Peace Corps commemorate 60 Years of Service

By Talaia Mika

APIA, SAMOA – 14 DECEMBER 2021: The depth and extent of the service of the United States Peace Corps Volunteers to Samoa was highlighted at the celebration their 60 anniversary at the Le Manumea Hotel Apia last Thursday.

The commemoration was accented by inspiring stories shared by the volunteers and the Samoans they’ve met along their journey during their service to the people of Samoa.

Although the Peace Corp movement began in 1961 by President JF Kennedy, (a year before Samoa achieved its political independence), the first US volunteers only arrived in 1967.

Since then, one thousand and nine hundred (1,900) Peace Corps volunteers had served in Samoa over the last 54 years in the fields of fisheries, small business development, education, health and more.

Since 1967, young Americans (mainly fresh out of school) came to serve in a tropical island and many fell in love with the place, its people and culture and some married locals and stayed for good.

The Minister of Education, Sports and Culture, Seu’ula Ioane, a long serving teacher before he entered politics earlier this year, told the story of one Peace Corps volunteer named Frank who served in his remote village of Tufutafoe on the very western tip of Savaii island.

“A family in my village had a Peace Corps volunteer named Frank. In that family, a baby boy was born and the family named that baby Frank,” said the Minister.

“Frank the baby graduated from the National University of Samoa as a teacher and is now residing in Hastings, New Zealand with a Bachelors degree from Auckland University.”

“Frank the Peace Corp reached deeper into the Samoan culture and became the first Peace Corp volunteer to wear a full body traditional tattoo.”

Seu’ula praised the service of the Peace Corp volunteers and acknowledged their work in providing improvements in many aspects in Samoa mainly the education system.

In Samoa, forty two (42) percent of the Peace Corp Volunteers served in Education, 20% in Health, 12% in youth in development, 9% in agriculture, 8% in community economic development, 7% in the Environment and 2% in Peace Corps response.

Four percent of US Peace Corps volunteers overall serve in Samoa while the largest percentage- 45%, serve in Africa.

Peace Corps staff with PCS’s Country Director, Gini Wilderson after their traditional Siva performance.