This week I attended the newest cohort of volunteers swearing-in as US Peace Corps volunteers in Armenia. It was made even more special (and extravagant) because the Peace Corps Director, Carol Spahn, welcomed this next group to begin their service. It is an important day, not only for the volunteers but for the Peace Corps and the host country too.
Importance of Swearing-In
The Swearing-In of new volunteers is a huge deal! Not only are volunteers, Peace Corps staff, and host families in attendance but there are many government officials present from both the US and the host country. It marks the day the volunteers begin the work that the Peace Corps and the host country government have decided is most pressing. It is not only a promise by the volunteers to the Peace Corps, but also a commitment to the host country and the communities where they will serve.
The ceremony begins
After weeks of preparation and practice, the day of Swearing-In arrives. Representatives from both the host country government and the Peace Corps will make speeches. For cohort A29 (the 29th group to take the oath in Armenia) the speeches were given by the Peace Corps Armenia Country Director, Joanne Fairley, then the Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, Artur Martirosyan, followed by the US Ambassador to Armenia, Kristina Kvien, and last, the US Peace Corps Director, Carol Spahn.
The Oath and the Pledge
All volunteers take the Oath, and then the Peace Corps Pledge:
I promise to serve alongside the people of Country of Service. I promise to share my culture with an open heart and open mind. I promise to foster an understanding of the people of Country of Service, with creativity, cultural sensitivity, and respect. I will face the challenges of service with patience, humility, and determination. I will embrace the mission of world peace and friendship for as long as I serve and beyond. In the proud tradition of Peace Corps’ legacy, and in the spirit of the Peace Corps family past, present, and future – I am a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Tribute to PST (Pre-Service Training) Host Families
Even though Swearing-In is the beginning of the volunteers service, they have been hard at work already in Armenia during PST, Pre-Service Training. And during those 10-11 weeks, they have lived with Armenian host families, studied the language and culture, all this to be better prepared for their service. During the Swearing-In, a video was shown to highlight the volunteers and the families that hosted them.
Now it’s time to Celebrate
The program finishes with an Armenian dance performance by the Hachn Dance Ensemble which was great by the way! And then there is a reception afterward. Because this was an even more special occasion because of Director Spahn being there, all the A28s (my cohort) were invited and after the swearing-in, both cohorts went to a luncheon where we could sit down, relax, eat some good food, and talk with Director Spahn. After that, it was time for the A29s to go back to their training site and begin packing because they would be moving in a few days to their permanent sites.
What it all means to me!
Joining the this new group of Peace Corps Armenia volunteers for their swearing-in is a reminder of how far my cohort has come in just a year, and helps us renew our pledge to do even more for our 2nd year. I congratulate all the new volunteers and I know we’ll all work together and support each other until the end of our service, and beyond.
Here’s the video to watch the whole ceremony:
