Don’t Retire: Join the Peace Corp

JFK UM Union by snre via Flickr

Why Retire When You Can Join the Peace Corp?

An article on AnnArbor.com, “A Unique Minority: Ann Arbor Woman Joins Peace Corps As Small Percentage of Volunteers Over 50″, reminded me that joining the Peace Corp is another compelling alternative to retirement. It is one my husband and I have considered.

What is the Peace Corp?

In 196o, President John F. Kennedy first proposed the Peace Corps on the steps of the University of Michigan Student Union here in Ann Arbor, MI. He challenged students to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. From that inspiration grew an agency of the federal government devoted to world peace and friendship.

The Peace Corps’ mission has three simple goals:

Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans

Who Volunteers?

Many older Volunteers missed the opportunity to join the corp at their twenties, the more traditional age. Seven percent of corp volunteers are over age 50.

Volunteers serve in 76 countries.

Africa: 43%
Latin America: 21%
Eastern Europe/Central Asia: 15%
Asia: 10%
The Caribbean: 4%
North Africa/Middle East: 4%
Pacific Islands: 3%

Peace Corp volunteers apply for specific work areas:

Education: 43%
Health: 21%
Community Economic Development: 12%
Environment: 12%
Youth in Development: 6%
Agriculture: 4%
Other: 2%

The Peace Corp assigns Volunteers based upon the following:

How well your skills match the open positions we have
How your skills compare to those of other candidates
Your availability and suitability, and the start date of open positions
What support is available should you have special medical requirements

The more flexible you are about where you serve, the easier you are to place.

The PeaceCorp.gov site provides a slide show of “Core Expectations for Peace Corp Volunteers and Trainees”.

What is the Downside?

There is a lot of marketing hype available about all the wonderful reasons to join the Peace Corp. You have to dig a little deeper to understand how difficult the life can be. One might consider something a positive while another might. Stepanie D. on Yahoo Voices details the up and downside of her experience in South Aftrica:

It’s a twenty-six month commitment.
You will most likely learn a new language.
You will most likely be living in a culture very different from your own.
You will likely be living in third world conditions.
You will likely make some of the best friends of your life.
You will not be around for significant events in your family’s life, your friends’ lives and that of your home country.
You will have easy travel access to places off the beaten path.
Peace Corps is a government bureaucracy.
You will be poor.

How Do You Join the Peace Corp?

The following video gives an overview of “How To Join the Peace Corp”.

Go ahead! If your inner pioneer is screaming for something new, take a peek. Older people join for different reasons than those in their twenties. Think about what you still want to accomplish. The Peace Corp could fit the bill and it might become the greatest adventure of your life. Don’t Retire: Join the Peace Corp.