At their apex, Peace Corps volunteers totaled 9,000 back in 1970.
Ed O’Keefe of the Washington Post reports that the number of volunteers is now 8,655 – that’s nearly one thousand more than a year ago and hopefully moving toward its goal of 10,000 per year:
The agency’s volunteer headcount fell to a low of 5,380 in 1982 but climbed steadily through the 1980s, according to agency statistics. It has yet to reach a goal of 10,000 volunteers per year that was set by Congress in 1985.More than 200,000 Americans have served in 139 countries since Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961. It became an independent federal agency in 1981 and will mark the 50th anniversary of its founding next March.
Read the full article here.
What about you?
Did you serve in the Peace Corps? If so, what’s your favorite memory?
Did it inspire you to remain in public service?
Have you considered Peace Corps? Where you would like to serve?
Psst…GovLoop has a group called RPCVs in Government.
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“Daily Dose of the Washington Post” is a new blog series created by GovLoop in partnership with The Washington Post. If you see great stories in the Post and want to ask a question around it, please send to thedoctor@govloop.com.
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