Peace Corps

On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issued an executive order that established the Peace Corps. This promising new agency would allow American men and women to assist foreign nations in development efforts, in addition to enhancing human relationships and increasing cultural competence through immersion during a twenty-seven month period of service.

Inspired by President Kennedy’s impromptu 2am speech at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, as well as his famous inaugural address, thousands of young Americans “answered the call to serve” following the establishment of the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961.

Credit: Everett Collection Historical / Alamy

Today, more than 7,000 volunteers serve in 62 countries, living and working alongside community members to achieve sustainable development. Volunteers provide education and resources in six sectors, including the Peace Corps Response sector. These sectors include education, health, youth in development, agriculture, environment, and community economic development.

More information about the Peace Corps:

The first 51 volunteers arrived in Accra, Ghana just over seven months after the establishment of the Peace Corps
More than 230,000 volunteers have served in 141 countries
The first director of the Peace Corps was R. Sargent Shriver
The current director of the Peace Corps is Jody Olsen
42% of volunteers serve in the education sector (2018)
The average age of a volunteer is 27
Females make up 64% of Peace Corps volunteers

The Peace Corps Mission

To promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling 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.

Check out some of the official Peace Corps social media accounts below:

Photo credit: Peace Corps Myanmar / Peace Corps Volunteer Nils

In 2012, President Barack Obama would become the first sitting President of the United States to visit the country of Myanmar. Not long after his visit, in February 2013, the Peace Corps would be invited by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to establish an English Education volunteer program that works closely with the Ministry of Education. Myanmar officially became the 141st country to host a Peace Corps program. In 2017, the first group of two-year Peace Corps volunteers were sworn in to begin teaching English alongside public middle school and high school teachers, collaborating to help shape the young minds of Myanmar.

Peace Corps Myanmar
Sectors served: Education
Current number of volunteers: 0; All current volunteers and trainees were evacuated in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Official language: Burmese

Flag of Myanmar

Check out some of the official Peace Corps Myanmar social media below: