Four thousand US volunteers served in Nepal in six decades

This month, Peace Corps/Nepal is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the arrival of the first Peace Corps Volunteers to Nepal.  In September 1962, more than 70 U.S. volunteers arrived in Kathmandu and served throughout the country, primarily in schools and colleges, creating lasting bonds between the U.S. and Nepal, according to a press release issued by the US Embassy, Kathmandu.

“Since 1962, nearly 4,000 Americans have volunteered to serve in Nepal, completing projects in multiple sectors including education, environment, agriculture, natural resources, and economic development.”  After a global evacuation of Peace Corps Volunteers in March 2020 due to the COVID- 19 pandemic, Peace Corps is planning for the return of Volunteers to the country, states the press release.

The Peace Corps is an international service network of volunteers, community members, host country partners and staff who are driven by the agency’s mission of world peace and friendship.  At the invitation of governments around the world, Peace Corps volunteers work alongside community members on locally-prioritized projects in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development and youth development.  Through service, members of the Peace Corps network develop transferable skills and hone intercultural competencies that position them to be the next generation of global leaders.  Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries worldwide.