The Peace Corps began in 1960, when then-Sen. John F. Kennedy visited and challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. I'm sure you are all familiar with the quote "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." Most of you (if not all of you by now) have at least heard of the Peace Corps. Even those of you who have been closest to me over the last 4 years still occasionally ask what the Peace Corps does...
In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship. The Peace Corps' mission has three goals:
- Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
- Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
- Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
In a more simplified answer, we spend 2 years and three months (or an additional year like myself) in developing nations around the world. We teach whatever we possibly can to anyone willing to listen. We learn the language, the culture, and the values of the people we serve. Then we come home, and we try our hardest to get anyone to listen about our experiences and the culture of the people we served. (Hence this note.)
Throughout its history, the Peace Corps has had to adapt and respond to the issues of the times. In an ever-changing world, Peace Corps Volunteers have met many new challenges from AIDS education, trying to keep developing nations up to date on new technologies, fighting for environmental preservation, and helping businesses struggle to survive in new market economies. Peace Corps Volunteers don't give things to the communities they serve, rather, we teach the communties we serve in how to do things for themselves. We work in villages, towns, and cities around the globe.
In 1961, the first Peace Corps Volunteers accepted assignments to serve in six countries. Since then, nearly 200,000+ men and women have served in 139 countries. The world has changed since then, and the Peace Corps has changed with it. Today, 8,655 Volunteers in 71 posts around the world are serving 77 countries. This work is more important than ever.
There are many notable Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) in different sectors throughout history. You can find a list of these RPCVs that came home and continued to serve their own communities here: http://www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=about.notable
Peace Corps officially established: March 1, 1961
Total number of Volunteers and trainees to date: 200,000+
Total number of countries served: 139
Current number of Volunteers and Trainees: 8,655
Gender: 60% female, 40% male
Marital Status: 93% single, 7% married
Minorities: 19% of Peace Corps Volunteers
Average Age: 28
Volunteers over age 50: 7%
Education: 90% have at least an undergraduate degree
Current number of countries served: 77 countries
Volunteers by Work Area
- Education: 37%
- Health & HIV/AIDS: 22%
- Business Development: 14%
- Environment: 13%
- Agriculture: 4%
- Youth Development: 5% (this was my program!)
- Other: 5%
Where Volunteers Serve
- Africa: 37%
- Latin America: 24%
- Eastern Europe/Central Asia: 21% (this is where I served!)
- Asia: 7%
- The Caribbean: 5%
- North Africa/Middle East: 4%
- Pacific Islands: 3%
Please, if you have actually read my note all the way through, take some time to look at my photos, read some of my other blogs, and ask questions. The Peace Corps experience doesn't end when we come home... we still have 1/3 of our mission left to complete. Happy 50th Anniversary Peace Corps! Here's wishing you 50 more years of success, friendship, and new volunteers. I'm proud to be a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer!
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