Ivco 2006 Peace Corps

About the Peace Corps • Established by President John F. Kennedy on March 1, 1961. • 182,000 Peace Corps Volunteers served in 138 countries • Currently in 75 countries, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America, Eastern Europe, Central Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and the Pacific Islands. • Current operating budget: $318.8 million USD (approximately 248.1 million EUR) • Independent federal agency. Not a part of official foreign policy

Peace Corps Mission and Goals Mission: To promote world peace and friendship. Three Goals: • To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. • 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.

Peace Corps Highlights • The Peace Corps is at a 30-year high with the number of Volunteers in the field, 7,810 Volunteers. The highest year was 1966 with 15,556 Volunteers. • Volunteer safety and security a top priority. Volunteers learn local languages, live with host families, work and live in same community, have access to good communication.

Peace Corps: Recruitment • Accepts about 1/3 of all Americans who apply. • Strives for diversity of Volunteers. • Average age is 28 years old • 80% are under 30; 6% over 50.

Volunteer Service • 27-month commitment • Three-month in-country training in cross-cultural, health, safety/security, language, and technical competencies • Live in local communities, at local standard of living • Pairing with host country counterparts

Peace Corps: Host Countries • Enter or re-enters a country through host country invitation. • Conducts country assessment for Volunteer program, administration, safety support. • Currently, 20 country requesting a Peace Corps program.

Approach to Development “A process that helps people develop the capacity to use their own resources and skills to improve their lives” • Grassroots • Asset-based development • Sustainable, long-term capacity building

Peace Corps Volunteer Program Sectors Education 34%

20%

Health and HIV/AIDS Environment

14% 16%

3%

Business Development Agriculture Other

7% 6%

Youth

Benefits After Service • Job placement support (one year non-competitive eligibility for federal service) • Graduate school opportunities • Health benefits for 18 months after service • $6,000 to transition back to U.S. • Develop skills for global marketplace

Benefits of Serving • Once in a life time experience – – – –

new language exchange ideas take part in communities serve ideals larger than themselves – understanding, tolerance, kindness, patience

• All the essentials provided – living allowance – medical care – transportation

Private Sector Giving • Volunteers partner with communities to develop small sustainable projects ($500 - $5,000 USD) • Proposals reviewed in-country and HQ then posted on Peace Corps website for funding • Local groups (RPCVs, Rotary Clubs, schools, places of worship, community groups) contribute through Peace Corps. • Correspondance between local group and Volunteer community throughout project

Audiences • General Public: Volunteer and RPCV stories – Newspaper articles – RPCV presentations to local groups, colleges & universities – Peace Corps Website • Family and friends – Peace Corps Website – Correspondance with Volunteers and staff – Special Events • Host Governments and Host Communities • Policy Makers (i.e. Members of Congress, other federal agencies)

Available Resources Peace Corps Website www.peacecorps.gov • Manuals and related materials – Cross cultural information for Volunteers, educators, community organizations, etc. – Technical manuals (HIV/AIDS, agriculture, environment, etc.) – Language learning manuals

• Information about countries of service • Safety and security information

Available Resources II • In-country language / technical / cross culture materials (available in country of service) • Recruitment materials • Evaulation materials (Volunteer survey, etc.)