1961 Peace Corps created in the USA

55 years ago, on March 1, 1961, US President John F. Kennedy established a new federal agency, the Peace Corps, by decree. Its missions are "to promote world peace and friendship, to send to the countries and territories concerned, men and women from the United States who are qualified for overseas service and ready to serve under difficult conditions when necessary, to help the people of these countries. and territories to meet their need for trained personnel".

During the existence of the agency, more than 215,000 Peace Corps volunteers have worked in 139 countries. In 2002, the activities of the Peace Corps in Russia were terminated, because, according to the FSB, 200 volunteers of the corps "collected information about the socio-political and economic situation in the Russian regions, employees of government and administration, and the course of elections."