Peace Corps reaches 40-year high in volunteers
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Last updated 11/1/2010 at Noon
Staff Report
TheRecordLive
WASHINGTON, D.C.– More Americans are serving as Peace
Corps volunteers than there have been since 1970, when more than 9,000
volunteers were working in 59 countries. As of September 30, 2010, 8,655
Peace Corps volunteers are serving in 77 host countries. This
represents a 13 percent increase over 2009 when 7,671 Peace Corps
volunteers were serving in 74 host countries.
“I am honored to announce the creation of an additional 1,000 volunteer
positions in 2010, complementing our goal to increase overseas
leadership opportunities,” Peace Corps Director Aaron S. Williams said.
“This is the legacy of President Kennedy’s
concept of international service, an idea that continues to capture the
imagination of thousands of service-minded Americans today.”
In anticipation of strategic growth, Peace Corps has strengthened its
capabilities to accommodate and support an increase in volunteers and
volunteer support services. The agency continues to pay special
attention to identifying and preparing volunteer work sites,
infrastructure, security and health support, staffing at overseas posts,
and training for volunteers and staff.
Several factors contributed to the agency’s growth: the expansion of
current programs, the addition of new programs and an increase in
volunteers extending the length of their service. The Peace Corps
responded to an increase in host country requests for volunteers,
principally because of an increase in resources. FY 2010 marked the
largest operating budget in the agency’s history: $400 million. The
distribution of volunteers is roughly equal across three geographic
regions. Volunteers work across six main sectors of service; education
remains the largest program sector for volunteers.
The agency completed a comprehensive agency assessmentin
June 2010, creating a blueprint for Peace Corps to pursue quality
improvement measures which will strengthen agency performance and ensure
strategic growth. Strategic growth takes into account not only an
increase in volunteer numbers, but also the myriad of factors and
conditions that affect and enable Peace Corps volunteers to have a
successful, safe and productive service experience.
2010 Data:
All figures are based on fiscal year data as of September 30, 2010.
Peace Corps captures this data by completing an annual data analysis of
the agency’s on-board strength as of the end of the fiscal year.
average age of a volunteer is 28; 7 percent of volunteers are over the
age of 50; and the oldest volunteer currently serving is 86. Nineteen
(19) percent of volunteers are minorities and 60 percent are women.
Ninety (90) percent of volunteers hold at least a bachelor’s degree.
$400 million was allocated to Peace Corps programs. In 2009, Peace
Corps’ budget was $340 million.
more than half (51) of Peace Corps’ posts increased their size over the
previous year. The three Peace Corps posts that grew the most were:
Rwanda by 210 percent (from 29 to 90 volunteers), Georgia by 125 percent
(from 28 to 63 volunteers), and Ethiopia by 94 percent (from 52 to 101
volunteers).
service in 2010, when compared with 2009. Peace Corps service is a
27-month commitment. However, many volunteers request to extend their
service time to allow for the completion of a project or initiative.
Many of these third-year extension volunteers also help train incoming
groups of volunteers.
In 2010, Peace Corps opened new programs in Colombia, Indonesia and
Sierra Leone; and re-opened the suspended program in Madagascar.
countries. Peace Corps Response provides opportunities for returned
Peace Corps volunteers (RPCVs) to undertake short-term, high impact
assignments in various programs around the world. Total volunteers in
this program increased by 171 percent over 2009. For more information
on Peace Corps Response, click here.
volunteer positions. There are more Americans applying to serve with
Peace Corps than there are positions available. Roughly one in three
applicants will serve with a Peace Corps program overseas.
position with a departure in 2011. Peace Corps prioritizes the personal
elements of the recruitment and placement process, which matches the
skills and interests of applicants with the availability of positions
and resources overseas. Applicants are encouraged to plan ahead and
apply nine months to a year in advance of their target departure date.
Volunteers by Region:
Volunteers by Program Sector:
About the Peace Corps:President John F. Kennedy established
the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961 by executive order. Peace Corps will
commemorate 50 years of promoting peace and friendship around the world
through 2011. Historically, more than 200,000 Americans have served with
the Peace Corps to promote a better understanding between Americans and
the people of 139 host countries. Today, 8,655 volunteers are working
with local communities in 77 host countries. Peace Corps volunteers must
be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a
27-month commitment.
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