Press Release

52 New Peace Corps Volunteers Sworn In

Mr. Steven Koutsis, Chargé d’Affaires of the US Embassy in Mauritania and Mr. Isselmou O. Meinouh, Wali of Gorgol, presided this morning at a ceremony in Kaedi to install 52 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, the number of active Peace Corps volunteers in Mauritania will be close to one hundred. They will be assigned to these development sectors within the country:

- Education (English teaching)     19
- Community Health        11
- Agroforestry          8
- Small and Medium Enterprises       8
- Environnemental Education       3
- New technologies        3

The Peace Corps has been working in Mauritania since 1967.

Kaédi, September 7 2006