Press Release for Swearing-In

Peace Corps Georgia Celebrates 6th Group of Volunteers at Swearing-In Ceremony

Friday, August 18, the United States Peace Corps of Georgia swore in 48 new volunteers at the Rustaveli State Academic Theater. U.S. Charge d’Affairs, the Honorable Mark. X. Perry, swore the volunteers in. The swearing-in ceremony is a long-held tradition in the Peace Corps and celebrates the Peace Corps American trainees taking an oath of service and becoming official Peace Corps Volunteers. The ceremony was lead by Peace Corps Country Director Ms. Kathleen Sifer and featured speeches and songs by the new volunteers and performances by professional Georgian folk dancing and singing groups.

The new volunteers were trained in Georgian language and in technical areas while living in small groups in the towns and villages of the Shida Kartli region. They will move to cities and villages in the regions of Ajara, Guria, Imereti, Samegrelo, Kakheti, Kvemo and Shida Kartli and Samtskhe Javakheti to complete two years of service. Fifteen of the 48 new Volunteers will serve in Georgian NGOs. The other 33 Volunteers will teach English language courses: 31 in secondary schools and two at Universities.

Georgia has a 6-year history with the United States Peace Corps, which enjoys the support of the government and the Georgian people. Currently 82 Peace Corps Volunteers are serving in Georgia.

The Peace Corps is celebrating a 45-year legacy of service at home and abroad, and a 30-year high for volunteers in the field. Since 1961, more than 182,000 volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 138 countries where volunteers have served. Peace Corps volunteers are U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

Pics:
http://georgia.usembassy.gov/events/2006/event20060818PeaceCorps.htm