For Immediate Release
March 15, 2017
This week marks an exciting moment of transition in the
United States’ partnership with the Myanmar people, as the first group of
American Peace Corps Volunteers English teachers in Myanmar completes their
service and the second group of Volunteers arrives.
On Tuesday, March 14, the first group of six Peace Corps
Volunteers who were assigned to Yangon Region concluded their volunteer
service. The Volunteers were assigned to
basic education middle and high schools and provided teacher training and
conversation classes to 115 teachers.
These Volunteers co-taught an average of 15 classes per week with 25
Myanmar English teacher counterparts, taught English to 2,100 students, and
taught extracurricular activities to an additional 400 students.
U.S. Embassy BurmaVerified account @USEmbassyBurma New group of @PeaceCorps volunteers coming to Myanmar this week! https://go.usa.gov/xXYDY
On Saturday, March 18, Peace Corps continues its
commitment of service to Myanmar with the arrival of the second group of
Volunteers to serve in an English education project in Myanmar. The 16 Peace Corps Volunteers will undergo
ten weeks of pre-service training concentrating on Myanmar language and
culture, teaching skills, and health and safety training prior to commencing
their service. The Volunteers will work
side by side with Myanmar teachers of English in basic education middle and
high schools in Yangon and Bago Regions.
Peace Corps Volunteers partner with Myanmar people to
strengthen local capacity, facilitate cultural exchanges, and build friendships
that last a lifetime. Peace Corps
collaborates with the Ministry of Education to support their goals and
priorities of upgrading education standards, improving the capacities of
teachers, and providing quality English language instruction to students. Peace Corps uses participatory approaches to
help teachers, parents, and community members build English skills and access
greater opportunities to academic and professional growth.
On November 11, 2014, President Obama announced during
his visit to Myanmar the signing of a bilateral agreement between the United
States and The Union of the Republic of Myanmar, making Myanmar the 141st
country to host a Peace Corps program.
Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps by executive
order on March 1, 1961, more than 225,000 Americans have served in 141 host
countries. Today, more than 7,000
volunteers are working with local communities in 61 host countries in
agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health and
youth in development.