Embassy of the United States Monrovia, Liberia

Peace Corps has a remarkable history in Liberia. More than 3,800 Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) served in Liberia between 1962 and 1990, at times with as many as 350 Volunteers serving concurrently. During those years, PCVs supported Liberia’s development efforts with emphases on education, agriculture, rural development, and health education. Although the program closed in 1990 with the outbreak of civil war, the Peace Corps was always fondly remembered in Liberia.

Upon the request of Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Peace Corps re-entered Liberia with a team of 12 PCVs in October 2008. Since that point, over 125 Volunteers have served throughout Liberia with a focus on supporting Liberia’s health and education sectors. Volunteers have mentored county health teams, facilitated parent/teachers associations, supported refugee relief efforts, built libraries and upcountry learning resource centers, trained teachers, and taught at nursing schools. Peace Corps has enjoyed close and supportive relationships with both the Ministries of Health and Education to ensure that its efforts are aligned with national strategic priorities.

Today, Peace Corps’ primary focus in Liberia is in secondary education with most Volunteers serving as math, science and language arts teachers at public junior and senior high schools. Peace Corps is proud to play a central role in the reconstruction of Liberia’s public high schools and is motivated to assist the country in creating its next generation of leaders. For the 2011-2012 school year, Peace Corps has more than 35 teachers in 24 high schools in nine of Liberia’s 15 counties. Both parents and students are enthusiastic about American Volunteers living and teaching in their rural communities, and Peace Corps is working to expand the program to reach more high schools and more students.