The US Embassy in Zambia has recruited 31 volunteers from the United States following eleven weeks of training in various skills, including language and inter-cultural understanding.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, the Embassy says the volunteers will work with local community members in rural areas of Zambia for two years on education and health programs in the Central, Eastern, Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Northwestern, and Southern provinces.
“Eighteen of the volunteers will serve under the Ministry of Education to support teachers in primary and lower secondary schools (grade 5 to 9) in developing innovative and gender-equitable teaching methodologies, in addition to teaching English.
“The remaining 13 volunteers will serve under the Ministry of Health to support community health workers in promoting strategies to improve maternal, neonatal, and child health, in addition to teaching about malaria control and prevention methods,” the statement read.
The Minister of Education, Honorable Douglas Syakalima, was the guest of honor at the ceremony. His Royal Highness Chief Chamuka VI of the Lenje people, and Director of Public Health for the Ministry of Health, Dr. Patricia Bobo, were part of the guests.
According to the Embassy, besides the core responsibilities in education and health, all 31 volunteers will provide HIV/AIDS prevention assistance in their communities through the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
They will also share information in their communities about preventing the transmission of COVID-19 and promote access to COVID-19 vaccines offered by local health centers, it said.
