The Peace Corps is a federal government agency that sends volunteers to developing countries all over the world. These volunteers help communities all over the world teaching in schools, building houses, assisting with sex education programs, and providing a variety of other services. As a service organization, the Peace Corps is well-known around the world. By 2011, the 50th anniversary of the organization’s founding, more than 210,000 people had volunteered in countries all over the world.
The Peace Corps was founded in 1961 as a result of a speech given John F. Kennedy during his successful presidential campaign in 1960. He challenged University of Michigan, Ann Arbor students to find a meaningful way to make a difference in the world. The students were inspired President Kennedy’s famous speech, and shortly after taking office, he signed an executive order establishing the organization. Volunteers flocked to Ghana, Tanzania, the Philippines, Chile, and St. Lucia to sign up for projects. A crowd of about 5,000 people gathered to take the first qualifying examination.
The Peace Corps Partnership Project was established in 1964 to allow individuals in the United States to support the organization if they were unable to serve overseas. The program quickly gained a large following, and enrollment continued to rise. The Peace Corps began to attract volunteers with professional skills, such as doctors, engineers, lawyers, and botanists, as the 1970s progressed. These volunteers accounted for one-fifth of the total volunteer population, and their contributions were invaluable in far-flung corners of the globe on five continents.
Participants range from recent college graduates to older, more experienced individuals in singles and couples, and the Peace Corps continues to grow and develop. In 2011, the organization had over 9,000 volunteers from all walks of life working in 75 countries. It doesn’t make any distinctions based on age, race, or cultural background. The average volunteer age is 28, but 7% are over 50, and the organization prefers volunteers with relevant experience and skills. Many college graduates choose to serve in the Peace Corps for several years before beginning their careers, and there are student loan deferment and payoff programs available as an incentive to recent graduates.
Peace Corps service is not for everyone. The work is frequently physically and emotionally demanding, and some people may not be suited to a two-year term of service. Volunteering is a fantastic way for some people to learn new languages and travel the world. Many former volunteers are now part of the organization’s permanent staff, encouraging others to get involved.