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AMBASSADOR HARNISH TO SWEAR-IN AZERBAIJAN'S FIRST PEACE CORPS
VOLUNTEERS
IN SUMGAYIT
Baku, December 11, 2003
The U.S. Embassy is pleased to announce that the first group
of Peace Corps volunteers in Azerbaijan will be officially sworn-in
tomorrow by Ambassador Reno Harnish. The ceremony will take place
at the Chemical Palace in Sumgayit, located at 20 Hassan Aliyev
Street (formerly Inglab Street) at 10am, on December 12. In addition
to remarks by Ambassador Harnish, Peace Corps Director William
Levine and Deputy Minister of Education Elmar Gasimov will also
address the volunteers, and several volunteers will speak about
their upcoming activities in Azerbaijan. A reception will follow
the formal portion of the program.
The 26 Peace Corps volunteers will be placed at various secondary
schools and university teacher training institutes throughout
Azerbaijan, where they will teach English and develop teacher
training programs. The volunteers will work in Ganja, Mingachavir,
Sheki, Oguz, Shamaka, Ismaiyli, Gabalah, Vandam, Lenkoran, Masali,
Jalalibad, Bilasavar, Saliyyahn and Neftchila, and will live with
Azerbaijani host families.
"We're truly excited about the good work that Peace Corps
is beginning in Azerbaijan," stated Ambassador Harnish. "The
volunteers will provide much-needed English language training
for the Azerbaijani people, and by being involved in their local
communities, will also help to promote better understanding between
our two peoples."
The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then-Senator
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 an agency
of the U.S. government devoted to world peace and friendship.
Since that time, more than 170,000 Peace Corps volunteers have
been invited by 136 host countries to work on issues ranging from
AIDS education, information technology, and environmental preservation.
For more information about Peace Corps activities in Azerbaijan,
contact Peace Corps Program and Training Officer Steven Zadrow
at 991720/21.
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