• 2010.03.02: Williams Speaks at University of Texas  Monday, March 08, 2010 - 11:43 am [1]

• 2009.09.17: An Interview with Aaron Williams  Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 4:12 pm [3]

• 2010.03.04: Williams Meets with RPCV Congressmen  Saturday, March 06, 2010 - 3:59 pm [1]

Aaron Williams says the Peace Corps plans to add a couple thousand volunteers over the next two years



"Funding has gone up and down. But wehave bipartisan support in Congress, plus the administration's commitment to expand. We plan to add a couple thousand volunteers over the next two years. " Dominican Republic RPCV Aaron Williams was sworn in as the 18th Director of the Peace Corps in August, 2009

Aaron Williams says the Peace Corps plans to add a couple thousand volunteers over the next two years

A Bigger, Better Peace Corps

Aaron Williams is the new director of the Peace Corps, a U.S. government agency that places volunteers around the world. President Obama has said the Peace Corps should double in size.

Who can join the Peace Corps?
There's no age limit to serve-14% of volunteers are older than 30, and 6% are married. We have an increasing number of retirees. There's an 85-year-old serving in Morocco. Like college, the application process is competitive: About one-third of those who apply are accepted. Applications have been increasing over the last five years, and they've spiked dramatically in the last year. I think that Americans are more engaged in the world today, and we're able to capitalize on that.

Still, with 7500 volunteers now serving, the Peace Corps is roughly half the size it was in 1966. Why?

Funding has gone up and down. But wehave bipartisan support in Congress, plus the administration's commitment to expand. We plan to add a couple thousand volunteers over the next two years.

What do volunteers do? How would you like to see their roles change?
Volunteers serve 27 months, including three months of training. They might teach English or help a micro-enterprise secure credit to grow. They could work on environmental projects or health programs to combat HIV/AIDS or malaria. Since many volunteers are tech-savvy, I want to use their expertise. For example, in Nicaragua a man with a background in mechanical engineering is developing a stove that people can use to cook with compost instead of wood. I want to put his blueprints and techniques online so that volunteers in Africa, Asia, and Latin America can see what he's doing.


- Brooke Lea Foster

Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: November, 2009; Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams; Peace Corps Directors; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Peace Corps Headquarters; Expansion

When this story was posted in February 2010, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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Feb 10, 2010: Senator Dodd to Retire Dodd retires from Senate 6 Jan Cameron Hume named US Ambassador to Pakistan 8 Feb Florida RPCVs sponsor Everglades Experience 6 Feb Jeff Hall brings aid to Sierra Leone 1 Feb Peace Corps to reach 11,000 PCVs in 2016 1 Feb Hugh Pickens writes: Standing Bear Looks to the Future 27 Jan Ann Varghese survives 55 hours in Haiti rubble 26 Jan John Guy LaPlante at 80 was oldest PCV 17 Jan Steve Radelet to advise Hilary Clinton on Development 15 Jan Obituary for Co-Author of ‘The Ugly American' 14 Jan Peace Corps Establishes Program in Indonesia 11 Dec What Happened to Obama's Promise? 3 Dec George Packer writes: Obama's Troubles 24 Nov PC Mourns Loss of Morocco PCV So-Youn Kim 17 Nov Peace Corps volunteers return to Madagascar 16 Nov PC to grow by several thousand over next 2 years 15 Nov Former Hostage John Limbert named to Iran Bureau 11 Nov Carrie Hessler Radelet named PC Deputy Director 9 Nov Garamendi Sworn into Congress 9 Nov Jesse Lonergan writes graphic novel "Joe and Azat" 4 Nov David Macaray writes: Hearts and Minds in Afghanistan 29 Oct Dustin Hogenson writes: Sauna in Kazakstan 26 Oct

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Memo to Incoming Director Williams PCOL has asked five prominent RPCVs and Staff to write a memo on the most important issues facing the Peace Corps today. Issues raised include the independence of the Peace Corps, political appointments at the agency, revitalizing the five-year rule, lowering the ET rate, empowering volunteers, removing financial barriers to service, increasing the agency's budget, reducing costs, and making the Peace Corps bureaucracy more efficient and responsive. Latest: Greetings from Director Williams

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Join Us Mr. President! "We will double the size of the Peace Corps by its 50th anniversary in 2011. And we'll reach out to other nations to engage their young people in similar programs, so that we work side by side to take on the common challenges that confront all humanity," said Barack Obama during his campaign. Returned Volunteers rally and and march to the White House to support a bold new Peace Corps for a new age. Latest: Senator Dodd introduces Peace Corps Improvement and Expansion Act of 2009 .

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Meet Aaron Williams - Our Next Director Senator Dodd's Senate Subcommittee held confirmation hearings for Aaron Williams to become the 18th Peace Corps Director. "It's exciting to have a nominee who served in the Peace Corps and also has experience in international development and management," said Dodd as he put Williams on the fast track to be confirmed by the full Senate before the August recess. Read our exclusive coverage of the hearings and our biography of Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams.

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