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Momodou
Denmark
11833 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Aug 2007 : 11:27:41
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Peace Corps Volunteers Sworn In
By Isatou Bittaye
Twenty Peace Corps Education Volunteers were sworn in at the residence of the American Ambassador at Fajara on Friday, 24 August 2007.
In her opening remarks, Mrs. Yamai Secka-Jack, said the volunteers have gone through 10 weeks of training in The Gambia. She said they were trained to work with schools and communities. She added that they were also trained on youth development, computer literacy, income generation, personal health and safety to enable them to take charge of their health and observe safety precautions while they are in the field.
The Peace Corps Country Director, Mr. Micheal McConnell said the Peace Corps have been in the Gambia for 40 years now. He noted that Peace Corps is not an NGO neither a political agency, but an independent agency that strives to help local communities. Mr. Micheal further said that volunteers are to train teachers, teach Maths, Science and Computer Technology to students. He added that the volunteers will also work in the communities in which they live to enable those communities to have a greater capacity to develop themselves. Mr. Micheal noted that the volunteers know that it will not always be easy to work here, but they are here to train people. He urged them to do their job and never give up even when it is hard.
In her keynote address, the Secretary of State for Basic and Secondary Education, Mrs. Fatou Lamin Faye, said the Peace Corps Education Programme is old and that the education volunteers have worked in curriculum research and development, adult education and the production of material resources as well as in schools and tertiary institutions. Mrs. Faye noted that the government of The Gambia is committed to providing quality education for all children and as such has invested heavily in this sector in collaboration with partners. SoS Faye further said her department is also investing more in the sector in a bid to improve the quality of education through capacity building for those responsible for the implementation of the education strategic plan. Mrs. Faye said several libraries have been established in The Gambia through the help of Peace Corps The Gambia and this has greatly enhanced the efforts of the Department of State to provide quality teaching and learning. SoS Faye lauded the significant contribution made by Peace Corps in the area of computer literacy. She noted that both The Gambia College and the University of The Gambia have benefited from this computer literacy initiative. Madam Faye said Gambians appreciate Peace Corps volunteers because of their respect for the way of life of Gambians. Mrs. Faye indicated that through partnership and togetherness, the emerging needs of the education sector could be addressed. She finally urged everybody to spread the message of peace so as to ensure that "we live in peace and leave a peaceful world for our children and for posterity." She emphasised that peace starts within each one of us; that it is only when we have inner peace that we can be at peace with those around us.
Cristin Farley, a volunteer noted that they have been involved in computer training, Maths, Science and environmental teaching. She added that as volunteers, they will contribute to the development of the community.
Source: Foroyaa Newspaper Burning Issue
Issue No. 100/2007, 27 - 28 August 2007
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