FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, September 21, 2023

PEACE CORPS AND CORPSAFRICA PARTNER TO STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY TIES AND DRIVE INNOVATIVE DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVES IN AFRICA

(New York, New York | Thursday, September 21, 2023) – Peace Corps and CorpsAfrica today announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership to strengthen community ties, reinforce local ownership of community projects, and explore innovative approaches to address pressing development challenges in Africa through volunteerism.

Following the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), Peace Corps and CorpsAfrica Volunteers will collaborate to serve across the African continent, prioritizing regions with the greatest need for support and upliftment. Both organizations are committed to launching innovative service models, bolstering mutual program operations at the country level, and exchanging knowledge based on their combined experiences. Furthermore, Peace Corps and CorpsAfrica aim to increase awareness of volunteering opportunities within individual countries and ensure that their joint efforts make a significant and lasting impact.

During her remarks at the CorpsAfrica reception during the United Nations General Assembly 78th meeting, Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn highlighted the significance of strategic partnership. “For more than 60 years, the Peace Corps has engaged with youth across the world in some of the most remote communities, creating opportunities for everyone to thrive. Today’s Volunteers are continuing that great work by pioneering new service partnership models that connect across cultural differences and spur innovation within the largest generation of youth in history. With resolve and creativity, Peace Corps and CorpsAfrica are poised to navigate our evolving world thanks to this MOU, and we eagerly anticipate the transformative work on the horizon.”

Currently, Peace Corps and CorpsAfrica are exploring pilot engagements in several countries where both organizations have posts, including Ghana, Malawi, Morocco, Rwanda, and Uganda. This strategic partnership signifies a new era of cooperation, combining the strengths of two deeply experienced organizations to create a lasting impact on the continent.

CorpsAfrica’s Founder and CEO Liz Fanning continued, “As a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, I am honored to enter this exciting collaboration with an organization that transformed me and inspired me to pay the experience forward. Together, we’ll magnify our capacity to empower communities and foster sustainable change across Africa.”

Today, over 2,000 Peace Corps Volunteers serving in 57 countries signal an unwavering dedication to community empowerment. Through programs that teach English as a bridge to global opportunities and initiatives that engage youth, the commitment of Peace Corps and CorpsAfrica stands out.

CorpsAfrica promotes community development by empowering local changemakers. Since its inaugural program in Morocco in 2013, CorpsAfrica has expanded to 10 African countries, fostering hundreds of volunteers who have undertaken over 800 community projects, from infrastructure to education.

CorpsAfrica’s ethos, rooted in empowering communities from within, reduces reliance on external aid. By leveraging a model reminiscent of the Peace Corps, the organization trains young Africans to facilitate high-impact projects in remote areas, bolstering community resilience and paving the way for long-term success. This collaboration between Peace Corps and CorpsAfrica, reinforces both organizations’ shared vision for a brighter future for Africa’s vibrant communities and its next generation.

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