FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Thursday, January 18, 2001

Peace Corps Awards First Round of 'Peace Packs'; AOL Time Warner and HP Work with Peace Corps to Provide Information Technology Solutions to Advance Development in Underserved Communities Around the World

WASHINGTON, D.C., January 18, 2001—Peace Corps Director Mark L. Schneider today presented Peace Corps volunteers in 15 countries around the world with packages of information technology resources. These innovative packages, called "Peace Packs," include a variety of tools provided by AOL Time Warner and the Hewlett-Packard Company, such as computers, modems, printers, digital cameras and access to Internet service.
"The Peace Packs program will help us implement the Peace Corps\' international digital divide initiative and harness information technology as a tool for grassroots development," said Schneider. "We are grateful to AOL Time Warner, the first company to contribute to the Peace Corps\' e-Partnership fund, and HP for their generous support and creativity in making the Peace Packs happen," stated Schneider.
Peace Packs were awarded to 25 Peace Corps volunteers in 15 countries, from Ghana to Guatemala, who submitted proposals for unique and innovative ways to integrate information technology to advance health, education, microenterprise and other development priorities. Peace Corps volunteers will use the Peace Packs to teach computer skills and to connect remote communities where they serve to valuable information technology resources.
Bushkin, Senior Vice President, AOL Time Warner and President of the AOL Time Warner Foundation, said, "The Peace Packs program will give Peace Corps volunteers the 21st century tools they need to help extend the benefits of the information revolution to the people who need them the most. AOL Time Warner is proud to be part of this innovative pilot program to help close the international digital divide and expand digital opportunity in communities around the world. We especially look forward to working with the incoming administration on these important issues and on ways to make this initiative more broadly available and replicable by other technology companies."
"The Peace Packs will empower Peace Corps volunteers to harness the creativity and invention of the Internet in the communities they serve," said Lyle Hurst, director, HP World e-Inclusion. "The program is consistent with HP\'s vision of e-inclusion, in which all the world\'s people have access to the social and economic opportunities of the digital age."
Over the next two years, the companies have committed to support a total of 120 Peace Corps designed projects for integrating information technology into development.
Currently, there are more than 7,000 Peace Corps volunteers serving in 76 countries around the world working to help fight hunger, bring clean water to communities, teach children, start new businesses, and fight HIV/AIDS. Since 1961, more than 161,000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps and have served in 134 countries.

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