U.S. Peace Corps Director Visits Bolivia

August 10, 2007

The Director of the U.S. Peace Corps, Ronald A. Tschetter, will arrive in Bolivia on Monday for an official visit to see specific programs carried out by the Peace Corps Volunteers.

During his three-day visit, Mr. Tschetter will meet with senior Bolivian Government officials and he will travel to Cochabamba, to visit the Peace Corps’ headquarters in the country. There he will meet with volunteers serving in rural areas and will visit micro-enterprise promotion and integrated education programs in the towns of Tarata, Totora, Villa Rivero and Arani.

Ronald A. Tschetter is the 17th director of the Peace Corps. He was nominated by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the United States Senate on September 13, 2006.  Mr. Tschetter is the third director in the Peace Corps’ history to have served as a Peace Corps Volunteer.

Mr. Tschetter and his wife, Nancy, were Peace Corps Volunteers in India from 1966-1968, where they served as community health workers.  Improving the lives of others has been a life-long passion of Mr. Tschetter. After returning home from India, Mr. Tschetter worked in the financial securities industry for over 30 years, gaining strong management and leadership skills throughout his distinguished career. 

Mr. Tschetter is an active public servant and has received numerous awards for leadership and community service. 

In Bolivia, there are approximately 150 volunteers that provide technical support in several communities in the departments of Cochabamba, Oruro, Chuquisaca, Tarija, Santa Cruz, and Potosí. They serve in four areas:

-           Micro enterprise and community tourism development

-           Agricultural expansion and nutritional education

-           Basic sanitation, including the construction of water systems and latrines

-           Natural resources, including environmental education

The Peace Corps was established in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship through U.S. volunteers serving abroad. It is a non-traditional agency of the U.S. Government that reflects the most enduring ideals and values of the American people: generosity, civic pride, a strong work ethic, and a dedication to serving other people.

The three main goals that define the Peace Corps' mission are:

• Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
• Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
• Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.