20 US citizens organised into ‘the Peace Corps’ have made an oath to keep participating into the national development efforts. This oath has been made at the US Ambassador’s home located at Kacyiru. The ambassador Donald Konan urged them to remain willing as to back all the social economic issues of Rwandans especially in health sector.
One of the aims of the organisation is to participate into health-sustaining activities in collaboration with the Rwandan Ministry of health.
According to the Amb, Donald Koran, the Peace Corps was originally the idea of former US President John F Kennedy who founded it in 1961 as an organisation aimed at spreading acts of mercy for ill and needy people worldwide.
He urged them to strive to eradicate all the health related issues that hinder Rwandans from feeling safe and healthier.
The representative of the Ministry of health in the ceremony, Michel Gatete thanked those youthful people for their wholehearted contribution in improving the living conditions of Rwandans through the provision of adequate infrastructures to needy people countrywide.
Those 20 volunteers have spent 11 weeks in different districts including Muhanga, Gatsibo, Gakenke, Karongi, Rulindo, Rwamagana, among other places. They still have two more years ahead.
The CEO of Peace Corps Jen Hedrick urged members of the Peace Corps to be active and follow the social and economic policies especially in health sector.
Some of them have been able to learn few words of Kinyarwanda language that have and still help them to communicate with locals. Lavar Thomas is one of them, He told UM– USEKE that he understood some policies such as Akarima k’igikoni, ‘Kandagira ukarabe’, among others.
Peace Corps started to operate in Rwanda since 1975 and suspended its activities in 1994 due to genocide. In 2008, the organization resumed its activities in Rwanda as the President of the Republic called them upon to be back in the nation of thousand hills.
Since 2009 almost 400 volunteers came to Rwanda to contribute to the well being of Rwandans.
UM– USEKE.RW
