Peace Corps History  The idea of the Peace Corp was first voiced by John F. Kennedy on October 14, 1960, when he spoke to a crowd of 10,000 cheering students at the university of Michigan in Ann Arbor, during a presidential campaign speech.  John F. Kennedy wanted to encourage mutual understanding between America and peoples of other nations and cultures.  “—to live and work in developing countries around the world; to dedicate themselves to the cause of peace and development— inspired the beginning of the Peace Corps.”

History  On November 2, 1960 John F. Kennedy gave a speech at the Cow Palace in San Francisco where he proposed a, “peace corps of talented men and women.” These people would dedicate themselves to the peace and progress of developing countries.  His proposal was met by over letters approving of his idea.  The Peace Corps was also a response to the Cold War and the spread of Communism.  As President JFK made this idea reality. In March 1, 1961 the Peace Corps was established my executive order.

History (cont.)  Congress approved the Peace Corps as a permanent federal agency and by September 22, 1961 John F. Kennedy signed the legislation.  In the 1960s the Peace Corps was very popular due to recent college graduates.  However, in the 1970s, with the Vietnam War and Watergate the Peace Corps lost favor with the people because they were disillusioned with their government.

History (cont.)  The traditional concern of the Peace Corps was with education and agricultural development.  In the 1980s President Ronald Reagan went beyond these traditional concerns and incorporated business-related education and computer literacy into the Peace Corps.  In the 1980s the Peace Corps saw a rise of Republican and conservative volunteers who joined the largely progressive number of Peace Corps volunteers.

History (cont.)  In 1981 the Peace Corps was made an independent agency.  In the 1990s Europe was opened up to the Peace Corps.  Funding for the Peace Corps increased after Europe was opened.  Also, they saw a rise in membership.

Purpose of the Peace Corps  The Peace Corps was established by John F. Kennedy, because he wanted to encourage mutual understanding between America and peoples of other nations and cultures.  Today the Peace Corps purpose is to promote world peace and friendships by fulfilling three goals: 1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women. 2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans by the people of the countries served. 3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Participation:  The Peace Corps sends Americans volunteers overseas.  For countries to participate in the Peace Corps Program they must: 1. Invite the Peace Corps 2. Ensure that Peace Corps volunteers will be safe 3. Due to a limited budget, the Peace Corps will decide which countries it can be active in, and will prioritize the need of that country.

Goals:  The Peace Corps sends Americans around the world to countries. The goal of the volunteers is to tackle the most pressing needs of the people of those countries.  They work towards sustainable change so that after they leave the change they worked towards will continue to be sustained.  The Peace Corps works in the areas of education, health, environment, community economic development, youth in development, agriculture, and other areas.

Peace Corp Program Sectors

Volunteer Requirements  Volunteers serve 2 years following in country training.  The Peace Corps provides volunteers with housing and a living stipend to cover food and incidentals—allowing them to live similarly to the people in their community.  The minimum age for Peace Corps service is 18; there is no upper age limit.  Volunteers must be U.S. Citizens.

Volunteer Requirements (cont.)  Volunteers’ health, safety, and security are Peace Corps’ highest priorities. The agency is committed to providing Volunteers with the training, guidance, and support they need to stay healthy, safe, and productive throughout their service.

How the Peace Corps relates to Adult Education  Adult education is a broad subject; it is not just one subject that takes place. The Peace Corps addresses education, agriculture, the environment, community economic development, and youth in development.  The Peace Corps has helped with HIV/AIDS awareness programs in the countries it has, and currently serves in. They take the information that of the countries they serve in, and help those people understand why they need to know about issues like this.

How the Peace Corps relates to Adult Education  The Peace Corps focuses on a learning transaction in the countries they server in.  Their goal is societal, institutional, and individual education and transformation.  The Peace Corps succeeds in all three of these in the scope of andragogy, as they work in the countries they serve in.

AmeriCorps A brief History  In 1993 the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) was established to connect people of all ages and backgrounds with opportunities to give back to their communities and their nation.  CNCS is another name for the AmeriCorp.  This organization helps over 5 million people of all ages and backgrounds through various service opportunities.

Programs  The AmeriCorps helps in six specific areas: 1. Disaster services 2. Economic opportunity 3. Education 4. Environmental Stewardship 5. Healthy futures 6. Veterans and military families

Volunteers and the AmeriCorps relation to adult education:  The AmeriCorp is a volunteer based organization and to volunteer one can go to this website, history, to find more information. history  The AmeriCorps (CNCS) goal is societal, institutional, and individual education and transformation, and they help greatly in a learning transaction throughout the American nation.

Peace Corps Bibliography  Corps.aspx Corps.aspx   ts.pdf ts.pdf

AmeriCorp Bibliography  history history