Today, the U.S. government welcomed 22 new Peace Corps Volunteers in Lusaka, Zambia. These volunteers will work for two years alongside Zambian communities to enhance agricultural productivity, conservation, and food security. This initiative is conducted in partnership with the Zambian Ministry of Green Economy and Environment through the Forestry Department.
The volunteers will reside in rural areas across various provinces in Zambia. They will collaborate with smallholder farmers to promote sustainable agroforestry and conservation practices. Their efforts aim to preserve indigenous tree cover, encourage natural regeneration, and integrate improved agricultural techniques to strengthen household food security and increase farmers' incomes.
The swearing-in ceremony followed 11 weeks of intensive training in technical skills, Zambian languages, and cross-cultural understanding. The volunteers join a long legacy of Peace Corps Zambia, which marked 30 years of partnership with Zambia last year. They will live and work with community members to promote sustainable development and cultural exchange.
U.S. Ambassador to Zambia Michael Gonzales administered the oath of service to the new volunteers. He stated, “Even as the U.S. government pivots from an aid-based model of development to one centered on trade and investment, we recognize that these economic connections cannot thrive without mutual understanding and trust. And that is exactly what you, as Peace Corps Volunteers, help create: the people-to-people ties that genuinely connect our societies.”
Mr. Sitwala Wamunyima from the Department of Forestry was the Guest of Honor at the event. Her Royal Highness Princess Cholwe Nkomeshya also attended, highlighting traditional leadership's role in community-based environmental efforts.
The Peace Corps is an independent U.S. government agency established by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 and authorized by Congress. Over 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries since its inception. In Zambia, it collaborates with key ministries under initiatives including health, education, agriculture, and environment.