Oxford Resident Among First Peace Corps Volunteers To Return Overseas

Information via Peace Corps

OXFORD, CT – Oxford resident Emily Byrnes is among the first Peace Corps volunteers to return to overseas service since the agency’s unprecedented global evacuation in March 2020. The Peace Corps suspended global operations and evacuated nearly 7,000 volunteers from more than 60 countries at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“I believe learning about and working with others in different cultures around the globe is the best way to understand and experience the world,” said Byrnes. “I'm looking to expand my ability to interact with people from different backgrounds, as well as learn more about how I can help the environment while not injuring people's livelihoods.”

Byrnes is a graduate of McGill University in Quebec, Canada with a bachelor’s degree in life sciences. She will serve as an environment volunteer in Zambia.

The volunteer cohorts are made up of both first-time volunteers and volunteers who were evacuated in early 2020. Upon finishing a three-month training, volunteers will collaborate with their host communities on locally prioritized projects in one of Peace Corps’ six sectors – agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health or youth in development – and all will engage in COVID-19 response and recovery work.