Claim: John F. Kennedy was the president of the United States of America.

The Peace Corps is a volunteer program run by the United States government . The stated mission of the Peace Corps includes providing technical assistance , helping people outside the United States to understand American culture , and helping Americans to understand the cultures of other countries . The work is generally related to social and economic development . Each program participant , a Peace Corps Volunteer , is an American citizen , typically with a college degree , who works abroad for a period of two years after three months of training .   Volunteers work with governments , schools , non-profit organizations , non-government organizations , and entrepreneurs in education , business , information technology , agriculture , and the environment . After 24 months of service , volunteers can request an extension of service .   The program was established by Executive Order 10924 , issued by President John F. Kennedy on March 1 , 1961 , announced by televised broadcast March 2 , 1961 , and authorized by Congress on September 21 , 1961 , with passage of the Peace Corps Act -LRB- Pub.L . 87 -- 293 -RRB- . The act declares the program 's purpose as follows :  To promote world peace and friendship through a Peace Corps , which shall make available to interested countries and areas men and women of the United States qualified for service abroad and willing to serve , under conditions of hardship if necessary , to help the peoples of such countries and areas in meeting their needs for trained manpower .   From 1961 to 2015 , nearly 220,000 Americans have joined the Peace Corps and served in 141 countries . The Peace Corps shows `` the willingness of Americans to work at the grassroots level in order to help underdeveloped countries meet their needs '' . The Peace Corps has affected the way people of other countries view Americans , how Americans view other countries , and how Americans view their own country .