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Peace Corps | Malaysia

ON Jan12, 1962, the first group of Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Kuala Lumpur. On August 23, the first group of volunteers arrived in Borneo.

Over the next 21 years, more than 4,000 American volunteers’ lives became intertwined with hundreds of communities across Malaysia.

Together, Malaysians and Americans marvelled at the rate of growth of the young nation of Malaysia, and worked hard to build stronger, healthier communities. These experiences began the history of deep, lifelong connections between the people of Malaysia and the US.

The US Embassy in Kuala Lumpur is commemorating the 50th Anniversary of Peace Corps in Malaysia this year, in an effort to bring together those Malaysians and Americans who have shared meaningful experiences and lost touch over the years, to renew old friendships and forge new connections.

Over the course of the next few months until the photo exhibition comes to Kuching in August, The Borneo Post will be publishing readers’ stories of their personal experiences with the Peace Corps on Mondays.

Whether you have a personal experience with a PCV or are a former PCV, send in your stories along with a brief description of yourself to us at [email protected].

Alternatively, readers can also email in and request for a special interview.

The celebration is not just commemorative – it is a celebration of the enduring friendship that continues today under the various exchange programmes between Malaysia and the United States, including the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant (ETA) programme that sends young Americans to teach in Terengganu, Pahang and Johor.

Stay tuned for the series of Peace Corps Anniversary Events that will occur all across Malaysia over the course of 2012.