Skip to main content
US Flag An official website of the United States government

Connect with the Peace Corps

If you're ready for something bigger, we have a place where you belong.

Follow us

Apply to the Peace Corps

The application process begins by selecting a service model and finding an open position.

Peace Corps Volunteer
2 years, 3 months
Log in/check status
Peace Corps Response
Up to 12 months
Log in/check status
Virtual Service Pilot
3-6 months
Log in/check status

Let us help you find the right position.

If you are flexible in where you serve for the two-year Peace Corps Volunteer program, our experts can match you with a position and country based on your experience and preferences.

Serve where you’re needed most

Manuals and Guides

Directory of U.S. Department of State Educational and Cultural Exchange Opportunities (M0123) (Updated October 2019)

The U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) and the Peace Corps have compiled this resource guide that outlines international exchange and scholarship opportunities for a variety of audiences, including Peace Corps Volunteers and community members, students, and counterparts in the communities they serve, Peace Corps post staff, and Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs).

Children & Youth
Incountry Resource Center Procedures Manual (RE0015)
This resource, as a part of the PCLive Historical Collection, is archival material offering recommended procedures for resource centers at post. This manual was written for those wanting to establish Information Resource Centers (formerly known as "Incountry Resource Centers") and for those who may manage such centers.
Libraries & IRCs
Libraries for All!: How to Start and Run a Basic Library (RE035)
Those of you working in established libraries may be tempted to skip this section. However, if you are having problems with community support and involvement, you might find some good ideas here (and under Community Involvement below). This chapter can help you rethink your library service, and if necessary, make plans to change it or even shut it down.
Libraries & IRCs
Life Skills & Leadership (M0098) (M0110) (M0114) (M0115)

While a particular project may focus on only one or two of these sector competencies, the life skills and leadership topics relate to all aspects of life, including: succeeding in the workplace, fostering healthy living, and engaging with communities. With this manual, Volunteers leading a wide range of positive youth development activities in any sector can learn to integrate life and leadership skills training into their relationships with youth in their communities.

Children & Youth
On-Going Language Learning Manual (M0064)
To many of us, it may seem that some people are born with a gift for learning languages, while others seem burdened with a poor memory. But fortunately or not, those descrip­ tions apply to only a tiny percentage of adults tackling a new language. Although language learning sometimes seems like a long and complex task, nearly everyone can do it and most find it enjoyable and rewarding. Thousands of Peace Corps Volunteers will tell you the same thing.
Languages
Setting Up and Running a School Library (ED204)
If you are planning your school's first library this book will guide you through each step. If your school already has a library this book will help you to ensure its success -but do think carefully before you make any changes.
Libraries & IRCs
Sources of Donated Books for Schools and Libraries (RE003)
Sources of Donated Books for Schools and Libraries (No. RE003) is intended to help Peace Corps Volunteers and their counterparts identify organizations that might provide books and other educational materials for schools and libraries in their communities.
Libraries & IRCs
Sources of Free Periodicals and Databases (RE007)
Sources of Free Periodicals and Databases [ICE No. RE007] is compiled by the Peace Corps office of Information Collection and Exchange (ICE) to provide Peace Corps Volunteers with information on periodicals, databases, and CD-ROMs that can offer helpful information for primary and secondary projects.
Libraries & IRCs
Working With Youth: Approaches for Volunteers (M0067)
This manual is intended to complement knowledge, intuition, and good intentions in your encounters with youth. It can support your efforts by helping you make more informed and thoughtful decisions as you engage young people in discussions and activities. Through advice and information from Volunteers, staff, and experts, this manual will provide you with creative and innovative ideas for activities that are founded on development principles and gathered from experience throughout the world.
Children & Youth
Youth Camps Manual: GLOW and Other Leadership Camps (M0100)
Camp GLOW has become one of the most common and recognizable Peace Corps activities throughout the world. Such camps explore many different themes, with leadership camps being the most popular. Thousands of young girls have bettered themselves and their communities through these camps. As with anything good, the model has continued to grow, adapt, and change depending on the place, the context, and the young people involved. Part 5 of this manual includes a complete Camp GLOW model.
Children & Youth
Youth Clubs Toolkit (M0129)

Youth clubs are a powerful, yet often underutilized, way to reach young people. Research has shown that clubs complement formal schooling and that they play an important role in knowledge acquisition and skill building.

Children & Youth
Youth Development and the Environment (M0057)
This booklet introduces ideas, concepts, and examples that combine youth development and environment activities. It is written for interested youth, Peace Corps Volunteers, their counter- parts, Peace Corps staff, teachers, local or national government officials, parents, and community members. Much of the booklet's content was contributed by young people, Volunteers and Peace Corps staff and youth development workers.
Children & Youth
Youth Development Case Study Honduras (R0074)
The following case study documents the experiences of one Youth Development Volunteer who, although he had no experience working with youth before he started his project, developed a love and concern for young people which later led him to pursue this field in his graduate studies.
Children & Youth
Youth Development through English Practice Activities (M0109)

This Idea Book offers strategies you can use to create and facilitate your own English practice youth group, as well as practical activities that you can use in an extracurricular setting. The book also provides advice and real-world examples contributed by committed Volunteers.

Children & Youth
Youth Livelihoods: Employability (M0093) (M0102)
There are three manuals in the Youth Livelihoods series: Employability, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship. All three of these courses are designed to be delivered by Peace Corps Volunteers and their counterparts worldwide who are helping young people develop knowledge, skills, and aptitudes for improving their financial literacy, their employability, and their economic independence.
Children & Youth
Youth Livelihoods: Entrepreneurship (M0116)

The Youth Entrepreneurship guide is the third resource in the Peace Corps' Youth Livelihoods series and is designed for Peace Corps Volunteers and their counterparts worldwide who are helping young people develop knowledge, skills, and aptitudes for improving their economic independence.

Children & Youth
Youth Livelihoods: Financial Literacy (M0092) (M0101)
There are three manuals in the Youth Livelihoods series: Employability, Financial Literacy, and Entrepreneurship. All three of these courses are designed to be delivered by Peace Corps Volunteers and their counterparts worldwide who are helping young people develop knowledge, skills, and aptitudes for improving their employability, their financial literacy, and their economic independence.
Children & Youth
Youth Livelihoods Mentoring Workbook (M0128)

The Peace Corps Youth Livelihoods Mentoring Workbook is designed for a Peace Corps Volunteer to use when mentoring a youth (or small group of youth) in order to build their livelihood skills.

Children & Youth
Youth Mentoring Workbook (M0127)

This Mentoring Workbook is designed to be used by Peace Corps Volunteers to foster and maintain a mentoring relationship with youth in their community. Volunteers have been informally mentoring local youth for decades; this resource is intended to help Volunteers structure and guide those relationships toward evidence-based outcomes.

Children & Youth