Peace Corps

Hello! We are the Peace Corps. We are an agency of the United States government that was created in 1961. The idea for us came from President John F. Kennedy. He thought it would be a wonderful thing if Americans could travel to other countries, not as tourists, but as friends and helpers. Our main purpose has always been to promote world peace and friendship. We believe that when people from different places work together and learn from each other, the world becomes a kinder place. We help build connections between people from many different cultures.

The people who do this important work are called our volunteers. They are Americans from all over the country who want to make a difference in the world. But we don’t just show up anywhere. First, a country must invite us to come. Once we are invited, our volunteers travel to that country and live there for two whole years. This gives them time to become part of the community, make friends, and really understand the best way to help. They don’t work alone; they always team up with local partners who know their own communities best.

What kind of work do our volunteers do? It can be many different things, depending on what a community needs. Some of our volunteers become teachers in local schools, helping children learn to read or practice math. Others might work with farmers, sharing new ideas for growing healthier food for their families. We also have volunteers who work on health projects. They might help a village build a system for clean drinking water or teach families about staying healthy. In every job, our volunteers share skills they have, but they also learn so much from the talented people they meet.

Our work is all about sharing. While our volunteers are living in another country, they share parts of American culture with their new friends and neighbors. They might cook an American meal or teach a new game. But just as importantly, they spend their time learning all about the culture of the country where they are living. They learn new languages and listen to new music. When the two years are over and the volunteers return to the United States, they bring these amazing experiences with them. They share their stories with friends and families, helping everyone back home understand other people and places a little better.

We are still very active today, and our work continues all around the world. Since we first began, more than 240,000 Americans have served as our volunteers. They have worked alongside communities in over 140 different countries! Our volunteers today are still working on important projects in education, health, and protecting the environment. Every single day, we carry on with our mission of promoting peace and friendship through service. We believe that by working together, we can help make the world a more connected and understanding place for everyone.