WASHINGTON, D.C., Sept. 10, 2014 – The Peace Corps today announced that volunteers will return to the island nation of Timor-Leste in Southeast Asia in 2015. Prospective applicants can now view open positions for Timor-Leste on the Peace Corps website as they consider the Peace Corps countries and programs that best meet their personal and professional goals. In July, the agency began allowing applicants to choose their country of service and apply to specific programs through a new, shorter application.

“Peace Corps is thrilled to return to Timor-Leste and help this important partner meet its development goals through an enduring, collaborative and innovative program,” Peace Corps Director Carrie Hessler-Radelet said. “This is a unique opportunity to build on the legacy Peace Corps forged through its earlier work on initiatives in health care and economic development, and our volunteers are ready to tackle this exciting work alongside the people of Timor-Leste.”

Twenty new Peace Corps volunteers will depart for Timor-Leste next summer to work on community economic development projects at the village level alongside local counterparts. The new volunteers will undergo three months of comprehensive cross-cultural, language and technical training before traveling to their sites.

In addition to their primary projects, the new volunteers will be encouraged to participate in community and school-based projects, which offer opportunities to share experiences, transfer skills and knowledge, and foster greater understanding between volunteers and their host communities. The success of Peace Corps is built on the people-to-people exchange of ideas at the grassroots level.

Peace Corps volunteers previously served in Timor-Leste from 2002 through 2006. During this time, more than 100 volunteers worked on community economic development and health related projects.

About the Peace Corps: As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans abroad to tackle the most pressing needs of people around the world. Peace Corps volunteers work at the grassroots level with local governments, schools, communities, small businesses and entrepreneurs to develop sustainable solutions that address challenges in education, health, economic development, agriculture, environment and youth development. When they return home, volunteers bring their knowledge and experiences—and a global outlook—back to the United States that enriches the lives of those around them. President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961 to foster a better understanding among Americans and people of other countries. Since then, more than 215,000 Americans of all ages have served in 139 countries worldwide. Visit www.peacecorps.gov to learn more.