US Peace Corps volunteers to also serve in Syunik region

With a solemn oath to faithfully support Armenia and properly carry out their duties, 30 American volunteers joined the ranks of the US Peace Corps on May 21 in Yerevan, pledging their service. In response to a question, the US Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia, David Allen, said the volunteers will also be deployed to the Syunik region after a break of around six years.

The oath-taking ceremony for the 31st group of Peace Corps volunteers began with the national anthems of Armenia and the United States, performed live by the new volunteers themselves.

Addressing the audience with a welcoming speech, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Zhanna Andreasyan noted that this is one of the cooperation programmes whose results are clearly visible and tangible in various settlements across the country.

“The Peace Corps is a programme whose name corresponds to its content. It is people-to-people connections and such cooperation that strengthen an atmosphere of peace. I consider the cooperation between the United States and the Republic of Armenia symbolic, because it was the Washington declarations signed on August 8 last year that opened a new era of peace for our region. In this sense, I believe the programme fully reflects both the essence of our relations and the objectives on our agenda,” the minister said.

Andreasyan also noted that it is truly remarkable to see how volunteers become fully integrated into community life, to the extent that they even begin speaking in the local dialect of the communities where they are stationed.

“I would like to warmly welcome and wish success to our new volunteers, who are joining more than 1,200 Peace Corps volunteers who have already served in Armenia. Welcome to Armenia. We are happy to receive you and ready to walk this path together with you,” the minister added.

William O’Rourke, Director of the Peace Corps office in Armenia, said this year is particularly significant for the organisation, as it marks not only the 250th anniversary of US independence, but also the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps. He expressed gratitude to all partners for their support.

“We are confident that by working together we can contribute to the development of young people. As the 31st group, you will make a significant contribution to the field of peace and friendship between Armenia and the United States, which already has decades of history. We believe in your potential and are confident you will carry out your service with honour,” he said.

O’Rourke noted that in Armenia, the Peace Corps works on programmes teaching English as a second language and initiatives aimed at promoting youth potential.

The US Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia, David Allen, noting that this is the second year he has participated in the event, admitted that he is often moved by the video showing volunteers’ activities and by watching Armenian dances performed by them. He also thanked the volunteers and all supporters of the programme.

According to Allen, working in Armenia attracts volunteers not so much for financial reasons as for the establishment of warm human relations.

“Trying to calculate the hourly wage equivalent of the money paid to volunteers coming to Armenia, I realised I should stop that calculation, otherwise I would have to file a report in the Peace Corps on human rights violations,” he joked, adding that each volunteer brings a piece of the US to Armenia and takes a piece of Armenia back to the United States.

The diplomat noted that the volunteers are specialised in various fields, including education, youth initiatives, community development, and public health. Almost all of them speak Armenian quite well, sing and dance. They will soon be deployed to different communities, becoming part of them.

“This year is also special for the Peace Corps because our volunteers are returning to the Syunik region. In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we withdrew volunteers from Syunik and other parts of Armenia. In 2023, the Peace Corps returned to Armenia, but we did not redeploy volunteers to Syunik due to security risks linked to military operations. The deployment of Peace Corps volunteers to Syunik reflects our confidence in the peace process and the progress achieved over the past year,” the US Chargé d’Affaires in Armenia stressed.

He also noted that there are many former Peace Corps volunteers within the US diplomatic service. It was mentioned that some staff members of the US Embassy in Armenia previously served as volunteers in Moldova, Kazakhstan, and Georgia.

After completing an 11-week intensive training programme in Armenian language, culture, and professional skills, the volunteers are ready to be deployed to various communities. Over the next two years, they will live with Armenian families and, through classroom support, community programmes, and youth engagement activities, will contribute to the development of English language teaching and support young people in acquiring the skills needed to become confident and active members of their communities.

The event concluded with the presentation of certificates to the volunteers and the oath-taking ceremony. With the inclusion of the new group, the number of Peace Corps representatives serving across various settlements in Armenia will reach around 70.

The programme related to the Peace Corps has been implemented in Armenia since 1992 at the invitation of the Government of Armenia. Over the past 34 years, around 1,200 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Armenia.

The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 at the initiative of US President John F. Kennedy. To date, more than 240,000 American volunteers have served in 142 countries.