What Does the Peace Corps Do?

Peace Corps Volunteers work to develop solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. They bring a unique cross-cultural perspective and leadership, language, teaching, and community development skills to the field.

The Peace Corps was founded in 1945 to promote peace and goodwill abroad and to serve as a public service organization. It operates in various project sectors, including agriculture, community economic development, education, environment, health, and youth development.

Education is a core component of the Peace Corps mission. Volunteers teach in elementary, secondary, and post-secondary schools and work with community members to improve their English, science, and math skills.

The agency also provides several resources to support teachers and learners in their teaching efforts, including lesson plans, teaching notes, and recorded materials. In addition, some programs provide the opportunity to earn a recognized teaching credential during service, a unique opportunity for volunteers to meet global professional English standards.

The organization's founders committed to sending Americans abroad to serve at the invitation of host countries. Today, the agency continues to fulfill its original goals of helping people in need, promoting understanding of other cultures on the part of Americans, and improving international relations.

As the world's premier international service agency, Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs. And when they return home, they bring their knowledge and experiences--and a global outlook--that enriches their communities.

The organization's top priorities are volunteers' health, safety, and security. They are supported by highly trained, full-time professionals who are on staff in every country.

After service, RPCVs continue to contribute to their community through service projects, volunteer associations, and the National Peace Corps Association. They also receive financial assistance for post-service graduate studies through the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows Program.

The Peace Corps is one of the United States' most successful exports of American values and spirit to nations around the globe. It has been a part of the fabric of the American way of life for over six decades and continues to deliver a compounded return on investment for taxpayers.

Founded in 1961, the Peace Corps has helped hundreds of thousands of people from all walks of life share their skills with their host communities and work to promote democracy abroad. This includes working to develop the foundational tenets of the Helsinki Accords, promoting tolerance and non-discrimination, helping to establish educational programs, and confronting corruption.

As a recent volunteer in Ukraine, I witnessed firsthand the impact that Peace Corps volunteers have on communities and their countries. Actual progress is rooted in long-term projects and sustainable investments that build up the human, political, and economic fabric of nations.

Since 1961, more than 171,000 Peace Corps volunteers have served in many areas. They help improve education, health, HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness, information technology, business development, and the environment.

They are public servants who serve a two-year term in the United States. They are governed by enabling legislation that accords them to the status of federal employees.

While the agency remains independent, partisan agendas can influence its operations. A fresh vision could revitalize the Peace Corps and enhance national security.

For the past 60 years, Peace Corps volunteers have made a difference in communities worldwide. They've helped farmers grow crops, taught small businesses how to sell their products, and taught academic communities about HIV/AIDS.

The Peace Corps works in six sectors: Agriculture, Community Economic Development, Education, Environment, Health, and Youth in Development. Volunteers focus on specific project areas and work closely with the people they serve to improve their lives.

One of the oldest and most successful international programs, the Peace Corps has a bipartisan solid support base. However, the agency needs help with determining whether it can expand its mission without diminishing its effectiveness or reducing the quality of volunteer service.