Peace Corps

PEACE CORPS

1111 20th Street, NW., Washington, DC 20526

Phone, 202-692-2000

Director Mark D. Gearan

Deputy Director Charles R. Baquet III

Chief of Staff Thomas Tighe

General Counsel Nancy Hendry

American Diversity Program Manager Mabel Valdivia

Inspector General Charles Smith, Acting

Director of Communications Michael Chapman

Director of Congressional Relations Gloria Johnson

Director of Private Sector Patricia Garamendi

Cooperation and International Voluntarism

Director of the Crisis Corps Joan M. Timoney

Regional Director/Africa Operations Maureen Carroll, Acting

Regional Director/Europe, Ellen Paquette, Acting

Mediterranean, and Asia Operations

Regional Director/Inter-American and Patrick Fn'Piere, the Pacific Operations Acting

Director, Center for Field Lani Havens

Assistance and Applied Research

Chief Financial Officer Lana Hurdle

Associate Director for Management William Piatt

Associate Director for Volunteer Support Mike Ward

Associate Director for Volunteer Recruitment and Judy Harrington

Selection

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The Peace Corps' purpose is to promote world peace and friendship, to help other countries in meeting their needs for trained men and women, and to promote understanding between the American people and other peoples served by the Peace Corps. The Peace Corps Act emphasizes the Peace Corps commitment toward programming to meet the basic needs of those living in the countries where volunteers work.

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 more than 80 countries. Its presence in foreign countries fluctuates as programs are added or withdrawn.

Activities

To fulfill the Peace Corps mandate, men and women are trained for a 9- to 14-week period in the appropriate local language, the technical skills necessary for their particular job, and the cross-cultural skills needed to adjust to a society with traditions and attitudes different from their own. Volunteers serve 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 Central and South...