Peace Corps

What goes on behind the scenes before Volunteers arrive? A lot! Here's a glimpse into how staff prepare the host families who will welcome Trainees into their homes. 🏡 This summer, Peace Corps Mozambique staff worked closely with host families to answer their questions and get them ready for Volunteers. Host families offer so much more than hospitality and a place to stay; they provide meals, share their culture, and help Volunteers practice the language, making them a crucial part of Volunteers' experience and success. We can't wait to see the connections that will form between Volunteers and these families! 🚨 Spoiler alert: Trainees arrived in #Mozambique last week. Click on the last photo to see the new group! #PeaceCorps

🔔Ringing the bell is a tradition that marks the completion of Peace Corps service. Volunteers are filled with mixed emotions as they reflect on the experiences and connections that will stay with them forever, bid farewell to friends and the communities they've called home, and prepare to return to the United States. 🖱️ Click through the photos to see the unique ways Volunteers ring the bell in different #PeaceCorps countries.

🎉 Moldova Celebrates its 33rd Independence Day today! 🎉 We are honored to celebrate this occasion with colleagues, friends, host families, partners, and counterparts across the country. This day of national pride also opens a new chapter for Peace Corps Moldova. The newly sworn-in 36th group of Volunteers is set to live and work alongside Moldovans, teaching English, promoting health education, and supporting community development for the next two years. As we mark 31 years of Peace Corps service in Moldova, we are grateful for the deep connections and impactful collaboration we've experienced so far and look forward to seeing even more growth with each passing year. Happy Independence Day! 🌍🤝 #PeaceCorps #PeaceCorpsMoldova

On Women's Equality Day, we recognize the progress made toward ensuring every woman's voice is heard. 📜 This day commemorates the ratification of the 19th Amendment, a significant milestone toward a more equitable future for women and girls. The same spirit of empowerment is reflected in Nepal, where Peace Corps Volunteers are working with women to learn and share oyster mushroom cultivation practices. 🍄 Together, they’ve planted 41 bags, benefiting 44 participants. Growing and selling mushrooms is a simple yet meaningful way to support women in building sustainable livelihoods. Join us in celebrating the strength and potential of women everywhere. Together, we can create opportunities for every woman to thrive. 💪 #PeaceCorps #PeaceCorpsNepal #WomensEqualityDay

🏡 Ever wonder what it’s like to live in a different country as a Peace Corps Volunteer? Volunteers live in a range of housing and sometimes live with host families. It all depends on the country and the context. ▶️ Watch as Montenegro Volunteer Patti gives us a tour of her host family’s home where she'll stay throughout her service. #PeaceCorpsMontenegro #PeaceCorps

Salina, an Education Volunteer in Namibia, uses her artistic skills on the blackboard to captivate her students. She recalls how, as a student, visuals and puzzles helped her stay engaged. 🎨 Now, she brings that same creativity into her classroom with homemade board games and a detailed class calendar. Her goal? To spur her students' imagination, motivate them to learn, and help them catch up if they miss a lesson. Ready to apply your creativity and skills in Peace Corps service? 🎒 Explore how you can make a difference: https://bit.ly/4bUOHB4 #PeaceCorps #PeaceCorpsNamibia

🏝️ In Tonga, communities have shared how mangrove planting is a powerful tool for advancing climate resilience. When mangroves grow, their complex root systems act as natural barriers against storm surges, tsunamis, and coastal erosion. This week, Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn joined Volunteers participating in a hands-on training for climate-centered camp curriculum led by our key Tongan partners. Activities like this prepare Volunteers for incorporating themes such as the land, oceans, climate resilience, and natural disaster risk management into their projects. Press play ▶️ to see the learning in action! #PeaceCorps #PeaceCorpsTonga

For 57 years, Peace Corps Volunteers have been working side-by-side with the Tongan people to advance locally identified priorities. This long-standing partnership has inspired a word in the Tongan language: “Pisikoa,” which is now the universal word for volunteers, no matter where you come from. It is within this heartfelt spirit of peace and friendship where Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn officiated the swearing-in ceremony of 19 new Volunteers who will live and work in Tonga over the next two years to support education and environment projects. These Volunteers will work with young people across Tonga’s four major island groups. Read more: https://bit.ly/4fUxYkF

Mālō e lelei! Peace Corps Tonga welcomed Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn to the island country with a traditional kava ceremony. Kava, a ceremonial drink made from the root of the kava plant, is a significant part of Tongan culture. The ceremony symbolizes respect, unity, and the strengthening of relationships. This beautiful tradition marks the beginning of Director Spahn's engagements in the country to strengthen our long-standing partnership with the people of Tonga. 🌺 #PeaceCorps

"To come here and work with women as a woman is very empowering and to see men in this community support women is empowering." When Rujeko first got to her site as a Peace Corps Fiji Volunteer, she worked with her village community to identify their priorities. With the local women starting their commutes to the market at 2:00 or 3:00 in the mornings, safety was a top priority. With a grant from USAID's Small Project Assistance Program, Rujeko supported her community in installing a solar lights system. These new lights now make it safe for everyone in the community to walk in the evenings or early mornings. Neighboring communities now call Rujeko's village, "The Village of Lights," and is now inspiring others to pursue similar projects. #PeaceCorps