FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Friday, September 11, 1998

Peace Corps Launches New Web Site

Washington, D.C., September 11, 1998—The Peace Corps will launch a newly designed World Wide Web site as part of its campaign to recruit volunteers who will serve overseas in the new millennium, said Peace Corps Director Mark Gearan. The new Web site will go online on Tuesday, September 15, when First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton, Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan, and other dignitaries gather to dedicate the Peace Corps\' new headquarters building in Washington, D.C. and kick off the Peace Corps\' new recruitment season. The web site\'s URL is www.peacecorps.gov. "Our new Web site will be an integral part of our efforts to communicate to the public, especially young people, about the adventure and rewards that come with serving as a Peace Corps volunteer," Gearan said. "The Web site will have a cutting-edge appearance and will be much more user friendly. We believe the new site will inspire a whole new generation of Americans to learn more about the Peace Corps experience and apply for what we call \'the toughest job you\'ll ever love.\'" Other new features of the Peace Corps Web site include profiles of volunteers serving overseas and former volunteers here in the United States, information about local recruitment events, a Peace Corps volunteer application that can be downloaded, a search engine, and site map. Visitors to the Peace Corps Web site can read interesting essays by former volunteers about serving in the Peace Corps, as well as news and information about the agency. In addition, the Web site\'s "global education" section includes dozens of teacher guides and lesson plans for use in the nation\'s classrooms. The Peace Corps Web site was designed in partnership with Periscope, a Minneapolis-based marketing communications agency. Since 1961, more than 150,000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps, serving in 132 nations. Currently, more than 6,500 Peace Corps volunteers are working in about 80 countries around the world to help bring clean water to communities, teach children, protect the environment, help start new small businesses, and prevent the spread of AIDS.

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