BY PHUMELELE GAMEDZE
MBABANE— Twenty two Peace Corps volunteers have officially started their journey of serving communities in Eswatini after completing nine weeks of preparation and taking their Oath of Service at Mountain View Hotel last Friday.
The swearing in ceremony, administered by Chargé d’Affaires Marc Weinstock, marked an important moment for the 22nd group, known as G22, as they move from training into their assignments across the country.
For the volunteers, the occasion was not simply about completing training. It was the beginning of a new experience one that will see them live, work and build relationships with communities while sharing skills and learning from emaSwati.
Their nine week preparation was designed to help them understand the country and prepare for the realities of working alongside local people. The training also included language and cultural preparation, helping the volunteers communicate and connect more meaningfully with the communities they will serve.
The group will work mainly in Youth in Development and Health, supporting programmes and initiatives that respond to needs identified within communities.
In their work with young people, the volunteers are expected to support activities that encourage positive development, while those working in health will contribute to community health education and programmes, particularly those involving young people.
Importantly, their role is not to come into communities and simply tell people what to do. Their work is built around working with local partners, listening to communities and supporting solutions that can continue to make a difference beyond their time in Eswatini.
This approach creates an opportunity for both sides to learn. While volunteers share knowledge and skills, they also experience Eswatini’s culture, languages, traditions and everyday community life.
The arrival of G22 therefore represents more than the addition of 22 volunteers to community programmes. It is also another opportunity for people from Eswatini and the United States to build friendships, exchange experiences and understand one another better.
As the volunteers now begin their assignments, their nine weeks of preparation will be put into practice in classrooms, health programmes, youth activities and communities where their work can make a meaningful difference.
For G22, the oath was the end of training, but the beginning of the real journey.
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(Courtesy Pic)
