It was 1960 when then-senator John F. Kennedy was on the campaign trail speaking to students from the University of Michigan, challenging them to travel abroad and assist other countries overseas. This establishing moment was what sparked Kennedy to eventually create the Peace Corps in 1961 when he became president.
60 years later and the Peace Corps continues to offer support to those they believe are in need, with the organization currently serving 61 countries across the world. Since then there have also been more than 240,000 volunteers who have come back with 2 years of service and memories. Similar to any other organization, the COVID-19 pandemic has made serving difficult, with all volunteers being recalled in March 2020 and still awaiting their time to serve.
Were you a former Peace Corps member? How did volunteering affect you and what memories can you recall from serving? Join the conversation and call us at 866-893-5722.
Guest:
Patricia Wand, co-chair of the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience and member of the Peace Corps Oral History Project, an organization that looks to capture the individual experiences of Peace Corps volunteers; she was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Columbia from 1963-1965