Ninth Group of U. S. Peace Corps Volunteers Starts Service in Albania (16 June 2006)

Today in Elbasan, 40 American Peace Corps Volunteers took an oath of service after successfully completing a 12-week training course, and will soon begin working with Albanian municipalities, community organizations, schools and health centers.  U. S. Ambassador to Albania Marcie B. Ries administered the oath at the ceremony and joined President Alfred Moisiu in wishing the new Volunteers success in their new assignments.

The training course was held in Elbasan where the new recruits spent three months learning about Albania and its language and customs.  Following today’s ceremony, the new Volunteers will depart for their assignments in Albanian communities throughout the country where they will work for the next two years. Group Nine joins the 21 Volunteers from two previous groups that are currently working in Albania.

At the invitation of the Albanian government, the Peace Corps program began in Albania in 1991, but was suspended temporarily from 1997 until 2003.  Since 2003, the Peace Corps program has flourished, with Group 9 being the largest group of Volunteers to serve in Albania. 

Established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy, the Peace Corps’ mission is to promote cross-cultural understanding between Americans and people of other nations, as well as to contribute to the developmental needs of host countries.

This year marks the 45th anniversary of U.S. Peace Corps, which is being celebrated worldwide.  In 2006, with 7,810 Volunteers serving in 75 countries, the Peace Corps is at a 30-year high.  Since 1961, more than 182,000 Americans have served as Peace Corps Volunteers in 138 countries throughout the world.

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