By Amin Kef (Ranger)
The U.S. Peace Corps on Friday August 9, 2024 held a significant ceremony at the Peace Corps Training Center in Kambia, where six new volunteers were officially sworn in and commissioned for service. U.S. Ambassador Bryan Hunt presided over the event, which was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Basic, Senior & Secondary Education, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other distinguished guests.
Among the attendees were Deputy Ministers from the Health, Education and Foreign Affairs Ministries, the Deputy Chief Education Officer, District Council representatives, the Paramount Chief and Peace Corps staff. The ceremony marked the culmination of ten weeks of intensive training for the new volunteers, who will serve in the health and education sectors across three districts in Sierra Leone.
During the ceremony, Ambassador Hunt administered the oath of service and highlighted the significance of the Peace Corps program in Sierra Leone. “The U.S. Government is honored to have a Peace Corps program here,” he remarked. “These volunteers are joining the ranks of over 3,000 Peace Corps volunteers who have served in Sierra Leone, becoming part of a legacy of dedication and service.”
The Peace Corps program in Sierra Leone, established in 1962 through a memorandum of understanding between the Sierra Leonean and U.S. Governments, has seen volunteers contribute to the country’s development and foster mutual understanding between the two nations for over six decades. Ambassador Hunt emphasized the importance of the volunteers’ work in Sierra Leone, noting that their integration into local communities exemplifies the spirit of cooperation between the Sierra Leonean and American people.
“The work of Peace Corps Volunteers in Sierra Leone is crucial,” Ambassador Hunt said. “Their collaboration with host communities and the shared commitment to advancing health, democracy and prosperity in Sierra Leone underscores our common goal of fostering unity and inclusion across political, geographic, and ethnic lines.”
The new volunteers will live and work alongside local communities, often in rural areas, as they support primary and secondary schools and local health programs. Their service will continue the long-standing tradition of Peace Corps Volunteers making significant contributions to Sierra Leone’s national development.
As the newly sworn-in volunteers embark on their two-year service, they join one of the longest-standing and most impactful Peace Corps programs in the world. Ambassador Hunt expressed confidence in their ability to contribute to sustainable development efforts, build on the work of previous volunteers, and further strengthen the partnership between the peoples and Governments of Sierra Leone and the United States.
In his closing remarks, Ambassador Hunt shared stories of former volunteers who had formed lasting bonds with their host communities, illustrating the deep connections and impact that Peace Corps service fosters. He congratulated the new volunteers on their successful completion of training and wished them well in their upcoming service.
“On behalf of the United States Government, I thank you for your commitment,” Ambassador Hunt said. “I will be eager to hear about what you achieve with your communities.”
The ceremony marks the beginning of a new chapter for the six volunteers, who will now join the ranks of those who have left a lasting legacy of service and dedication in Sierra Leone.
