A new group of Peace Corps trainees has arrived in Fiji, marking the beginning of their two-year volunteer service. The twenty trainees from various states across the United States landed in the country yesterday and will participate in a rigorous ten-week pre-service training program designed to equip them with essential skills and knowledge for their time in Fiji.
The initiative aims to foster successful collaborations between the trainees and their Fijian communities. US Ambassador Marie Damour welcomed the new cohort during a kava ceremony at the Peace Corps headquarters, emphasizing the importance of their contributions. “You are going to use your experience in your professional expertise to help advance economic security in Fiji to develop the resilience of the communities that you will be part of,” Ambassador Damour stated.
Kury Cobham, the country director of Peace Corps Fiji, expressed appreciation for the new volunteers. She noted that since the arrival of the first Peace Corps volunteers in Fiji in 1968, over 2,550 individuals from various backgrounds have had the honor of serving the country. “These volunteers come to share their skills, but more importantly, they leave enriched by the spirit of Fiji and the lifelong connections they create here,” Ms. Cobham added.