Vietnam has received its largest group of U.S. Peace Corps volunteers since the program was established, with 20 volunteers arriving this month to support English education in Vietnamese high schools.
This milestone comes as part of the 2020 Implementing Agreement between the governments of the United States and Vietnam, with the Peace Corps and the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) as the key agencies.
Starting in December 2024, the volunteers will be stationed at high schools in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, working alongside local teachers to help Vietnamese students improve their English skills. The initiative aims to provide students with greater access to educational and employment opportunities. Some volunteers will also co-teach at schools where current volunteers are completing their service.
“This is the largest group of Peace Corps volunteer trainees arriving to serve in Vietnam,” said Mikel Herrington, Peace Corps Vietnam Country Director. “It heralds continued goodwill as Peace Corps builds relationships and trust with our partners.” He also noted that the arrival of this group marks a significant milestone, as the two nations prepare to celebrate the first five years of the Implementing Agreement in 2025.
Upon arrival, the volunteers began a 10-week training program, which includes Vietnamese language lessons, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) training, and a practicum with local teachers. The training is designed to equip the volunteers with the skills needed to adapt to Vietnam’s educational system. Those who successfully complete the program will be officially sworn in December 2024.
The arrival of this new group brings the total number of currently serving Peace Corps volunteers in Vietnam to 36. Their presence highlights the commitment of both nations to deepening people-to-people ties and strengthening bilateral relations, as the two countries look ahead to the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025.
The Peace Corps is an independent U.S. government agency that provides volunteers to support the development priorities of host nations. Since its founding by President John F. Kennedy in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served as volunteers in over 142 countries. Vietnam became the 143rd country to partner with the Peace Corps. The agency’s mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fostering mutual understanding between Americans and the peoples they serve.
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Source: Vietnam Insider