In 2021, the Peace Corps celebrated its 60th anniversary. The organization was established in 1961 by the Kennedy administration. The idea of Americans traveling abroad to provide aid and assistance was sparked during President Kennedy’s 1960 visit to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.
Before a crowd of 10,000 students, the president asked if they would be interested in international civil service. More than 1,000 students showed their interest by signing a petition to work abroad on behalf of the U.S. government.
After issuing a similar challenge while giving a speech in San Francisco, Kennedy received more than 25,000 letters in response to his call. The President created the Peace Corps as one of his first acts in office in March 1961.
The Peace Corps had two main purposes. The first was to establish goodwill toward the U.S. among developing countries, many of which were emerging from colonial rule. The second purpose was to mitigate the influence of Communism.
The Soviet Union had long practiced humanitarian diplomacy by deploying well-trained citizens across the world. Kennedy wanted to counter the Soviet Union’s influence by creating a similar program to promote democracy and Western-style capitalism.
However, many of the individuals who would be interested in volunteering abroad would have been reluctant to become involved in politicized roles. For this reason, the Peace Corps was presented primarily as a volunteer opportunity.
An advertising-focused nonprofit, the Ad Council, created a communication campaign that showcased the Peace Corps as offering a chance to make a meaningful difference in the world. The Human Care Package, which suggested that volunteering was one of the best gifts one could give, became one of the organization's most memorable print advertisements. The campaign was successful and attracted thousands of volunteers.
The first cohort of Peace Corps volunteers traveled to newly independent African nations, such as Tanzania and Ghana. As countries agreed to participate in the program, the presence of the Peace Corps grew. Within its first six years, the Peace Corps sent more than 14,000 volunteers to nearly five dozen countries.
While the Peace Corps was popular throughout the 1960s, the U.S.’s involvement in international conflicts during the 1970s reduced interest in the program. President Reagan increased the Peace Corps’ mission by adding programs related to technology and commercial development. These changes revitalized the program and attracted a wider spectrum of volunteers.
Since 1961, more than 200,000 Peace Corps volunteers have supported health, education, and livelihood programs across the world. While initially composed of recent college graduates, the makeup of the Peace Corps has become older and more experienced over time.
The Peace Corps follows the same mandate established by President Kennedy more than six decades ago. Volunteers agree to facilitate understanding between Americans and other cultures while sharing their skills and knowledge with nations in need.
Volunteers work alongside local governments and residents to assist in development programs. Many volunteers also learn the local language and serve as cultural ambassadors.
Due to the 2020 public health crisis, the Peace Corps was forced to repatriate all of its volunteers for the first time in its history. However, in 2021, Congress put forward a bill to increase Peace Corps funding and expand the program’s impact.
Before a crowd of 10,000 students, the president asked if they would be interested in international civil service. More than 1,000 students showed their interest by signing a petition to work abroad on behalf of the U.S. government.
After issuing a similar challenge while giving a speech in San Francisco, Kennedy received more than 25,000 letters in response to his call. The President created the Peace Corps as one of his first acts in office in March 1961.
The Peace Corps had two main purposes. The first was to establish goodwill toward the U.S. among developing countries, many of which were emerging from colonial rule. The second purpose was to mitigate the influence of Communism.
The Soviet Union had long practiced humanitarian diplomacy by deploying well-trained citizens across the world. Kennedy wanted to counter the Soviet Union’s influence by creating a similar program to promote democracy and Western-style capitalism.
However, many of the individuals who would be interested in volunteering abroad would have been reluctant to become involved in politicized roles. For this reason, the Peace Corps was presented primarily as a volunteer opportunity.
An advertising-focused nonprofit, the Ad Council, created a communication campaign that showcased the Peace Corps as offering a chance to make a meaningful difference in the world. The Human Care Package, which suggested that volunteering was one of the best gifts one could give, became one of the organization's most memorable print advertisements. The campaign was successful and attracted thousands of volunteers.
The first cohort of Peace Corps volunteers traveled to newly independent African nations, such as Tanzania and Ghana. As countries agreed to participate in the program, the presence of the Peace Corps grew. Within its first six years, the Peace Corps sent more than 14,000 volunteers to nearly five dozen countries.
While the Peace Corps was popular throughout the 1960s, the U.S.’s involvement in international conflicts during the 1970s reduced interest in the program. President Reagan increased the Peace Corps’ mission by adding programs related to technology and commercial development. These changes revitalized the program and attracted a wider spectrum of volunteers.
Since 1961, more than 200,000 Peace Corps volunteers have supported health, education, and livelihood programs across the world. While initially composed of recent college graduates, the makeup of the Peace Corps has become older and more experienced over time.
The Peace Corps follows the same mandate established by President Kennedy more than six decades ago. Volunteers agree to facilitate understanding between Americans and other cultures while sharing their skills and knowledge with nations in need.
Volunteers work alongside local governments and residents to assist in development programs. Many volunteers also learn the local language and serve as cultural ambassadors.
Due to the 2020 public health crisis, the Peace Corps was forced to repatriate all of its volunteers for the first time in its history. However, in 2021, Congress put forward a bill to increase Peace Corps funding and expand the program’s impact.
