Peace Corps to Close its Myanmar Post
Today, the Peace Corps announced that the agency will close its post in Myanmar. Peace Corps Chief Executive Officer Carol Spahn issued the following statement in response:
“Due to continued instability, unrest and armed conflict created by the military coup in Myanmar, the Peace Corps is unable to plan for the safe return of Volunteers. After careful consideration, we will now begin the process of closing our Peace Corps/Myanmar post.
“We are grateful for the support of the Embassy in Yangon, the State Department and all of our partners. And, we are incredibly thankful for our staff and the people of Myanmar, especially those who joined us as we worked together towards our shared goals. Our work and the relationships will live on in the enduring bonds that have been formed in the name of world peace and friendship.
“While we are unable to send Volunteers back to Myanmar in the foreseeable future, we are hard at work sending Volunteers back to posts worldwide as health and safety conditions permit. We stand ready to reengage with Myanmar when the conditions would allow for a safe return.”
A total of 87 Volunteers served Myanmar communities to support English education, between the post opening in 2016 and the global evacuation in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
About the Peace Corps: The Peace Corps is an international service network of volunteers, community members, host country partners and staff who are driven by the agency’s mission of world peace and friendship. At the invitation of governments around the world, Peace Corps volunteers work alongside community members on locally-prioritized projects in the areas of education, health, environment, agriculture, community economic development and youth development. Through service, members of the Peace Corps network develop transferable skills and hone intercultural competencies that position them to be the next generation of global leaders. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have served in 142 countries worldwide. For more information, visit peacecorps.gov and follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
