Peace Corps urged to help develop Malawi

US Embassy charge d’affaires Lisa Vickers has called on American Peace Corps to work hard and help in developing Malawi.

Vickers was speaking in Lilongwe on Wednesday during the swearing-in of 22 Peace Corps who will be deployed as volunteers in secondary schools in the country.

The trainee teachers are part of the American Peace Corps Education programme in the country.

Said Vickers:  “You will be working in new communities across Malawi by joining one of the most important efforts in any country; educating the coming generation of leaders of this country. Your work will be certainly challenging, but remember to keep the Peace Corps flame alight.”

Assistant Peace Corps director for education Paul Miamba said the volunteers will be teaching subjects such as English, mathematics and sciences.

 “The 22 trainee teachers join another 15 education volunteers who have been in the country for over a year. They will be providing services in [subjects such as] English, mathematics and sciences. And so they will be spread across the country,” he said.

More than 2 400 Peace Corps volunteers have served in Malawi since the programme was established in 1963.

 Currently, 135 volunteers serve in Malawi working in the areas of education, environment and health.