You may have heard of the Peace Corps, but how can you get involved right now? How old do you have to be to be in the Peace Corps? Are there other requirements?
Welcome fellow volunteer enthusiast! If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to join the Peace Corps, look no further:
The U.S. Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to provide humanitarian aid for high priority regions.
They provide global volunteer training programs as well as a 1-Year Physician and Nurse Volunteer Program.
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The minimum age is 18
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Volunteers must be U.S. citizens
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Most opportunities require a 4-year degree
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Volunteers usually serve for 2 years after in-country training
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The agency provides volunteers with training, guidance, and support
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For more information: Facts Handout and Application FAQ
Unfortunately, many of you might not fulfill these requirements just yet. On the bright side, now you know exactly what you need to work towards.
If you have your heart set on applying for the Peace Corps, then keep dreaming 🙂
Believe it or not, you actually have one really big advantage right now: Plenty of Time.
The Peace Corps isn’t going anywhere, and you certainly can in the meantime!
What are you passionate about? Where and why do you want to go abroad? What kind of service excites you?
Once you can answer these three questions, then you’ll be well on your way to an unforgettable adventure.
Here’s a personal example to give you some inspiration:
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I’m passionate about student-centered teaching and creating non-profit, service organizations
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I want to go to Australia because I connect with the personality, culture, and climate
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Serving higher education as an instructor, entrepreneur, and volunteer adviser excites me
Once you build that emotional fire, you’ll exude genuine confidence and a contagious enthusiasm.
You’ll have no doubt of whether you will go—it’s now only a question of when. That’s all you need. You have more than enough creativity and persistence to figure everything else out.
By the way, did you know that Global Leadership Adventures (GLA) was founded by a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer? Founder Andrew Motiwalla’s original vision was to create a Peace Corps for Teens. That’s pretty cool.
What other programs besides the Peace Corps could we help you work towards? We’d enjoy hearing your goals!
Contributed by Nick Fochtman
