A Bigger Peace Corps

Background

MorePeaceCorps is a national outreach and legislative campaign to build public support for a reinvigorated Peace Corps. One of the campaign’s central goals is to double the Peace Corps in size and budget by 2011, its 50th anniversary.

This campaign will move the Peace Corps one step closer to President Kennedy’s original vision of 100,000 volunteers working alongside host country nationals to affect desired change, create goodwill, and enrich the U.S. by returning to it a large body of men and women familiar with foreign cultures and dedicated to service.

The Facts

• Demand for volunteers exceeds supply; more than 20 additional countries have requested volunteers and existing programs need greater numbers.
• The number of presently serving volunteers, 8,000, is half the total of four decades ago.
• The astounding success of the Peace Corps, managed on a shoestring budget of $331 million, less than the cost of one day in Iraq, deserves recognition and increase.  
  

Our Goals

• Pressure Congress to appropriate larger funding for Peace Corps through a comprehensive letter-writing effort along with endorsements from prominent leaders.
• Raise awareness of Peace Corps among prospective volunteers through highly visible public events and outreach programs.

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