Peace Corps

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PEACE CORPS

1111 Twentieth Street NW., Washington, DC 20526

Phone, 202-692-2000. Fax, 202-692-2231. Internet, www.peacecorps.gov.

Director Gaddi H. Vasquez

Deputy Director Jody Olsen

Chief of Staff/Chief of Operations Lloyd Pierson

Deputy Chief of Staff and Director Marie Wheat

of Congressional Relations

General Counsel Tyler Posey

Director of Communications Ellen Field

Director of Press Barbara Daly

Director for Office of Planning, Kyo (Paul) Jhin

Policy, and Analysis

American Diversity Program Manager Shirley Everest

Director of Private Sector Nanci Brannan

Cooperation and International Volunteerism

Inspector General Charles D. Smith

Director of the Crisis Corps Melinda Bridges, Acting

Regional Director/Africa Operations Henry McKoy

Regional Director/Europe, Jay Katzen

Mediterranean, and Asia Operations

Regional Director/Inter-American and Maryann Minutillo, the Pacific Operations Acting

Director, Center for Field Betsi Shays

Assistance and Applied Research

Chief Financial Officer Gopal Khanna

Director for Management Gilbert Smith, Acting

Associate Director for Volunteer Steven Weinberg

Support

Associate Director for Volunteer Chuck Brooks

Recruitment and Selection

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The mission of the Peace Corpsis to helpthe people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women, and to help promote better mutual understanding between Americans and peoples of other countries.

The Peace Corps was established by the Peace Corps Act of 1961, as amended (22 U.S.C. 2501), and was made an independent agency by title VI of the International Security and Development Cooperation Act of 1981

(22 U.S.C. 2501-1).

The Peace Corps consists of a Washington, DC, headquarters; 11 area offices; and overseas operations in 71 countries, utilizing more than

7,500 volunteers.

Activities

To fulfill the Peace Corps mandate, men and women are trainedfor a 9- to

14-week period in the appropriate local language, the technical skills necessary for their particular jobs, and the cross-cultural skills needed to adjust to a society with traditions and attitudes different from their own. Volunteersserve for a period of 2 years, living among the people with whom they work. Volunteers are expected to become a part of the community through their voluntary service.

Thousands of volunteers serve throughout the world, working in six program areas: education, health and HIV/AIDS, environment...