Ever since its official inception on March 1, 1961, the Peace Corps has dedicated itself to providing humanitarian aid in countries all over the world, on every continent besides Antarctica. Thousands of selfless United States citizens volunteer every year to donate their time and energy to the greater good, whether by helping to build irrigation systems, teaching core subjects to schoolchildren, helping to eradicate illness and disease, advising on matters of local economic development, and more.
Despite having such a noble mission, there's a lot that we don't know about the Peace Corps. How was it conceived, and what is life actually like as a volunteer? Read on to find out.