By Dennis Powell, e-Management

“Give Peace a Chance” is a pop song written in 1969 by John Lennon of the Beatles as an anti-war anthem. Today, the song is considered by many to be as relevant as it was 45 years ago; yet the reality of military conflicts still exists. Why is peace so hard to come by? I don’t have a simple answer. But what I can say is that everyone seems to want peace. Beauty pageant hopefuls, faith leaders, school yard kids, and even the Real Housewives of Beverly Hills want peace.  Plus, there is at least one government agency that exists for the sake of peace.

Do you know which one?
It shouldn’t be hard to figure out that the Peace Corps fits the bill. The Corps’ overarching mission is “to promote world peace and friendship.” The organization has three goals: (1) Helping people in other countries meet their training needs; (2) promoting “a better understanding of Americans” around the globe; and (3) promoting a better understanding of people in other countries. As the “preeminent international service organization of the United States,” the Corps is comprised of more than 7,200 volunteers and trainees. Since 1961, more than 215,000 people have served. Volunteers and trainees live and work within the communities and with the people they serve. The Corps’ work deals with creating solutions in the areas of education, healthcare, economic development, youth development, agriculture and more. According to the Corps, volunteers only provide assistance in countries that request their support.

So what do they really do?
Contrary to the notion of “tree hugging” members with no sense of direction, the Peace Corps consists of dedicated people who sacrifice a great deal to make the world a better place. Here are examples of how the Peace Corps is improving lives and communities, one volunteer at a time.

• Peace through food security. The Peace Corps supports the U.S. Feed the Future global hunger and food security initiative. Working with other U.S. agencies, the volunteers help communities resolve issues around water accessibility, food cultivation, and food shortages. For example, volunteers are “teaching improved agricultural practices, food processing and agroforestry.” According to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), agroforestry is the “integration of trees and shrubs into crop and animal farming systems to create environmental, economic, and social benefits.” In 2012, nearly 1000 volunteers supported food security efforts to reduce hunger in 23 countries.
• Peace through equality. The Peace Corps fosters gender equality and empowerment around the world. Case in point, Camp GLOW (Girls Leading Our World) is a Corps program that helps to foster gender equality in 60 countries. Volunteers facilitate events that allow girls and women to exchange ideas, share their dreams, develop leadership skills, and build confidence. In addition, the Peace Corps efforts target men and young boys to “think beyond traditional gender roles.”
• Peace through disease prevention. Peace Corps volunteers are active in communities around the world to help reduce the incidence of serious and infectious diseases. More than 3,000 volunteers are working throughout Africa to stop malaria, which kills more than 660,000 people every year. Want to find out more about this program? Check out the Stomp Out Malaria social media .

Who is right for the Peace Corps?
The Peace Corps has an impressive list of alumni/alumnae including Former U.S. Senator Christopher Dodd, Founder and CEO of Netflix Reed Hastings, University of Miami President Donna Shalala, NBC’s Hardball Host Chris Matthews, and Habitat for Humanity Co-Founder Donald Mosley, among many others. Throughout its history, the Corps has built a reputation for instilling a sense of purpose among its volunteer force. In addition to participants’ devotion, there is the cross-cultural understanding that comes with living in a foreign land. So it is understandable that the Corps attracts many young people who are starting their careers. Still, the service organization is more diverse than many believe. A quarter of volunteers are ethnic minorities. Additionally, Americans older than 50 are also joining the Corps at higher rates than ever.

Reality Check
It’s time for a reality check. Remember, the Peace Corps’ duty is “to promote world peace and friendship” around the world. (1) Do Peace Corps events, programs, and initiatives bring us any closer to peace? (2) Do you think the Corps is doing a decent job at promoting American values abroad? (3) What do you think the organization could be doing more of to advance its mission?