Peace Corps Research Paper

1961. A new president. A new world? John F. Kennedy, the newly elected president of the United States, had big dreams. “Peace Corps Volunteers leave a legacy in the lives of the community members they reach, educate, and inspire. Some of those young people grow up to be extraordinary leaders, including engineers, doctors and government officials” (“Peace Corps”). The Peace Corps is a special organization where American volunteers aid developing countries in several different ways to create success throughout their country. In over fifty years, the agency has been successful in what they have set out to do. Throughout the fifty years, thousands of volunteers have served all over the world, creating memories, while helping the country in need.
The volunteers of the Peace Corps is what it incredibly successful. To become a volunteer of this agency he/she must be a United States citizen and at least eighteen years of age. The Peace Corps does a several tests to develop a sense if the volunteers are fit for the job or not. The volunteers will teach students how to read, write and speech in English. They will teach the ladies how to make crafts to sell and how to use a computer to research the projects. The Peace Corps volunteer shows the developing communities how to start a recycling centers in their communities. The volunteers do not live in fancy hotels with running water. “Peace Corps volunteers live in the communities they serve. Sometimes this means living in a hut without running water. In other communities, it may mean living in a dormitory with students. Living with people from other countries helps volunteers learn new languages, discover new cultures, and make friends in their new communities” (Borgen). The volunteers are allowed two years in their communities to serve in, but most wish they had more time to complete the started projects. Over the two years, friendships are formed with the local people in the community. To be a volunteer, you have to be willing to do wonderful things and go above and beyond, just like a volunteer Kate Kuykendall did. Kate said:“The greatest job I've ever had, and that I think I will ever have, was the work I did as a Peace Corps volunteer in China” (Kuykendall). Just like Kate, countless other volunteers tell their stories of serving and always include that the Peace Corps was definitely the greatest job that they have ever experienced. Even though it takes a special person to become a volunteer, the experiences and memories created are worth a