Peace Corps Background in Russia
PEACE CORPS
The U.S. Peace Corps entered Russia in 1992 at the invitation of the Russian Government. A formal Peace Corps Country Agreement was signed on June 17, 1992, in Washington DC, by Russian Prime Minister Yegor Gaydar and Peace Corps Director Elaine Chao. The first group of Peace Corps Volunteers arrived in Russia on November 21, 1992.
The first Peace Corps Russia Volunteers were recruited to assist Russians in developing a small business sector during their country's transition to a free market economy. Since then, Peace Corps programming has expanded to the English education sector (1994). The business program has evolved from its initial emphasis to focus on business education.
The business project seeks to provide new business related opportunities for Russia in the transition from a command to a market economic system thus integrating the country into the world free market. This project seeks to help educate business people and higher education students in working knowledge of market economy principles; to help them acquire practical business skills; to help in the development of non-governmental organizations and professional associations; as well as to consult with small and medium-sized business owners.
The purpose of the Western Russia TEFL project is to provide English language instruction to Western Russia secondary and tertiary students, assist in the training and upgrading of English teachers and initiate, promote and support cooperative action among Russian institutions and organizations to ensure stable, sustainable means of enhancing the effectiveness of English language teaching and learning.
The Peace Corps Russia program has offices located in Moscow and Vladivostok, Russia's port city in the Far East.