Press Release

66 New Peace Corps Volunteers Sworn In

Mr. Dennis Hankins, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Mauritania and Mr. Mohamed Mahmoud Ould Khatra, Wali of Gorgol, presided this morning at a ceremony in Kaédi to install 66 new Peace Corps Volunteers who will serve in Mauritania.  Also present were several high-ranking officials from the national government, adjoining regions and prefects, and the mayor of Kaédi.

The ceremony successfully capped the completion of ten weeks of intensive training for the new volunteers. The training was intended to prepare the volunteers to assume their new responsibilities and focused on linguistic and cultural knowledge and technical skills. 

With the addition of this newest group, Peace Corps volunteers in Mauritania will number over one hundred. They will be assigned to these development sectors within the country: education, especially girls’ education, community health, agro forestry, small and medium enterprises, environmental education and new technologies.  

The Peace Corps has been working in Mauritania since 1967.

Kaédi, September 6, 2007