Peace Corps-Liberia and the Ministries of Education, Health and Social Welfare, and World Food Programme have signed a joint Memorandum of Understanding for the resumption of collaborative activities in Liberia.

The U.S. Peace Corps Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Henry McKoy, signed on behalf of his agency while Education Minister, Dr. Joseph Kortu and Deputy Health and Social Welfare Minister, Vivine Cheru, signed for their respective ministries, and World Food Programme Country Director, Mr. Louis Imbleau, signed on behalf of the WFP.

Welcoming the United States Peace Corps Regional Director for Africa Thursday, during the signing ceremony at the Foreign Ministry, the Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador William V.S. Bull, called for a movement of silence in remembrance those who loss their lives on  September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on America.

Minister Bull welcomed the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between Peace Corps-Liberia and the three partners, which he said followed the recent signing ceremony between the Governments of Liberia and America to resume Peace Corps program in Liberia.

In a special statement, the United States Peace Corps Regional Director for Africa, Mr. Henry E. McKoy, said the agreements signed between Peace Corps-Liberia and its partners mark a historic beginning of implementing the Country Agreement which formalized the return of U.S. Peace Corps to Liberia.

Mr. McKoy said the event brings to reality the dreams of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and President George W. Bush when they met in the White House in October, 2007 to discuss the return of Peace Corps to the country.

He recalled that more than 3,800 Peace Corps Volunteers served in Liberia between 1962 and 1990, when the program was suspended due to the civil war. The first batch of 18 specialized volunteers is expected to arrive in Liberia on October 28, 2008.

In remark, Education Minister, Dr. Joseph Kortu, said the Peace Corps Volunteers made immense contribution to various sectors of Liberia in the past. Minister Kortu himself is a beneficiary of the program.

He described the return of the program as a significant development, noting that Liberia is faced with several challenges, among them the quality of education, which needs urgent improvement.