Apply by
January 1, 2025
Know by
March 1, 2025
Depart on
July 13, 2025
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
Project description
In September 2024, Peace Corps Volunteers were welcomed back to El Salvador since suspending operations in 2016. Peace Corps is proud of our long history in El Salvador, with over 2,300 Volunteers serving there since 1962.
El Salvador is currently in a period of economic growth primarily due to improved national security following a period of violence between 2003-2019. This newfound security has led to a significant increase in tourism and the return of many expatriate Salvadorans who now are investing and re-establishing lives in their home country. As announced by the current two-term elected leader, President Bukele, among the national government’s top priorities are economic growth.
The Youth Development Facilitator position provides an opportunity for Volunteers to engage in a pivotal moment in El Salvador’s history, where the focus is on empowering youth to be drivers of the country’s economic growth in the years to come. Peace Corps El Salvador is re-establishing operations, making this an opportunity for Peace Corps Volunteers to engage in learning and experiencing about the international development field and provide input into the long-term build out of Peace Corps programing in El Salvador.
Peace Corps Volunteers chosen to serve in El Salvador during this period, will have the meaningful opportunity and responsibility in being the first Volunteers living in Salvadoran communities in recent history. They can expect to be a conduit of inclusive and participatory development and collaborate on new programmatic and geographic projects. Current Volunteers are leveraging their experiences and skills to inspire youth participation and catalyze local solutions for critical problems experienced in their communities.
Peace Corps El Salvador’ Youth in Development Volunteers collaborate with youth, young adults, and the community members who support them. This important work takes place in the Middle and High school setting, as well as in the greater community through establishing teams, clubs and camps. The goal of the project is to inspire and support youth while they are growing into confident community leaders and valued partners in their families. Volunteers will be a seen as a positive adult role model, in the community environment. They will be professional youth development partners, designing, implementing and facilitating activities that build opportunities and economic stability. They play an important role in supporting and inspiring the teachers and other adults involved with youth, providing new perspective on the scope of contributions that youth can make within their communities.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have expressed interest in working directly with adolescents (10-14) and youth (15-24), and one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field OR
- 5 years professional work experience in the youth sector
Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have at least one or more of the following criteria:
- Master’s degree in social work, Psychology, Education, Youth Development, Applied Behavioral Science, or related field.
- Bachelor’s degree in social work, Psychology, Education, Youth Development, Applied Behavioral Science, or related field, AND at least 3 months experience working with youth and/or families.
- 3 years of professional experience working with children, youth and/or families from under-resourced communities.
- Experience designing and/or facilitating workshops on gender equity, diversity, inclusion, or life skills development, such as self-esteem, communication skills, emotional health, and critical thinking.
- Experience collaborating with teachers, social workers, youth leaders or guidance counselors on designing, planning, and implementing positive youth development activities.
- Experience working in a school setting on activities such as teaching an academic curriculum, teaching through experiential education, after-school or tutoring program management, etc.
- Experience with parent/caregiver support or education programs.
- Experience community organizing with a focus on youth development, such as managing a youth group, using community assessment tools, leading committees/community projects, networking, etc.
- Experience engaging in and/or facilitating arts, sports, physical activities, or recreation for youth.
- Experience facilitating volunteerism and service learning for youth, such as high school or university level service-learning programs, volunteer project design or implementation, mentoring projects, etc.
Required Language Skills
Candidates must meet one or more of the language requirements below in order to be considered for this position.
- Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework within the past 8 years
- Completed minimum 2 semesters of Spanish college‐level coursework within the past 6 years
- Native/fluent speaker of Spanish
Candidates who do not meet the language proficiency levels above can take the language placement exams to demonstrate their level of proficiency. Competitive applicants typically attain a score of 50 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program CLEP exam or a score of Novice‐High on the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL OPI). Spanish language proficiency is a critical skill that helps create a foundation to successfully serve as a Peace Corps Volunteer in El Salvador. Volunteers need to demonstrate a high level of commitment to learning Spanish in training and throughout their service. Pre-Service Training (PST) will have an emphasis on language acquisition through structured and unstructured language learning experiences. Trainees are assigned to a Language and Culture Facilitator (LCF) who will facilitate the resources and opportunities needed to build language competence. Volunteers are required to demonstrate an Intermediate Mid level of oral and written proficiency by the end of Pre-Service Training.
Living conditions
Diet: The food varieties available depend on the season, the size of the community, and region. Salvadorans eat a combination of meat, eggs, and dairy at most meals. Common foods include corn tortillas, black beans, rice, and chicken. Common fruits and vegetables include bananas, mangos, papaya, citrus fruits, tomatoes, onions, avocado, and a squash called huisquil (chayote). Pupusas are the national dish of El Salvador, a delicious thick tortilla filled with beans, cheese, meats, and served with pickled cabbage.
Geography/Climate: The weather in El Salvador is marked by two distinct seasons. The dry season runs from November to April and the rainy season runs from May to October. Annual average temperatures range from 58 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and vary based on location and altitude. Temperatures can also vary during the day, so dressing in layers and having rain protection is recommended. Homes and workspaces are generally neither heated nor air conditioned.
Housing/Homestay: Volunteers are required to live with a host family throughout their entire service. In these homes, the Volunteer will have a private room with a lock on the door. The homestay experience will provide unique exposure to the culture, and powerful opportunities for Spanish language acquisition. Safety and security are seriously considered while selecting and preparing host communities who will become partners in the wellbeing of the Volunteer. Volunteers must be willing to follow cultural norms and respect family dynamics. Applicants should think carefully about their commitment to adaptability when living and integrating with a Salvadorean host family that may have limited resources. Most host-family homes have indoor bathrooms, showers and potable water.
Professionalism: Volunteers work full time and will create a work plan in coordination with their community partners. They are expected to demonstrate healthy personal habits, attitudes, ethics and act as consistent positive role models in the community. Volunteers should be willing to adapt to cultural dress norms both in the community and in the workplace. Volunteers are encouraged to keep tattoos covered, if possible, to respect community norms and avoid cultural perceptions that associate tattoos with gang activity.
Identity and Diversity: Peace Corps El Salvador strives to support all Volunteers and recognizes that Volunteers with minoritized social identities might experience unique challenges as they navigate integration into the local culture (social, cultural, political, religious, and personal matters). Volunteers need to be mindful of cultural norms and be prepared to use cultural agility when approaching topics of identity in their communities. Staff and currently serving Volunteers will provide context for these topics during training and will share the strategies and support mechanisms available to Volunteers throughout service.
Crime and safety: Despite significant challenges with economics and stability, the El Salvadoran people continue to demonstrate impressive resilience in moving their country forward to a safer and more productive future. Improved security has led to a significant increase in tourism and the return of many expatriate Salvadorans who now are investing and re-establishing lives in their home country. Peace Corps has an important opportunity and privilege to support these goals and efforts at the community level through partnering with the mission of world peace and friendship.
Peace Corps El Salvador has an expert safety and security team tasked with coordinating with international, national and local agencies to monitor security issues. Strong attention is given to monitoring crime and placing Volunteers in the areas of the country with low levels of crime. Safety training and information about security is provided to the Volunteer on an ongoing basis.
Learn more about the Volunteer experience in El Salvador: Get detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics in order to make a well-informed decision about serving.
Medical considerations
Before you apply, please review medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
Couples information
El Salvador is happy to receive couples and will identify sufficient work opportunities within the same community for both Volunteers. This cohort will include two programs: Community Economic Development and Youth In Development. We offer couples the choice of working in the same program or one in each program. Each applicant must apply separately and qualify for their respective program.
Couples may live together with the same host family during Pre-Service Training (PST) and during service.
Peace Corps works to foster safe and productive assignments for same-sex couples and same-sex couples are not placed in countries where homosexual acts are criminalized. Because of this, same-sex couples’ placements are more limited than heterosexual couple placements. During the application process, Recruiters and Placement Officers work closely with same-sex couple applicants to understand current placement opportunities.
For more information please visit: https://www.peacecorps.gov/faqs/lgbtq/
