Peace Corps Seeks Older Volunteers

The Peace Corps was established by John F. Kennedy as a chance to give young people the chance to serve others around the world in a non-military capacity. Today the Peace Corps operate in over 139 countries around the world with over 187,000 volunteers, according to their site www.peacecorps.gov While it still fulfills that role, the organization is now starting to reach out to the aging Baby Boom generation. The organizations current goal is to have 15% of its volunteers be over the age of 50.

Not only is it a matter of older people having more skills and experience needed to overcome the challenges recruits to the Peace Corps face, the move is also aimed at the growing number of people born after World War II who are reaching retirement age. While they may have more complicated family lives and fiscal issues and a wider variety of health problems not faced by younger recruit, they bring an intangible benefit - older people bring greater respect in a lot of the countries served by the organization. Additional problems come with the assets that older recruits leave behind such as houses and portfolios. Added concerns are that an elderly parent or other loved one may suddenly become sick forcing the volunteer to return home. Yet, as they age and face retirement many of the Baby Boomers are finding that it does not suit them.

Ronald Tescher, a spokesperson for the organization pointed out, "They have good retirement benefits and are healthy. They are empty nesters. Guess what? They need something to do. I can't tell you how many times I've been told I don't want to go to the beach drink mai tais and put my toes in the sand. I want to serve."