09 Aug 2016

The United States peace corp programme is due to celebrate 50 years of serving Botswana, with the first group having arrived in December 1966.

Speaking during a recent welcome ceremony for new trainees and their host families in Molepolole, acting country director peace corps, Mr Daniel Chang, said the trainees would spend 10 weeks in Molepolole undergoing training before moving to assigned places where they would work for two years.

He said the group of 81 volunteers made commitment to move from the comfort of their homes, families and friends in order to dedicate two years of their lives to serve in a country not theirs.

“It is not a commitment that anyone takes lightly, each made a conscious decision”, he said. Mr Chang further said it took confidence and faith to make the commitment. 

He urged host families to take care of the trainees in order for them to succeed in their work, adding that they should make them feel comfortable and give them a sense of belonging.

Meanwhile, Mr Chang commended the host families to have opened their homes for the trainees, saying he hoped they would continue to embrace them.

For his part, Bakwena paramount chief, Kgosi Kgari Sechele III commended the United States for its peace corp service.

The group consisted of individuals aged between 20 and 73, among them a few couples.

It was explained that Peace Corp Botswana worked hand in hand with local partners to provide health education including HIV/AIDs outreach and prevention.

In an interview, Peace Corp-Botswana programme manager Ms Rosemary Mokgosi said although the programme started serving in Botswana in 1966, it took a break in Botswana around late 1990s, given the high level of development by then, but was requested back in 2003 by former president Festus Mogae to assist in addressing the HIV/AIDs epidemic.

It was explained that currently there were 6 919 Peace Corps volunteers, living and working in 63 countries around the world whereas over 130 Peace Corps volunteers were working across Botswana, from rural areas and even in government departments.

The oldest trainee at the age of 73 Mrs Bettie Anderson already given a Setswana name, Nonofo said she finally took a decision of being Peace Corp, having desired to become one for 52 years, adding that she is eager to learn about the Setswana culture.   

She said she will be working on capacity building on HIV/AIDs, having realised it is one of the challenges in Botswana. Ends