AmericanswhovolunteerforthePeaceCorpsgetachancetohelpimprovelivesindevelopingcountries.Theyalsogetachancetolearnmoreabouttheworld,andaboutthemselves.Thisweekthisprogramiscelebratingits50thanniversary.

PresidentJohnKennedyestablishedthePeaceCorpssoonafterhetookofficein1961.ItwasthetimeoftheColdWarbetweentheUnitedStatesandtheSovietUnion.ThenewprogramgaveAmericansachancetoanswerthecalltoservicethatthepresidentmadeinhisinaugural(就职的)speech.“Asknotwhatyourcountrycandoforyou,”hesaid.“Askwhatyoucandoforyourcountry.”KennedytoldPeaceCorpsvolunteersthatAmerica’simageinthecountrieswheretheyweregoingwoulddependlargelyonthem.

OnAugust30th,1961,thefirstgroupof51PeaceCorpsvolunteersarrivedinAccra,Ghana,toserveasteachers.Theyhadagreedtoworkforalmostnopay.TheywouldspendtwoyearsinGhanahelpingitspeopleandlearningtherealityoflifeinadevelopingcountry.Mostofthevolunteershadjustcompletedcollege.AbouthalfofthemtaughtEnglishorhealthcare.Inthe50yearssincethen,morethan200，000AmericanshaveservedasPeaceCorpsvolunteers.Theyhaveworkedin139countries.

ThePeaceCorpsisagovernmentagencythatwascreatedtopromoteworldpeaceandfriendship.Therearethreegoals:First,tohelpthepeopleofinterestedcountriesinmeetingtheirneedfortrainedmenandwomen.Second,tohelppromoteabetterunderstandingofAmericansonthepartofthepeopleserved.And,third.tohelppromoteabetterunderstandingofotherpeopleonthepartofAmericans.

Today,thePeaceCorpshasmorethan8,000volunteersandtraineesin77countries.Theyworkinagriculture,economicdevelopment,education,theenvironmentandhealthcare.Someworkinprogramsrelatedtoyouthdevelopment.

SixtypercentofcurrentPeaceCorpsvolunteersarewomen.Theaverageageofavolunteeris28.ButtheagesofPeaceCorpsvolunteersrangefrom18to86.SomeAmericansjointhePeaceCorpsaftertheyretire.Todaysevenpercentofvolunteersareovertheageof50.And19percentaremembersofminoritygroups.

小题1:VolunteersforthePeaceCorpscan_______.