The United States Embassy in Kenya welcomed 31 new Peace Corps Volunteers who have officially begun their two-year service in Kenyan communities.
This marks the latest chapter in a partnership that spans more than six decades.
The volunteers were sworn in on Thursday in Kisumu after completing an intensive 11-week training program covering technical skills, local languages, and cultural immersion.
They join 37 other Peace Corps Volunteers currently serving across the country.
The new cohort will be deployed to Busia, Bungoma, Kisumu, Siaya, Kakamega, and Homabay counties.
Working alongside community leaders, teachers, health workers, and families, they will support initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems, promoting education for the Deaf community, and enhancing STEM learning in secondary schools.
Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi Susan Burns praised the incoming volunteers, noting their commitment to service and the longstanding ties between the United States and Kenya.
“I congratulate the newest Volunteers for continuing more than six decades of Peace Corps’ efforts in Kenya to transform lives and improve communities,” she said.
“Their energy, enthusiasm, kindness, and willingness to serve has been a keystone of the strong U.S.-Kenya partnership.”
Since the Peace Corps’ arrival in Kenya 60 years ago, more than 5,000 Americans have served as teachers, nurses, engineers, and professionals embedded in local communities.
In the health sector, volunteers will contribute to efforts to reduce HIV transmission, promote maternal and child health, and expand community education on malaria and tuberculosis prevention. They will also collaborate with community health workers and local facilities to support referrals for care and treatment.
Education volunteers will focus on improving teaching methods, strengthening student performance in math and science, and expanding access to STEM resources. Others will work with Deaf students to build literacy and life skills that foster academic success and independence.
During the swearing-in ceremony, Kenya’s Director of Public Health, John Ndung’u, applauded the Peace Corps’ grassroots approach and reaffirmed the Ministry of Health’s support for the program.
He highlighted the volunteers’ role in extending the reach of public health interventions across the counties they serve.
Education for the Deaf Volunteer Hans (family name withheld for security reasons) reflected on the significance of language in community integration.
“Language isn’t just a skill we carry, it’s a gift we give,” he said.
“Every time we try to speak someone’s language, or sign their name, or share a laugh across cultures, we remind the world that understanding begins with effort.”
The newly sworn-in volunteers are expected to begin settling into their host communities in the coming weeks.
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