discurso del ministro consejero

Palabras del Encargado de Negocios de los Estados Unidos
Sr. Richard Sanders
Para la Juramentación de Voluntarios de Cuerpo de Paz
10:00 a.m. Viernes, 31 de julio de 2009
Hotel Intercontinental, Metrocentro

Buenos días,

Gracias a todos por estar aquí para la juramentación de nuestros 32 voluntarios más recientes en los sectores de agricultura y seguridad alimentaria y la formación de emprendedores y la promoción de pequeños negocios.

Estos hombres y mujeres muy pronto unirán sus esfuerzos a los de los miembros de las comunidades en las que trabajarán para promover las metas de seguridad alimentaria y del empleo sostenible. Estas son metas que comparten el Cuerpo de Paz, el Ministerio de Educación, y el INTA.
El Cuerpo de Paz verdaderamente representa lo mejor del pueblo de los Estados Unidos. En el Cuerpo de Paz brillan los pilares fundamentales de nuestra sociedad, tales como la buena voluntad, las mentes abiertas, y la voluntad de servicio.

Desde su inicio hace 48 años, el Cuerpo de Paz ha prestado servicio en más de 130 países, promoviendo ideales, compartiendo conocimientos técnicos y sembrando la semilla de la paz y la buena voluntad.

El Cuerpo de Paz ha estado en Nicaragua más de 28 años en total, en los que ha podido apreciar que las comunidades nicaragüenses son de las más cálidas y más amistosas con los voluntarios del Cuerpo de Paz. Hoy ustedes deben sentirse muy afortunados de prestar servicio dentro de muy poco tiempo en un ambiente hospitalario entre gente trabajadora, humilde y generosa.

Y sé que ustedes han venido preparándose en forma muy intensiva para ese servicio.

Ahora, permítanme por breves minutos compartir unas reflexiones en inglés con los que pronto van a empezar su servicio como Voluntarios del Cuerpo de Paz.

{Switch to English}

As Peace Corps Volunteers you are part of a unique government organization because you provide “people to people” support. You as Volunteers will work directly in Nicaraguan communities and will live the same way as your friends, neighbors, colleagues and counterparts.

You will not bring money or other material resources to the communities you will work in, instead, you will share your knowledge, experience, and friendship to support the development efforts of the communities.

As Peace Corps Volunteers, you are given a mighty charge filled with expectations and responsibilities. You are here today, ready to go to your sites, and that alone shows us that you are capable of meeting those challenges and, more importantly, ready to make changes in your own lives and in the world around you.

Because of your different backgrounds you will demonstrate to the people of your communities the diversity of America. Make the most of your strengths, tell them of your homes, families and friends in America, and share with them your lives. Never miss an opportunity to dance, to sing, and to share what is important in your life with those in your community. This is the purest form of diplomacy there is. 

With the efforts that you begin today, you take a step on a path down which many have traveled before. It is the path of good works, good deeds, and great hearts. It is the path towards an ever-strengthening relationship between the United States and Nicaragua.
In fact, in many ways you have more of an opportunity and are likely to create a greater impression through your one on one contacts. You have the opportunity to make unlimited impacts in your communities in a way that we diplomats cannot.

Also keep in mind that the wonder of this program is that, not only will your efforts help these communities you are going to, but this experience will also help you. You are acquiring new skills, a new language, a new culture; you are meeting new friends and one day will be capable of better deciding how you want to live the rest of your lives.
With that, I will end with words from President John F. Kennedy. His efforts to promote peace and stability in the world were always bolstered by his faith that organizations such as the Peace Corps were the main way to achieve such ambitions. He said: “Let us take that first step. And if that journey is a thousand miles, or even more, let history record that we, in this land at this time, took the first step."

I congratulate you and wish you great satisfaction in your work. And now, it is truly an honor for me to administer the oath of Peace Corps service.