FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody K. Olsen unveils the first Peace Corps Teen Website

Philadelphia, PA (July 17, 2007) Peace Corps Deputy Director Jody K. Olsen today announced the Peace Corps teen website at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service. The website, www.peacecorps.gov/teens, has been under development for a year and is Peace Corps first website geared specifically for teenagers.

Deputy Director Olsen said, Our new teen website will help future Volunteers learn about the life changing experience of the Peace Corps. American teenagers are our future; they share a volunteer spirit and have extensive skills to offer other cultures. Our new website will help them gain and exchange information about Peace Corps service.















The main Peace Corps website draws over 8 million visitors a year. In addition to the main site, the Peace Corps maintains a website for kids which has gained popularity in the last 7 years, www.peacecorps.gov/kids. To fill the gap between these two age groups, the new teen website targets the large audience of American teenagers. The teen site promotes current volunteerism in their local communities and future Peace Corps service.

Many of the 2,600 attendees of the National Conference on Volunteering and Service who attended the Peace Corps presentation at the Pennsylvania Convention Center were inspired by the site. The creation of a teen website allows Peace Corps to share ideas in novel and fun ways with this unique audience. The content will feature Peace Corps Volunteer profiles, blogs, photos, samples of music, recipes, and trivia from around the world.

The Peace Corps is celebrating a 46-year legacy of service at home and abroad, and a 30-year high for Volunteers in the field. Since 1961, more than 187,000 Volunteers have helped promote a better understanding between Americans and the people of the 139 countries where Volunteers have served. Peace Corps Volunteers must be U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age. Peace Corps service is a 27-month commitment.

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