At
his inaugural address on 20th January, 1961, President John
F Kennedy challenged the people of the United States with the
statement: "Ask not what your country can do for you, but rather
what you can do for your country."
Kennedy also wanted the young people of the country to help the undeveloped
world and announced the establishment of the Peace
Corps. This
a scheme that intended to send 10,000
young people to serve in Africa, Asia and Latin America. Kennedy argued
that this "practical, inexpensive, person-to-person program will
plant trust, good will and a capacity for self-help" in the underdeveloped
world.
Congress approved Kennedy's scheme and agreed that $30 million would
be spent in its first year. Members of the Peace Corps were expected
to serve for two years. Open to people over 18, members were paid
$75 a month. Although some members of the Peace Corps have been in
their sixties, the great majority have been aged 20 to 35.
Peace Corps workers are only sent to nations that request them. Members
are expected to learn the host country's language and to live in local
communities. The United States government pay travelling expenses
and in its first year over 3,000 people served abroad. The budget
for 1965 reached $115,000,000 and enabled the funding of 14,000 volunteers.
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