Thirty Six Volunteers Take Oath at a Ceremony in Pristina/
August 22, 2015/
PRISTINA, Kosovo – On August 22, the second group of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers in Kosovo completed its pre-service training in the communities of Kamenica, Koretin, Topanic and Hodanoc, as they now begin their two-year Volunteer service.
Peace Corps has set up its program in Kosovo since September 9, 2013 when the Country Agreement was signed between the Peace Corps and the Republic of Kosovo. Peace Corps looks forward to a long and fruitful relationship with the people and the government of Kosovo. In 2016 the third groups of 40 Volunteers are scheduled to arrive.
The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then-Sen. John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew a federal government agency devoted to world peace and friendship.
To this day, the three original goals of the Peace Corps remain the same: 1) to help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women; 2) to help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the people served; and 3) to help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
The new group of Volunteers was sworn in by U.S. Ambassador Greg Delawie in a ceremony attended by the President Atifete Jahjaga, Minister of Education, Science and Technology Arsim Bajrami, Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Arban Abrashi, former Kosovo Ambassador to the U.S. Akan Ismaili along with numerous distinguished guests, friends of Peace Corps, the host families, training staff and Peace Corps Kosovo staff.
With the swearing-in ceremony, the new Volunteers officially begin their two-year service assignments which will take place in thirty six communities throughout the Republic of Kosovo.
Peace Corps Kosovo Director Stephen Kutzy said, “The communities of Kamenica, Koretin, Topanic and Hodanoc, which hosted the Volunteers during training, have been wonderfully hospitable in welcoming the Volunteers into their homes and assisting them with learning local languages. It is an excellent example of the cooperation between our two countries for the benefit of everyone.”
As part of the pre-service training, Volunteers received intensive language training. The Volunteers also received information about the Kosovo educational system. Each Peace Corps Volunteer lived with a host family to gain better understanding of the community and culture in Kosovo, and to facilitate the development of their language skills.
The Volunteers will move to their assignments throughout Kosovo this week. All thirty six will work in English language education.
For more information about the Peace Corps program, please contact the office at
Mujo Ulqinaku str. No. 3, 10000 Pristina, telephone +381 (0) 38 712 770