Peace Corps

independent agency and volunteer program run by the United States Government

The Peace Corps is an independent United States federal agency. The Peace Corps was started by Executive Order 10924 on March 1, 1961, and allowed by Congress on September 22, 1961, with passage of the Peace Corps Act (Public Law 87-293). The first president of the Peace Corps was Sargent Shriver. The Peace Corps Act says the purpose of the Peace Corps is:

Peace Corps
Peace Corps Logo
Agency overview
Formed1961
Annual budget$325 million
Websitehttp://www.peacecorps.gov/

“to promote world peace and friendship through a Peace Corps, which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve, under conditions of hardship if necessary, to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower.”

Since 1960, more than 190,000 people have served as Peace Corps volunteers in 139 countries.[1][2][3]

  1. "Congressman Crenshaw Honors Local Peace Corps volunteers". United States Congressman Ander Crenshaw. 2007. Archived from the original on 2012-03-21. Retrieved 2005-05-11.
  2. "The Peace Corps in the Philippines". The Manila Times. 2007-04-21. Archived from the original on 2007-10-28. Retrieved 2007-05-12.
  3. Wilson, Jeff (2006). "Peace Corps: A Change of Mind and Heart". Whitworth College. Retrieved 2007-05-12.