President John F. Kennedy, then a presidential candidate, addressed a crowd of students at the University of Michigan on October 14, 1960, in an impromptu speech at 2am, urging them to serve the world. This speech was the beginning of the formation of Peace Corps, though the program became official with the signing of Presidential Order 10924 in March, 1961.
- [Peace Corps Archives/Courtesy]

President Kennedy greets returned Peace Corps Volunteers. The first group of 51 volunteers left for Ghana in August 1961.
- [Peace Corps Archives/Courtesy]

A map of countries served by Peace Corps volunteers over the past 50 years. Currently, over 8,600 volunteers serve in 77 countries.
- [Peace Corps Archives/Courtesy]

Returned Volunteer Stacey Ferguson with one of the children in her Moroccan village. She described the experience by quoting a post card she saw: “It is possible to be homesick for a place you have never been.”
- [Stacey Ferguson/Courtesy]

Returned Volunteer Stacey Ferguson gets Henna done on her hands during her time working at as Maternal and Child Health volunteer in Morocco, 2005-2007.
- [Stacey Ferguson/Courtesy]

A Peace Corps volunteer helps a community member navigate the internet in Azerbaijan. Providing Information Technology training is just one example of how Peace Corps has expanded over the last half century.
- [Peace Corps Archives/Courtesy]

The first trip sent 51 volunteers to Ghana in 1961. Today, Ghana continues to be a destination for Peace Corps.
- [Peace Corps Archives/Courtesy]

Artist Brendan Mruk poses alongside his piece, “Ghana to Colombia: The Peace Corps and Boston University – 50 years of making a difference” at the Boston University 50th Anniversary Event in April 2011.
- [Vernon Doucette for Boston University Photography/Courtesy]