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Peace Corps Director Visits Volunteers and Staff in Cameroon to Celebrate The 45th Anniversary of Peace Corps Cameroon

Yaounde, June 18, 2007

Peace Corps Director Ronald A. Tschetter has arrived in Cameroon for a two-week trip to Africa, where he will meet with Peace Corps Volunteers in Kenya and Cameroon, deliver a commencement speech, and participate in the celebration of Peace Corps’ 45th Anniversary in Cameroon. He departed the United States June 14, 2007.

Tschetter will travel to both Cameroon and Kenya. On June 21, he will participate in the 45th Anniversary of Peace Corps in Cameroon and the dedication of a bronze bust of Peace Corps’ founder, President John F. Kennedy. Tschetter will then travel to Kenya where on June 23 he will be the commencement speaker at Daystar University, near Nairobi.

Peace Corps has served 45 years continuously in Cameroon since its inception in 1962. More than 3000 volunteers have served in the country in the program sectors of education, community development, fisheries, health, agro forestry, and small business development. Volunteers have worked (and are working) in all 10 provinces.  The Peace Corps/Cameroon program has impacted Cameroonians at all levels of society, countless communities, and diverse sectors. In addition to Yaounde activities, the Director will be visiting the 39 new trainees in the West Province and volunteers in the North Province. This is the second time a Peace Corps Director has visited the country since 1986.

Tschetter is also scheduled to visit Peace Corps Volunteers at their sites in both countries and meet Peace Corps staff. Currently 131 Volunteers are serving in Cameroon and 134 Volunteers are serving in Kenya, working to help eradicate hunger, bring clean water to communities, teach children, start new small businesses, and prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS, among other projects. "Peace Corps has a long and positive legacy in Africa, and today more than a third of our Peace Corps Volunteers are serving there,” Tschetter said. "There is immeasurable potential that resides within this great continent. The collaboration between American Peace Corps Volunteers and their African counterparts is truly inspiring and is helping so many communities move forward toward a brighter future.”

Since 1961, more than 187,000 Peace Corps Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

For further information, please contact the Information Section of the U.S. Embassy, Yaounde, Tel 22-20-15-00, x4162 or x4273.

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