18th group of U.S. Peace Corps Volunteers in Moldova took oaths

28 Americans from the 20th group of Peace Corps Volunteers have taken their oaths at a swearing-in ceremony in Chisinau, on Thursday afternoon. The volunteers had a 10-week pre-service training where they focused on learning Romanian and Russian, learning Moldovan culture, and acquiring skills for their future placements. The trainees lived with host families in villages near the town of Orhei. After taking their oaths, 13 members of the group will teach health education, and the remaining 15 will teach English for two years in the villages and towns across Moldova. The event was attended by U.S. Ambassador Michael D. Kirby, U.S. Peace Corps Acting Director for Moldova Carol McLaughlin, and Minister of Health and Social Protection Ion Ababii. Carol McLaughlin has said in her speech she hopes that the volunteers will achieve the three goals of the Peace Corps: to provide assistance to people in Moldova, to share the American culture with Moldovans and share their experience with others on their return to the U.S. The Peace Corps Program for Moldova was launched in 1993. At present, 114 American volunteers are serving in Moldova. The Peace Corps was established in 1961, during the presidency of J.F. Kennedy, by an act of the U.S. Congress to facilitate technical assistance and cross cultural sharing between Americans and the people of other countries throughout the world.