The U.S. Peace Corps has hosted an official swearing-in and commissioning ceremony for six new volunteers at the Peace Corps Training Center in Kambia.

U.S. Ambassador Bryan Hunt welcomed representatives from the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Basic, Senior & Secondary Education, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs in addition to local dignitaries as he administered the oath of service for the volunteers.

These new volunteers completed ten weeks of Krio language, technical, and cultural training to prepare for two years of service in health and education across three districts. The volunteers will live alongside communities, often in rural areas, as they work with local counterparts in primary and secondary schools and local health programs. The Peace Corps program works in collaboration with the Government of Sierra Leone and local communities when deciding on work locations and program focuses for volunteers.

Ambassador Hunt said, “The U.S. Government is honored to have a Peace Corps program here. These volunteers are joining the ranks of over 3,000 Peace Corps volunteers who have served in Sierra Leone and are becoming part of a legacy of dedication and service.”

The Sierra Leonean and U.S. Governments signed a memorandum of understanding in 1962, authorizing the U.S. Peace Corps to serve in Sierra Leone. Since then, every year for 62 years, Sierra Leone has welcomed volunteers who come to contribute to the development of the country and foster mutual understanding between the Americans and Sierra Leoneans.

Remarks for Ambassador Bryan D. Hunt
Friday, August 9 12:00

Honorable Deputy Minister of Health, Honorable Deputy Minister of Basic, Senior & Secondary Education, Honorable Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Deputy Chief Education Officer, District Council representatives, Paramount Chief, distinguished guests, Peace Corps staff, and most importantly, our new Peace Corps Volunteers, welcome. It is a real pleasure to be here today with you all.

Peace Corps Volunteers’ work in Sierra Leone is crucial, and their integration into communities throughout the country exemplifies the spirit of cooperation between the Sierra Leonean and American people. The U.S. Government is honored to have a Peace Corps program here, as we work together to advance health, democracy, and prosperity in Sierra Leone. With their host communities equally engaged in this dynamic development process, Peace Corps Volunteers perform remarkable work on the ground, demonstrating their dedication and commitment to the people they serve. They speak local languages, cook and grow local foods, befriend their neighbors, and live in beautiful places far away from those most foreign visitors to Sierra Leone usually see. This collaboration between the Volunteers and their host communities, and between the Governments of the United States and Sierra Leone, underscores our shared goal of fostering unity and inclusion across political, geographic, and ethnic lines.

Today, we celebrate a group of six Trainees who have just completed their intensive training. They will serve in the Community Health, Primary, and Secondary Education sectors for the next two years, continuing a proud tradition of 62 years of excellence and service by Peace Corps Volunteers in Sierra Leone.

Today’s ceremony marks the conclusion of their diligent preparation as Trainees and the beginning of their responsibilities as Peace Corps Volunteers. These individuals will soon join a legacy of volunteers who have significantly impacted their host communities, contributing to Sierra Leone’s national development and fostering mutual understanding between our people.

Ladies and Gentlemen, allow me to now address our Trainees directly:

Trainees,
In joining one of the longest-standing and most impactful Peace Corps programs in the world, you will have the chance to contribute significantly to sustainable development efforts and build upon the invaluable work of those who came before you. You are joining the ranks of over 3,000 Volunteers who have served in Sierra Leone, becoming part of a legacy of dedication and service.

Peace Corps embodies the best of the United States: service to others in the pursuit of peace, mutual understanding, and development. Many say, and I agree, that the Peace Corps is one of United States’ most impactful foreign policy initiatives.

The Peace Corps program in Sierra Leone has a long and rich history. As you serve, you will continuously discover the profound legacy Peace Corps has had across the country. This program represents a true partnership between the peoples and governments of Sierra Leone and the United States. Now, you have become part of this proud tradition.

You will undertake important work, both individually within your communities and as part of cross-cultural teams, following in the footsteps of your fellow Volunteers. I have had the pleasure of meeting Peace Corps Volunteers around the world, including the last cohort of Volunteers who recently completed their service here in Salone. Without exception, they have been passionate about their work and committed to promoting Peace Corps’ three goals: to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served, and to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

A couple months ago, I asked the last group of Volunteers what was most memorable about their two years of service. Many of them spoke of the people in their communities who became family. They shared that while they were now returning home to the United States, that Salone would also always be another place to call home. I was deeply touched by the stories of connection and impact they shared.

Many former Volunteers have gone on to become business leaders, members of Congress, educators, development workers, and diplomats. I have worked with, and continue to work with, many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers throughout my career. It is always clear that their experience continued to shape how they view the world, and how they seek to pursue impactful lives, years after they completed their service.

And so, congratulations on your successful completion of training and best of luck with the adventure that lies ahead!

On behalf of the United States Government, I thank you for your commitment, and I wish you all the best for your service to come. I will be eager to hear about what you achieve with your communities.