Peace Corps

Mission of the Peace Corps: To promote world peace and friendship through community-based development
and cross-cultural understanding.

The Peace Corps is a service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in a community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation. The Peace Corps Mission is working to advance the agency’s three goals:

1. Building Local Capacity: Advance local development by strengthening the capacity of local communities and individuals through
the service of trained Volunteers.

2. Sharing America with the World: Promote a better understanding of Americans through Volunteers who live and work within local communities.

3. Bringing the World Back Home: Increase Americans’ awareness and knowledge of other cultures and global issues through Volunteers who share their Peace Corps experiences and continue to serve upon their return. Read More

• About Us
  Operating in more than 60 countries, the Peace Corps trains and assigns qualified Volunteers to projects designed to promote the development priorities of host governments. In response to requests from interested countries, the Peace Corps currently provides Peace Corps Volunteers to work in health, education, environment, agriculture, community economic development, and youth development projects. Peace Corps collaborates with host country government partners to develop projects that address pressing needs at the community level. Most Volunteers serve for 27 months, becoming active members of their host communities and using their skills and experience to spur sustainable, community-driven change.
  
  The Peace Corps also provides targeted assistance via short-term, specialized assignments through Peace Corps Response, a program that matches skilled individuals with three to 12 month assignments that require advanced language, technical and intercultural skills. The role of a Peace Corps Volunteer is that of a facilitator and capacity-builder, enabling community members to continue their own development efforts.
  
  Specific placement of Peace Corps Volunteers is determined locally by the Peace Corps post, taking into consideration health, safety and security issues, availability of housing, and the assignment's contribution to the project framework. Volunteers are typically assigned to work in a community for a period of two years.
• Our Impact
  Find your passion project...
  
  Agriculture: Lead grassroots efforts to fight hunger
  Agriculture Volunteers work with small-scale farmers and families to increase food security and production and adapt to climate change while promoting environmental conservation. They introduce farmers to techniques that prevent soil erosion, reduce the use of harmful pesticides, and replenish the soil. They work alongside farmers on integrated projects that often combine vegetable gardening, livestock management, agroforestry, and nutrition education.
  
  Community Economic Development: Help communities lift themselves
  Volunteers work with development banks, nongovernmental organizations, and municipalities to encourage economic opportunities in communities. They frequently teach in classroom settings and work with entrepreneurs and business owners to develop and market their products. Some Volunteers also teach basic computer skills and help communities take advantage of technologies that connect them to the global marketplace.
  
  Education: Teach lessons that last a lifetime
  Education is the Peace Corps’ largest program area. Volunteers play an important role in creating links among schools, parents, and communities. They may work in elementary, secondary, or post secondary schools, teaching subjects such as math, science, or conversational English; or as resource teachers or teacher trainers. Volunteers also develop libraries and technology resource centers.
  
  Environment: Forge a global movement to protect our planet
  Volunteers lead grassroots efforts to protect the environment and strengthen understanding of environmental issues. They teach environmental awareness in schools and to local organizations, empowering communities to make their own decisions about how to conserve the local environment. Volunteers also address environmental degradation by promoting sustainable use of natural resources.
  
  Health: Build healthy global communities
  Health Volunteers work within their communities to promote important topics such as nutrition, maternal and child health, basic hygiene, and water sanitation. Volunteers also work in HIV/AIDS education and prevention programs, where they train youth as peer educators, provide support to children orphaned by the disease, and create programs that provide emotional and financial support to families and communities affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
  
  Youth in Development: Empower the next generation of leaders
  Volunteers work with youth in communities to promote engagement and active citizenship, including gender awareness, employability, health and HIV/AIDS education, environmental awareness, sports and fitness programs, and information technology.