What Do Peace Corps Volunteers Do?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Volunteers work with youth in communities to

promote engagement and active citizenship

, including gender awareness, employability, health and HIV/AIDS education, environmental awareness, sports and fitness programs, and information technology.

What is the Peace Corps and what does it do?

The Peace Corps Mission


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.

Do Peace Corps volunteers get paid?

About Service. Do I get paid as a volunteer?

You will receive a monthly in-country living allowance

that you will use to pay for expenses as a volunteer. You will also be accruing a monthly readjustment allowance which you will receive as a lump sum when you have completed your service.

What are the benefits of being a Peace Corps Volunteer?

  • Deferment and Cancellation of Student Loans. …
  • Foreign Language Instruction. …
  • Graduate and Fellowship Opportunities. …
  • Expanded Career Opportunities. …
  • Pay and Living Expenses. …
  • Medical Benefits. …
  • Liberal Vacation Benefits. …
  • Readjustment Allowance.

How much does the Peace Corps pay volunteers?

Financial benefits

Upon completion of two years of service, the Peace Corps provides each Volunteer with

more than $10,000 (pre-tax)

to help with the transition to life back home. This money is yours to use as you wish.

Is it hard to get accepted into the Peace Corps?

Last year,

the Peace Corps received more than

17,000 applications for fewer than 4,000 positions. Serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer is a professional opportunity with lifelong benefits, so it is extremely competitive.

How safe are Peace Corps volunteers?

The Peace Corps has a rigorous site selection process to ensure all measures available are in place to protect a Volunteer’s safety. Many Volunteers experience varying

degrees of unwanted attention and harassment

. Petty thefts and burglaries are not uncommon, and incidents of physical and sexual assault do occur.

How many Peace Corps volunteers have died?


Over 300 Peace Corps volunteers

have died in service.

How long do you serve in the Peace Corps?

Peace Corps Volunteers

Serve for

two years plus three months of training

for an opportunity to totally immerse yourself into a host country community.

Are the Peace Corps worth it?

Yes, the Peace Corps is

a good choice

when you’re finishing school and have nothing but time and freedom, but you shouldn’t go just because you’re afraid of having nothing else lined up. … In case I haven’t convinced you already, being a Peace Corps volunteer isn’t an easy job.

Does the Peace Corps look good on a resume?

Include

your Peace Corps experience under “Professional Experience

.” Some people have a separate section on their résumé dedicated to volunteer experience. … If your volunteer experience outside of Peace Corps is relevant to the position to which you are applying, it should be listed as professional experience.

What are the requirements to be in the Peace Corps?

To be eligible for Peace Corps service, you must be

at least 18 years of age and a U.S. citizen

. 3-6 months of full-time experience with a large-scale commercial or family-run business involving vegetable gardening, farming, nursery work, tree planting and care, urban forestry, or fisheries work.

Do you need a degree to join the Peace Corps?

To summarize, the Peace Corps welcomes

applicants without bachelor’s degree who possess professional work and volunteer experience

. Explore current openings and connect with a recruiter to get started.

How much money do you make in the Peace Corps?

While Peace Corps employees earn an

average yearly salary of $38,139

, different roles can command different wages. The higher paying positions at Peace Corps include senior consultant, business developer, economic adviser, and information technology specialist.

Does Peace Corps pay for college?

Does the Peace Corps pay for college? … With that said,

joining the Peace Corps could lead to financial assistance for graduate school

via the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program. It connects past Peace Corps volunteers with tuition discounts, stipends and assistantships at 90-plus colleges and universities.

Can you choose where you go in the Peace Corps?

Life throws us curve-balls and Peace Corps service is no different.

State preferences if you have them

, but also recognize that sometimes things don’t work out as planned. … Ready to start your Peace Corps journey? Connect with a recruiter today.

Rachel Ostrander
Author
Rachel Ostrander
Rachel is a career coach and HR consultant with over 5 years of experience working with job seekers and employers. She holds a degree in human resources management and has worked with leading companies such as Google and Amazon. Rachel is passionate about helping people find fulfilling careers and providing practical advice for navigating the job market.