Members of the fourth cohort of US Peace Corps volunteers at the swearing-in ceremony in Hanoi. (Photo: US Embassy)

Courtney Beale, US Deputy Chief of Mission, said, “The renewal was first and foremost a recommitment to the Peace Corps program here in Vietnam that the US wants to play a part in supporting the Ministry of Education and Training’s goal to make English the secondary language of instruction here in Vietnam. By sending Peace Corps volunteers to teach English in high schools, we can support those goals.”

“So our message is that we are committed to the Peace Corps program in the long term, and we want it to be a success and continue to support Vietnam's educational goals and our people-to-people ties,” Ms. Courtney added.

Courtney Beale, US Deputy Chief of Mission (Photo: US Embassy)

The Peace Corps has deployed 50 volunteers to Vietnam, with a fourth cohort arriving in early October. Following 10 weeks of intensive training in language, culture, and technical skills, the volunteers are now prepared for their two-year assignments. During their swearing-in, they pledged to work with school principals, English teachers, and staff with dedication, patience, and humility.

Isabella, a volunteer from San Francisco, said, “There were many reasons I wanted to join the Peace Corps, but the thing that made the Peace Corps unique was its emphasis on service and integration. I was really interested in the intention Peace Corps brought to training, in cultural matters, language skills, and how you live so closely with your counterparts.”

The Peace Corps, an independent agency of the executive branch of the US government, operates a volunteer program to provide ­­­­­host governments with assistance for their development priorities. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, 240,000 Americans have served as volunteers in 142 countries. Vietnam is the 143rd country to invite and partner with the Peace Corps.