A group of 20 new US Peace Corps volunteers for Tonga were sworn in on January 15, by the US Ambassador to Tonga, David Lyons.

In the ceremony held at the Peace Corps Country Director...’s Residence at Sopu, Nuku'alofa, Ambassador Lyons said that the USA Peace Corps Volunteers started working in Tonga in 1967 and during the past 36 years more than 1500 volunteers had served the Kingdom.

The Associate Director of the Peace Corps to Tonga, Ava Allsman, said that the new volunteers included six girls and 14 men, aged from 22 to 63years. They are the 66th group of Volunteers to work in Tonga, staying for two years. Eight Volunteers will work in Tongatapu, five in Vava...’u, two in Ha...’apai, three in Niuatoputapu, one in Niuafo'ou and one in 'Eua.

Most of the volunteers are teachers, of English, Computer studies and vocational subjects, while others will be working in different areas, such as computer programming for the Ministry of Police.

The volunteers arrived in Tonga on 6 November, 2003, and underwent a Pre Service Training program to accustom themselves to their new environment.