Third Goal

“The logic of the Peace Corps is that someday we are going to bring it home to America.”

President John F. Kennedy

Why is it important?

When Volunteers and friends of the Peace Corps support and engage in third goal activities, they help Americans gain a greater understanding of the world. They foster the spirit of world peace and friendship. They also inspire Americans to be civic minded by example.

Peace Corps service continues long after Volunteers leave their posts. President Kennedy stated that the third goal of the Peace Corps is to "strengthen Americans' understanding about the world and its peoples".  Please support the Third Goal by sharing your Peace Corps experience and host country culture at home.   Opportunities to support the third goal commitment occur throughout the year and especially during Peace Corps Week in early March.

 
Bellingham, WA, Peace Corps group in the Ski-To-Sea parade, 2011 with great applause!!!

Third Goal Activity Suggestions For Returned and Serving Peace Corps Volunteers

Illustrate how important it is to serve those in need, and underscore how relevant the work of the Peace Corps continues to be.  As a Volunteer you adopted your host country by learning about its cultural practices, sharing stories about America and your own culture from home, and working with neighbors on projects to improve the community.  Share this invaluable experience and help Americans increase their understanding of the world and its people.

State and city Peace Corps groups can be a source of involvement in Third Goal activities, as well as a lot of good connections.  Country of Service groups are challenged in finding ways to do group Third Goal activities, so let us know of ideas.  Ultimately you can think as you did as a Volunteer and create individual projects.

Use the online tool kits below to get you started.  Peace Corps has many "How To" Tool Kits for everyone down this page:
www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.returned.thirdgoal.getinvolved

There is a Third Goal Outreach Media Kit
www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.returned.thirdgoal.getinvolved.mediaoutreach

Community Outreach Ideas:
www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.returned.thirdgoal.commoutreach

Ideas for using your Kit:
www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.returned.thirdgoal.getinvolved.map

Presentation Planning Checklist:
http://multimedia.peacecorps.gov/multimedia/pdf/returned/checklist.pdf

Note that most of this page is carefully plagerized from the Peace Corps web site which starts here: 
www.peacecorps.gov/index.cfm?shell=resources.returned.thirdgoal
For most efficient use of the site just do a search for "Third Goal".

Here is another site dedicated to the Third Goal!
www.thirdgoal.org