Remarks of Ambassador Jeanine Jackson

Reception in Honor of the US Peace Corps Director

21 September 2007

It is a great privilege to welcome to Burkina Faso the Director of the Peace Corps of the United States, Mr. Ronald A Tschetter.  I thank all of you for coming to meet him.  Mr. Tschetter is himself a former Peace Corps volunteer.  He is very anxious to see the work of the volunteers in their villages here in Burkina Faso.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The swearing in ceremony for new Peace Corps Volunteers takes place twice annually in Burkina Faso and is a wonderful event that makes me proud to be an American.  The Peace Corps is currently in 79 countries.  In Burkina Faso, we have 103 volunteers in service.

The men and women who work as volunteers are the best that America has to offer.  In 46 years, the efforts of the volunteers have provided concrete results on every level.  Also, their work here has reinforced the friendship between our two countries.

Every day I hear many Burkinabe express their strong admiration for the Peace Corps Volunteers.  Many appreciate what the volunteers have done from them and their families. 

Because of this appreciation of their work, the United States, and in particular the Peace Corps, stand by Burkina Faso to improve secondary education, education for young girls, and health.  By working together, the Government of Burkina Faso and the people, with the contribution of the Peace Corps Volunteers, will help Burkina Faso eliminate poverty and achieve sustained economic growth.

Thank you again for your presence and most importantly thanks to Mr. Tschetter for spending two days in the “country of honest men.”