Bilateral Peer-to-Peer Service Program
Compass Corps
Together we can accomplish more than apart
A bilateral service program between the United States and China designed for gap-year students, career-break professionals, retired teachers, nurses, farmers, engineers, and anyone with practical skills and a willingness to serve.
Our Mission
We can both develop and build up one another and serve the world together, despite differences. Like the Russo-American partnership in space that endures through difficulties, Compass Corps creates beneficial entanglement through grassroots collaboration.
US
中国
Reciprocal Exchange
Compass Corps begins with a month-long, fully reciprocal exchange. Americans spend one month living and working in a Chinese village or urban neighborhood together with local Chinese Compass Corps volunteers. Simultaneously or sequentially, Chinese spend one month living and working in an American rural town or post-industrial city together with local American Compass Corps volunteers.
Each cohort is roughly half American and half Chinese, serving side-by-side.
Activities
Global Collaboration
Once the bilateral model is proven—once we have trained hundreds of participants, refined the protocols, and built a community of alumni—Compass Corps will replicate the model globally.
US and Chinese volunteers collaborating together in developing contexts worldwide.
The same peer-to-peer structure, the same service commitment, the same ethos of mutual service. Not one country sending volunteers to another, but two countries sending volunteers together.
Where We Serve
Phase One: Domestic Exchange
Longtan Village, Fujian
Once facing severe population decline as young people left for cities, Longtan Village has become a model for rural revitalization through creative industries. Over 130 "new villagers" from across China have settled here, transforming abandoned traditional houses into homestays, bookshops, studios, and cafes.
Volunteer Activities
- Documenting traditional Fujian architecture and restoration techniques
- Teaching English to local entrepreneurs for tourism development
- Supporting the "15-year lease" program connecting newcomers with old houses
- Digital skills training for local farmers and craftspeople
Taos Pueblo, New Mexico
Home to the Tiwa-speaking Native American community for over 1,000 years, Taos Pueblo is a UNESCO World Heritage Site pursuing sustainable tourism and renewable energy. A recent $10 million solar project aims to create jobs while preserving cultural heritage.
Volunteer Activities
- Supporting destination stewardship and sustainable tourism planning
- Oral history documentation with tribal elders
- Renewable energy education and community outreach
- Youth programs bridging traditional knowledge with modern skills
Phase Two: Global Collaboration
Kigali, Rwanda
Rwanda has become a model for development in Africa, known for clean cities, tech innovation, and ambitious sustainability goals. US-China volunteer teams can contribute to ongoing initiatives in tech education, healthcare systems, and eco-tourism development.
Joint Activities
- Tech education in partnership with Carnegie Mellon University Africa
- Healthcare worker training and clinic support
- Eco-tourism development around national parks
- Agricultural innovation and cooperative support
Mae Hong Son Province, Thailand
This mountainous border province is home to diverse hill tribes including Karen, Hmong, and Shan communities. Remote villages face challenges in healthcare access, education, and sustainable livelihoods while preserving rich cultural traditions.
Joint Activities
- Mobile health clinics serving remote hill tribe villages
- Bilingual education support (Thai and tribal languages)
- Sustainable agriculture and fair trade craft development
- Cultural preservation and responsible tourism planning
Why Now?
The US Peace Corps withdrew from China in 2020. While that was a setback, 2026 presents an opportunity to build back something better. Instead of one-directional aid, we can work together as equals.
Learning Goes Both Ways
The US can learn from China's village revitalization and tourism development. China can learn from decades of US development work experience.
Complementary Strengths
US volunteers bring NGO-driven development experience. Chinese volunteers bring commercial development and business-driven approaches to global challenges.
Beneficial Entanglement
Like the International Space Station, people-to-people ties can help relationships endure through difficult times.
Ready to Serve?
Whether you're a student on a gap year, a professional seeking purpose, or a retiree with skills to share—there's a place for you in Compass Corps.