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I
NTERNATIONAL
V
OLUNTEER 
C
OOPERATING
O
RGANIZATIONS
R 
EMARKS
 
FOR 
 
THE
H
ONORABLE
R 
ON
T
SCHETTER 
 C
AMBODIA
N
OVEMBER 
24, 20081:00
P
.
M
.
I am pleased to be with you all today and tobe back in Cambodia. I first came toCambodia in 2007 to swear in our very firstgroup of Peace Corps Volunteers here. It’sa very special place, and I’ve had awonderful time visiting with our Volunteersover the past few days.
May want to mention a story or two—youwill have met with Will and StephanieBartsch who are both teaching English at ahigh school. They are from Pierre, SouthDakota (your home state), so that’s worthyou mentioning.
I know our organizations share commongoals, and we can each tell stories aboutthe great work our folks are doing aroundthe globe. We all desire for people aroundthe world to be empowered to live betterlives and have the ability to transform theirown communities. It’s important for us toall work together, which is why I’m so
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pleased to say we have memoranda of understanding with DED, JICA, UNV, as wellas FAO and WFP.Today, the Peace Corps has over 7,800Volunteers serving in 76 countries aroundthe world. The Peace Corps was created in1961 and since that time over 195,000Americans have served in 139 countries.The Peace Corps is fully funded by the U.S.government, and the agency hasmaintained the same mission of spreadingworld peace and friendship for almost 50years—and I think that’s the key to oursuccess. In fact our three goals as anorganization have not changed either:1.Helping the people of host countries whoinvite us in meeting their need for trainedmen and women.2.Helping promote a better understandingof Americans on the part of the peoplesserved.3.Helping promote a better understandingof other peoples on the part of Americans.
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Our Volunteers bring specific skills to hostcountries that invite us in, but they alsohave a cross-cultural mission. Peace CorpsVolunteers are to integrate into the localculture by learning the local language andcustoms as well as sharing their ownbackgrounds and traditions with the peoplethey serve. Then, after two years of service, they bring the knowledge of theculture and the country back to the UnitedStates to share with the American people.Peace Corps Volunteers work in manydifferent areas – combating HIV/AIDS,youth development, building smallbusinesses, teaching English, trainingteachers, supporting basic health, andstrengthening environmental or agriculturalprojects. And regardless of their projects,all Volunteers work hand-in-hand with theircommunities.In fact, our Volunteers encouragecommunity participation in their projects.We want to pass on sustainable skills so
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