Peace Corps Week is celebrated annually beginning on March 1st, and it commemorates the date when the agency was established back in 1961. The mission of this organization is to promote world peace and friendship by helping interested countries meet their need for trained men and women, to help promote a better understanding of Americans in other countries, and to foster a better understanding of other peoples among Americans.

Peace Corps volunteers help communities around the world address local needs and teach them valuable skills. All of these are good reasons why everyone should support this organization by observing this holiday week.

The History of Peace Corps Week

On March 1st, 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order that created the Peace Corps. Its first director was R. Sargent Shriver, who assumed the position three days later. By the end of that year, Peace Corps volunteers were serving in five different countries, and by 1967, there were more than 14,500 volunteers serving in over 55 different countries.

Ten years later, in 1971, U.S. President Richard Nixon proclaimed May 30th through June 5th of that year as National Peace Corps Week in honor of the organization’s 10-year anniversary. Since the 1970s, this celebration has been changed several times in line with the social mores of the time. The last significant change to this week came in 2004 when it was moved to the beginning of March.

Observing Peace Corps Week

A great way to observe this holiday is to take the time to learn more about the Peace Corps and its core mission. This is especially easy to do in the digital age when there’s a wealth of online information about this organization. It’s also a good week for people to consider joining the Peace Corps and perhaps do a little bit of good in the world, all while developing their own skills.