Washington, D.C., November 1, 1999—Peace Corps Acting Director Charles Baquet III announced today that the third annual Peace Corps Day will be held on Tuesday, March 7, 2000, in honor of the Peace Corps\' 39th anniversary. The Peace Corps is asking former volunteers from across the country to once again become involved in this national celebration. On Peace Corps Day, returned Peace Corps volunteers visit classrooms in schools across the country to teach students about their experiences in developing countries. U.S. students will also participate in live telephone conversations with currently serving volunteers working in dozens of countries around the world. "Peace Corps volunteers truly bring the world home," said Baquet. "I hope all returned volunteers—whether they served nearly 40 years ago or have just returned—will spend Peace Corps Day teaching a new generation about the culture and people of their country of service. Their successes as volunteers are inspirational and increasingly essential in our globally-minded world." Last year\'s Peace Corps Day involved an estimated 10,000 former volunteers who shared their overseas experiences with about 500,000 students nationwide.
President John F. Kennedy signed an executive order creating the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961. Since then, more than 155,000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps, serving in 134 nations. Currently, 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers are working in 78 countries, to bring clean water to communities, help prevent the spread of AIDS, protect the environment, help small business development, teach students, and train teachers. Returned Peace Corps volunteers who are interested in speaking to a class, or teachers who would like to host a volunteer speaker, should contact the Peace Corps immediately to obtain a Peace Corps Day brochure. Call (800) 424-8580 (press 2, then ext. 1961); or send an e-mail with your name and address to [email protected]; or write to Peace Corps Day \'99, ATTN: Lisa Ward, 1111 20th Street, NW, Second Floor, Washington, D.C. 20526.