Why Peace Corps?

The Peace Corps is a 27-month service opportunity for motivated changemakers to immerse themselves in community abroad, working side by side with local leaders to tackle the most pressing challenges of our generation.

The Peace Corps volunteer program is often called life-defining by the more than 220,000 Americans who have served. Peace Corps volunteers come from all kinds of backgrounds, reflecting the rich diversity of the United States—some are just out of college, while others are mid-career or retired. You can get the chance to fully integrate into a host country community, where you will live and work on projects ranging from education to business development. 

Explore the benefits of Peace Corps service >

The Peace Corps Mission

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

  • To help the people of interested countries and meeting their need for trained men and women
  • To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served
  • To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans

If you're interested in graduate school after Peace Corps service, check out the Paul D. Coverdell Fellows program

Peace Corps: a life-defining experience
Rutgers Global - Why Peace Corps, Recruiter Daniel Turkel speaks to a group of students outdoors, two females look on

What It's Like: Dan Turkel's Story

Rutgers alum and Peace Corps recruiter Dan Turkel (RC'10) talks about his experiences in the Peace Corps and what it's like to recruit others for this life-defining experience.

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Rutgers Global - Rutgers Staff Employ Peace Corps Tradition, a Peace Corps volunteer (left) plays with a group of local children wearing tye-dye tee shirts at a youth center in Albania

Staff Stories

Rutgers staff have had the opportunity to serve in the Peace Corps, and they bring those skills with them on the job.

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Become a Volunteer

Rutgers Global - Peace Corps, a volunteer and a local community member pose for a photo while sweeping outside a building in a rural area