Peace Corps Volunteers celebrates 50th year of service

MANILA, Philippines - The US embassy in Manila feted members of the Peace Corps Volunteers last Monday to celebrate their five decades of service in various parts of the world.

US Ambassador Harry Thomas Jr. hosted a reception to commemorate the work of the volunteers in improving the quality of life in local communities.

Peace Corps Philippines director Sonia Derenoncourt said the US Peace Corps presently has over 300 volunteers in the Philippines working in the education, environment, coastal resource management and youth sectors.  

“All of them throughout the Philippines are celebrating this day. It happens to be also the global Peace Corps birthday and it so happened the Peace Corps Philippines started the same time that the global program started because it’s the second oldest Peace Corps program in the world,” Derenoncourt said.

She said the Peace Corps volunteers have been warmly received by people in the sectors they serve.

Some of the volunteers stationed in the Philippines have also served in Samoa, Tonga, Ukraine, Bulgaria, South Africa, Mali, Burkina Faso, Mauritania, Korea and Thailand.

Throughout the year, the Peace Corps will hold several activities in the country.

The Peace Corps Program was created by the Peace Corps Act on March 1, 1961.

The Philippines was the second country after Ghana to receive the service of volunteers. Since Oct. 12, 1961, over 8,300 volunteers have worked in the country.

“The Peace Corps would not exist if it were not for the invitation of governments all over the world. Jointly our governments believe that people can cross barriers of language, culture, and customs in order to speak a common language of humanity,” Thomas said during the reception.

Volunteers in the country are engaged in the areas of education (English language learning), environment (coastal management), and youth (basic education and social services for children and their families). In the course of their service, they develop lasting friendships with the people they work with.    

“We look forward to continued dedicated service towards sustainable human development,” Derenoncourt said.