PEACE CORPS WEEK
Peace Corps Week commemorates the week of its founding when President John F. Kennedy established the agency on March 1, 1961. It also celebrates all the ways that the Peace Corps makes a difference at home and abroad. It takes place annually during the week of March 1st.
The average age of a Peace Corps Volunteer is 27.
Each year, the Peace Corps call-to-service is renewed in the form of Peace Corps Week. This celebration includes activities both in the United States and at posts all around the world. It’s a way for current and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers to share their service with others.
More than More than 235,000 people have volunteered in 141 countries.
The Peace Corps offers benefits for communities worldwide in many areas of development including:
- Agriculture
- Health
- Education
- Economic Development
- Environment Issues
Peace Corps volunteers also work with youth in each of the areas they provide support.
Volunteers gain skills, get to travel the world and experience other cultures. During their two-year commitment, the Peace Corp covers travel expense, food and shelter, and medical care.
HOW TO OBSERVE #PeaceCorpsWeek
- Check out Peace Corps Week events in your local area.
- Watch for social media posts and blogs from people you know such as journalists, members of Congress, and local business people.
- Invite a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer to your classroom, church, or brown bag lunch at work.
- Browse the Peace Corp photo gallery.
- Use the hashtag #PeaceCorpsWeek to share on social media.
NATIONAL PEACE CORPS WEEK HISTORY
In 1971, President Richard Nixon proclaimed May 30 – June 5 of that year as “National Peace Corps Week,” to honor the agency’s tenth anniversary.
In 2004, the late February/early March week was set as Peace Corps Week. The observance had been revamped several times in the 33 years since 1971.