Press Release

Eleventh Group Of Peace Corps Volunteers Begin Service In Macedonia

Forty-Nine New Volunteers Take Oath at Ceremony in Veles

December 15, 2006

U.S. Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic swear-in 49 new Peace Corps Volunteers in Macedonia Veles,  large photo /photo album

VELES, Macedonia -- The eleventh group of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers in Macedonia has completed its pre-service training.        

On December 15, forty-nine new Volunteers marked the conclusion of twelve weeks of pre-service training in Veles, Chaska, Negotino, Kavadarci, Sveti Nikole and Kumanovo.  After being sworn in by U.S. Ambassador Gillian Milovanovic in a ceremony attended by the President of the Republic of Macedonia, Branko Crvenkovski, and other Government of Macedonia officials, municipal authorities and representatives of cooperating organizations, the Volunteers will begin their two-year service assignments in thirty-two communities throughout the Republic of Macedonia.

There has been steady growth in the Peace Corps program in Macedonia.  The 49 new Peace Corps Volunteers brings the total number of Volunteers serving in Macedonia to 82.

Peace Corps Macedonia Director Lucianne Phillips said, "Mayor Ace Kocevski, the people of Veles, and the training center have been very helpful and gracious.  The communities of Veles, Chaska, Kumanovo, Negotino, Kavadarci and Sveti Nikole, which hosted the Volunteers during training, have been wonderfully hospitable in welcoming and working with the Peace Corps Volunteers."

The new Volunteers received intensive Macedonian language training, and for those who will work in western parts of the country, instruction was provided in both the Albanian and Macedonian languages.  The Volunteers also received information about the Macedonian educational system, economic and business issues, governmental and non-governmental organizations and programs, and organizations involved with environmental issues.  

Volunteers also received practical hands-on training by teaching at local schools, working in municipal and non-governmental organizations, and implementing small community development projects in the Veles area.  Each U.S. Peace Corps Volunteer lived with a host family to gain better understanding of the community and culture in Macedonia, and to facilitate the development of their language skills. 

The Volunteers will move to their assignments throughout Macedonia within the next few days.  Twenty-five will work in English language education, while twenty-four will help non-governmental and local government organizations throughout the country.

Volunteers will work in the communities of Skopje, Centar Zupa, Pehcevo, Bitola, Tetovo, Sveti Nikole, Stip, Vratnica, Vinica, Murtino, Veles, Negotino, Kocani, Resen, Ohrid, Kumanovo, Gevgelija, Gradsko, Strumica, Ropotovo, Injevo, Krusevo, Prilep, Probistip, Kratovo, Gostivar, Kavadarci, Struga, Makedonski Brod, Demir Hisar, Novo Selo and Kicevo.

The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy.  To this day, the three original goals articulated by the Peace Corps when it was founded remain the same:  1) to assist countries requesting skilled individuals to provide technical assistance;  2) to help promote a better understanding of the American people through the individual

Volunteers; and 3) to share with American communities and families information about the communities and countries where Volunteers live and work.  Through these efforts, Peace Corps Volunteers work to foster peace in the international community and better understanding among peoples of different cultures and heritages. 

While maintaining its original goals, the Peace Corps also has grown over the years and extended its services in many ways.  For example, the Peace Corps has been active in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, and has assisted in disaster recovery efforts in several countries.

For more information about the Peace Corps program, please contact the office at Ulica Oslo 6, 1000 Skopje, or telephone 02/3090-012.

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