Peace Corps

 

 "For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps—who works in a foreign land—will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace."

                                                                     President Kennedy, March 1, 1961            
                                            

"How many of you, who are going to be doctors, are willing to spend your days in Ghana? Technicians or engineers, how many of you are willing to work in the Foreign Service and spend your lives traveling around the world?"

 Senator Kennedy got the idea of the Peace Corps after  a speech with young students who wanted to live and work in developing countries around the world.

He created an agency of the federal government to keep peace and friendship. Since that time the Peace Corps has helped in a lot of countries from AIDS education to information technology and environmental preservation. 

The Peace Corps has three original goals:

• To help the people of interested countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained workers
• To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served
• To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans

Today's Peace Corps is more vital than ever, working in emerging and essential areas.