23 new U.S. Peace Corps volunteers begin service in Samoa

Apia, Samoa — 29 September 2025 – On Friday, September 26, twenty-three Peace Corps trainees were officially sworn in as Peace Corps Volunteers in a ceremony attended by Samoan and U.S. government officials and community partners.

The event marked the completion of an intensive 11-week pre-service training program in Samoan language, culture, safety, health, and technical skills.

The 95th cohort of Peace Corps Volunteers in Samoa includes 12 Education Literacy Volunteers who will work alongside teachers and communities to support literacy and library development in primary schools. Eleven (11) others are Environment Volunteers who will contribute to Ridge-to-Reef Samoa, a new Peace Corps project focused on strengthening natural resource management and building environmental resilience.

The Volunteers’ work will promote priorities established by the Ministry of Education & Culture (MEC); the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE); and the Ministry of Women, Community & Social Development (MWCSD)

In attendance at the swearing-in ceremony were Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma, Minister of Education and Culture; Tilafono David Hunter, Associate Minister of Women, Community, and Social Development; Daniel Tarapacki, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Samoa; and Gini Wilderson, Peace Corps Samoa Country Director who celebrated the Volunteers’ transition from trainees to active partners in Samoa’s development goals.

Over the past 11 weeks, they have not only prepared for their professional roles but also engaged with communities through practical field experiences, such as visiting school libraries, teaching in primary schools, and planting trees with community partners.

Daniel Tarapacki, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Samoa leading the Oath of Service.

Peace Corps Samoa Country Director Gini Wilderson highlighted the significance of the occasion:

“Today’s ceremony represents a milestone for these 23 dedicated individuals and for our partnership with Samoa. Whether in classrooms or communities, these Volunteers will contribute to a long history of exchanging education, skill development, and resilience-building, while deepening the bonds of friendship between Samoa and the United States.”

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Samoa, Daniel Tarapacki, who led the Trainees in the Oath of Service to become Volunteers, offered his congratulations and emphasized the importance of the enduring partnership:

“The Peace Corps embodies the spirit of service and collaboration. These Volunteers will live and work in villages across the country, strengthening people-to-people relationships while supporting Samoa’s priorities in education and environmental sustainability. Their work will build on decades of friendship between Samoa and the United States.”

Gini Wilderson, Peace Corps Samoa Country Director, Aiono Dr. Alec Ekeroma, Minister of Education and Culture and Daniel Tarapacki, Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Samoa cutting the cake to celebrate the completion of the new volunteers training.

The Peace Corps was established by U.S. President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961, to promote world peace and friendship around the world, build relationships and opportunity, and strengthen bonds among nations.

Since that day, over 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries around the world.

The Samoan government invited Peace Corps Volunteers to Samoa in October of 1967. Since then, more than 2,000 volunteers have served in Samoa, supporting priorities identified by Samoan communities in education, health, youth development, and the environment.

The newest group of Volunteers will continue this legacy, working side by side with villages, schools, and local organizations to address both immediate needs and long-term goals.

The ceremony concluded with the traditional oath of service, after which the Volunteers were congratulated and sent out to their new host communities across the country. Their two-year service will focus not only on education and environmental sustainability but also on strengthening mutual understanding and cultural exchange, the cornerstone of the Peace Corps’ mission.

With their swearing-in, Peace Corps Samoa continues to reaffirm its commitment to supporting Samoa’s own vision, while fostering friendships that extend far beyond the two years of service.

The impact of these 23 Volunteers will be felt in classrooms where literacy thrives, in libraries that inspire, and in coastal and upland ecosystems that become more resilient for generations to come.