15 new United States Peace Corps Volunteers have been sworn into service in Vanuatu, continuing the organisation’s 36-year partnership with communities across the country.

The Volunteers took their oath during a ceremony in North Efate on August 19, after completing ten weeks of training in local languages, culture, technical skills and preparation for community-based service.

From a press release it states that the 11 of the new Volunteers will serve in the Education and Literacy programme, working alongside teachers, students and schools, while four will support Community Health programmes aimed at strengthening health knowledge and local capacity.

The Volunteers will now begin their assignments on Efate, Malekula, Santo, Pentecost and neighbouring islands, where they will live and work alongside ni-Vanuatu counterparts and local communities.

Chargé d’Affaires Carolee Williamson said the new group had arrived ready to learn and work with the communities where they will serve.

“These Volunteers arrive ready to listen, learn, and work alongside their communities. We look forward to seeing what they and their ni-Vanuatu partners accomplish together.”

The Education Volunteers will support literacy and critical-thinking skills, while those working in Community Health will focus on strengthening knowledge and practices that contribute to healthier families and communities.

Peace Corps has been operating in Vanuatu for 36 years, with generations of American Volunteers living and working alongside ni-Vanuatu communities.

The arrival of the latest group continues the people-to-people relationship between Vanuatu and the United States through community-led cooperation in education and health.