The Government of Samoa through the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment (MNRE), the Ministry of Women, Community and Social Development (MWCSD), in partnership with the United States Peace Corps has officially welcomed the first cohort of Peace Corps Environment Volunteers to Samoa.
This landmark collaboration represents a significant step forward in strengthening grassroots environmental stewardship and building community resilience through inclusive, participatory development. Twelve Peace Corps Volunteers have been deployed to selected villages across Samoa to support community-led initiatives focused on environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and natural resource management.
In delivering the keynote address, Hon. Toeolesulusulu Cedric Salesa Schuster, Caretaker Minister for MNRE, acknowledged the central role of Samoa’s families, villages, and communities in shaping the nation’s sustainable future. “Our development must begin where our identity is rooted—in our communities. It is only through empowering local leadership and collective action that we can ensure meaningful, lasting change,” he stated.
The Minister commended the Peace Corps partnership as a demonstration of practical cooperation and shared values. He also expressed deep appreciation to the Fono Faavae, pulenu‘u, and sui o le malo, whose leadership and hospitality have enabled the integration of the Environment Volunteers into village life.
This initiative is strategically aligned with Samoa’s national development and sector priorities, including the Pathway for the Development of Samoa 2022–2026, the National Environment Sector Plan 2023–2027, and the Community Sector Plan 2024/2025–2027/2028. These frameworks emphasize the importance of sustainable village development, inclusive governance, and climate adaptation, all of which underpin the core objectives of the Peace Corps Environment Program in Samoa.
HE Daniel Tarapacki, Deputy Head of Mission and Chargé d’Affaires of the U.S. Embassy in Samoa, reaffirmed the longstanding partnership between the United States and Samoa, and reiterated the U.S. Government’s commitment to advancing shared goals of environmental protection and community development. Ms. Gini Wilderson, Peace Corps Samoa Country Director, highlighted the enthusiasm and readiness of the Volunteers to support local priorities in collaboration with village leaders and stakeholders.
The joint initiative is expected to foster replicable models of sustainable community living, grounded in the values of fa‘asāmoa and informed by environmental leadership at the village level.
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed to mark this important milestone and the official commencement of this inaugural partnership initiative
