President Obama Announces Peace Corps Program in Burma

Statement by Deputy National Security Advisor For
Strategic Communications Ben Rhodes on the Opening of a
Peace Corps Program in Burma

The United States
strongly supports the people of Burma as they continue their
democratic transition and lay the foundation for a future of
economic prosperity that strengthens civil society, empowers
youth, and develops opportunities for all. There is no
better way for the United States to demonstrate our
commitment to the people of Burma than through
people-to-people connections at the grassroots level. In
this spirit, President Obama is proud to announce today in
Naypyitaw that the Peace Corps will open a program in Burma.

Last year, the Peace Corps received a formal invitation
from the Government of Burma to open a program to support
the people of their country. The first Peace Corps
volunteers will arrive in late 2015 and will undergo three
months of comprehensive cross-cultural, language, and
technical training before moving to their volunteer sites
for two years. At their sites, they will partner with
people to strengthen local capacity, facilitate cultural
exchanges at the grassroots level, and build friendships
that will last a lifetime and further strengthen the ties
between our two countries.

The Peace Corps is ideally
suited to enhance our engagement with the people of Burma at
this historic and consequential moment in time. We look
forward to continued efforts to deepen the people to people
ties between our two countries.

Information on the Peace
Corps:

The Peace Corps was established in 1961 as a symbol
of world peace and friendship between the United States and
other nations. Since then, nearly 220,000 Americans of all
ages have served in 140 countries worldwide. This new
program will make Burma the 141st country with a Peace Corp
program.

The Peace Corps seeks to 1) help the people of
interested countries meet their need for trained men and
women; 2) help promote a better understanding of Americans
on the part of the people served; and, 3) help promote a
better understanding of other people on the part of
Americans.

The Peace Corps sends the best and brightest
Americans overseas to help meet the most pressing needs of
people around the world. Volunteers live and work alongside
the people they serve. They work in tandem with local
government counterparts, work in schools, partner with their
communities, and help local business organizations and
entrepreneurs create sustainable, community-based projects
that address challenges in education, health, community
economic development, agriculture, environment, and youth
development.

Today's announcement further demonstrates
the strong partnership and enduring relationship between the
United States and Burma.

To learn more about the Peace
Corps and apply to be a volunteer, please visit www.peacecorps.gov.

ENDS

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