Rabat – In a ceremony led by US Ambassador to Morocco Puneet Talwar last week, 64 Peace Corps volunteers marked the culmination of their 9.5 weeks of intensive language and cultural training in Beni-Mellal.
Held on November 16, the event saw the volunteers take an oath as they prepared to start a two-year commitment to service and cultural immersion in towns and villages across Morocco, said the US Embassy in Rabat in a statement.
During his remarks, Ambassador Talwar expressed gratitude to the volunteers for their “bold decision” to dedicate the next two years of their lives to volunteering and fostering connections within Moroccan communities.
He emphasized the significance of the volunteers’ commitment to strengthen the “already strong” people-to-people ties between the United States and Morocco.
The volunteers, aged between 21 and 70, come from diverse backgrounds across the United States.
Their mission will involve collaborating with local partners to “strengthen life skills, promote friendship” and contribute to the youth development strategy of the Moroccan Ministry of Youth, Culture, and Communication.
Talwar extended appreciation to the Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication Mehdi Bensaid, and Wali of Beni-Mellal El Khatib Lahbil, both of whom attended the ceremony.
In addition, he acknowledged the support of the Moroccan government for the Peace Corps program.
The ambassador also congratulated the global Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn on the organization’s 60-year legacy of building communities and fostering strong friendships in Morocco.
The statement underlined that Morocco hosts one of the largest contingents of Peace Corps volunteers worldwide. The country’s involvement with the Peace Corps dates back to 1963, just two years after President John F. Kennedy established the organization in 1961.
Since then, more than 240,000 US citizens have served as Peace Corps volunteers globally, with more than 5,000 volunteering in Morocco.
