2008 Press Releases
Thirty-Seven American Peace Corps Volunteers Are Ready to Live and Work in Bulgarian Communities
PRESS RELEASE
Sofia, Bulgaria
June 17, 2008
On June 20th, 2008, 37 Americans will be sworn-in by representatives of the U.S. Embassy Mission, and Bulgarian ministries as the twenty-third group of Peace Corps Volunteers to serve in Bulgaria.
Peace Corps Volunteers in the TEFL Program partner with teachers of English at Bulgarian Primary and Secondary Schools. They partner with their school colleagues and community members to teach English, improve educational opportunities, create and enhance resource centers, encourage collaborative teacher–to teacher exchange and skills transfer and to develop sustainable community outreach projects.
Prior to swearing in, these Volunteers have received eleven weeks of intensive training in training sites surrounding the city of Dupnitsa. They have been trained in Bulgarian language and culture, lived with Bulgarian families during the training period, and worked on small-scale community projects.
As of June 20th, when these thirty-seven new Volunteers are sworn in, over 170 American Peace Corps Volunteers will be currently working in Bulgaria. Since 1991, more then 900 Peace Corps Volunteers have completed their service here and returned to the United States. Peace Corps Volunteers work for Bulgarian sponsoring organizations and institutions and are supervised by Bulgarians. They are not paid a salary but they receive allowances, medical care and other support from the Peace Corps.
The Peace Corps began its work in Bulgaria in 1991 through an agreement between the Republic of Bulgaria and the government of the United States. The Peace Corps was established in 1961 by President John F. Kennedy to provide technical assistance to other countries. Its other goals are to acquaint other peoples with Americans and their culture, and to give Americans the opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures.
For more information about the United States Peace Corps and its Programs in Bulgaria, please contact the Peace Corps office in Sofia (8182 100).