Forty one Americans arrive in Bulgaria to join U.S. Peace Corps

March 28th, 2011

Sofia, Bulgaria

On March 30th 2011, the twenty seventh group of forty one Peace Corps Volunteers will arrive at Sofia airport to join Peace Corps Bulgaria and to devote two years of their lives to community development in Bulgaria.

Prior to these two years of service, the Volunteers will receive eleven weeks of intensive training in 8 training sites surrounding the city of Vratsa. They will be trained in Bulgarian language and culture, will live with Bulgarian families, and will work on small-scale community projects.  

After the training the Volunteers will work at the grassroots level in different organizations and institutions throughout Bulgaria, mostly in small and underserved communities. Some of them will be working as English language teachers in primary and secondary schools; others will partner with municipalities, social institutions, and cultural houses to develop and implement strategic plans, encourage collaboration and transfer skills.

Currently there are 141 Volunteers working in Bulgaria in the areas of Education, Youth and Community Development. Peace Corps Bulgaria Volunteers receive allowances, medical care, and other support from Peace Corps but do not receive an actual salary.   They live at local level, get an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of another culture, give back to their local communities, create lifelong friendships and promote a better understanding of the people of our two nations.

Peace Corps began its work in Bulgaria in 1991 through an agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the government of the United States. Since then more than 1250 volunteers have served in Bulgaria in more than 300 communities.

Peace Corps was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to provide technical assistance to other countries. Its other goals are to acquaint other peoples with Americans and their culture, and to give Americans the opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures. Since 1961, nearly 200, 000 Americans have served as Peace Corps Volunteers in 139 countries around the world.  Approximately 8,500 Peace Corps Volunteers are currently working in 77 countries, in such fields as agriculture, business development, education, environment, health care and youth development.

For more information about the U.S. Peace Corps and its programs in Bulgaria, please contact the office in Sofia (8182 100) or visit the Peace Corps Bulgaria internet site: http://bulgaria.peacecorps.gov