peace Corps to Ethiopia. All 42 Volunteers will focus on the prevention, care, and treatment of HIV/AIDS during their service in the East African country.

The Peace Corps remained in Ethiopia until 1977 and returned again in 1995, but the program was suspended again in 2000 due to security concerns during the border war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Since 1962, a total of 2,934 Peace Corps Volunteers have served in Ethiopia.

With the re-entry into Ethiopia, Peace Corps will work in partnership with the Government of Ethiopia, specifically with the Ministry of Health. The new program is in cooperation with the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The Volunteers will be developing HIV/AIDS education and prevention activities, including: care and treatment; orphan and vulnerable children services; and home-based care (palliative care) services.