60TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PEACE CORPS THE PEACEMAKERS Sixty years ago, the U.S. Peace Corps started with a spark from President John F. Kennedy. Over six decades, the federal program has sent nearly a quarter-million volunteers to countries around the globe to cultivate international relationships and share American expertise. AT A GLANCE An independent U.S. government agency of the executive branch, the Peace Corps provides aid to developing nations in the forms of expertise, education and training. The Peace Corps director is appointed by the president and approved by Congress. The Peace Corps generally gets about 1% of the federal foreign operations budget. Its federal budget was $410.5 million in 2020. The agency also seeks corporate and private donations. THE MISSION To promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals: 1. Help the people of interested countries meet their need for Peace Corps volunteer Gia Ciccolo (back center with arms raised) leads a celebration trained men and women. after the culmination of a seven-month workshop series, “Empowerment and Leadership of the Chicamán Woman,” in Guatemala. A 2014 graduate of Bucknell 2. Promote a better University in Lewisburg, Pa., Ciccolo was in Guatemala from 2016 to 2018. understanding of Americans among the peoples served. 3. Promote a better PRIMARY INITIATIVES VOLUNTEER STATS understanding of other peoples on the part of In 2020: Americans.

Volunteers & trainees: 7,334

Average age: 26 Volunteers over age 50: 3.2% THE SPARK The Peace Corps sprang Female: 65% Male: 35% directly from an impromptu AIDS relief Agriculture; Economic Education Health Anti-malaria Martial status: 99% single, 1% married speech given at the food security development University of Michigan by Sen. John F. Kennedy on Others include the environment, women’s prosperity and youth initiatives Oct. 14, 1960, during his presidential campaign. Kennedy was greeted WHERE VOLUNTEERS SERVE by a crowd of 10,000 students at Eastern Europe 2 a.m. when and Central Asia he arrived to stay the night at the John F. university. Kennedy 13% The future 12% president issued a challenge: Asia The Caribbean How many, he asked, would 5% 4% serve the United States and the cause of peace by living and working in a developing 4% Pacific country? 19% Central and % Islands The crowd responded enthu- 45 siastically. Following up on South America his idea, President Kennedy signed an executive order Africa North Africa March 1, 1961, to establish the Peace Corps. Volunteers and the Middle East began serving in five coun- tries that year. Less than six years later, the Peace Corps had established programs in 55 countries with more than 14,500 volunteers. Since 1961, more than 240,000 Americans have risen to the challenge. “Indeed, we’re strongest when “I feel that my father’s greatest “The work of these women the face of America isn’t only legacy was the people he inspired doesn’t end when they return a soldier carrying a gun but to get involved in public service home from overseas, as one also a diplomat negotiating and their communities, to join the goal of the Peace Corps’ mission EFFECT OF COVID peace, a Peace Corps volunteer Peace Corps, to go into space. And is to help promote a better bringing clean water to a village, really that generation transformed this understanding of other cultures Because of the or a relief worker stepping off a country in civil rights, social justice, here in the United States.” coronavirus pandemic, all cargo plane as fl oodwaters rise.” the economy and everything.” ELAINE CHAO Peace Corp COLIN POWELL CAROLINE KENNEDY volunteers former Peace Corps director and returned to the United States former U.S. secretary of transportation former U.S. secretary of state daughter of John F. Kennedy in March 2020. The Peace and secretary of labor and former U.S. ambassador to Japan Corps hopes to resume normal activities abroad when the pandemic ends.

Information source: U.S. Peace Corps • Image sources: U.S. government sources, FreeVectorMaps.com, Metro Creative, UNAIDS, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Page designed by Patrick Caldwell | CNHI News Service