The ninety-ninth group of Peace Corps trainees have finally arrived in the country.
Twenty Peace Corps trainees from across America arrived yesterday for a two-year volunteer service in Fiji.
They will undergo an intensive 10-week pre-service training course to equip them with the knowledge and skills needed for a successful two-year service.
The goal of the program is to prepare the 20 youths for successful partnerships with their Fijian communities.
US Ambassador Marie Damour welcomed the trainees in a kava ceremony hosted at the Peace Corps headquarters.
“You are going to use your experience in your professional expertise to help advance economic security in Fiji to develop the resilience of the communities that you’re going to live in,” Ms Damour said.
Peace Corps Fiji country director Kury Cobham also expressed her gratitude for the incoming cohort.
“Since the first Peace Corps volunteers arrived in Fiji in 1968, over 2550 men and women of all ages and backgrounds have had the privilege of serving this beautiful nation,” Ms Cobham said.
“These volunteers come to share their skills, but more importantly, they return home enriched by the spirit of Fiji and the life-long connections they make here.”
