2001 Press Releases

Peace Corps Celebrates 40th Birthday and A Continuing Presence in Turkmenistan

March 1, 2001

"Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." These words spoken by John F. Kennedy at his inauguration 40 years ago launched the Peace Corps. On March 1, 1961, President Kennedy signed the Executive Order establishing the Peace Corps. The response to this bold experiment was both swift and enthusiastic, and less than six months later, the first Volunteers had accepted the challenge and left for their two-year assignments overseas. The mission of the Peace Corps is to help interested countries meet the need for skilled professional men and women and to promote a better mutual understanding between American citizens and foreign citizens in the countries in which the Peace Corps serves.

As of this year, 162,000 Volunteers have served in 134 different countries around the globe since the Peace Corps was founded. Today, more than 7,000 Volunteers live and work alongside local people in 76 countries-fulfilling the mission that President Kennedy articulated four decades ago and that has been endorsed by every U.S. President since.

On March 1, 2001 the Peace Corps of the United States marks its 40th birthday throughout the world. The Peace Corps came to Turkmenistan in 1993 and since then 257 volunteers have served here. Currently, 30 volunteers teach English, 40 volunteers serve in Community and Health Education, and 7 volunteers help in Business Development and Education in Turkmenistan.

Peace Corps volunteers work in all five velayats of Turkmenistan and only five volunteers serve in Ashgabat. Many of the volunteers live in farmers' unions and live with local
families. While some volunteers live in the regional cities, some also work in
very rural areas such as Koneurgench and Serdar. There are currently four married couples serving as Volunteers in Turkmenistan.

Education Volunteers teach English while working with a local teacher. They usually conduct teaching seminars on English teaching methods. Community Health Volunteers work with the Ministry of Health providing training in health lifestyles, reproductive health, and nutrition. Business volunteers teach business English, assist in developing successful business methods, and provide training and consultation for small entrepreneurs. Two Volunteers work with an agricultural cooperative assisting them in their improvement of business methods.