About The Job

Apply by :

October 1, 2025

Know By

December 1, 2025

Depart On

May 17, 2026

Duration

2 years, plus 3 months training

ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Project description

SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT CITIZENSHIP: Candidates who are dual citizens of Ecuador and the U.S. are not eligible to serve with Peace Corps Ecuador. Volunteer safety is of paramount importance, and the protections of U.S. citizenship promote Volunteer safety. If anyone holding dual U.S. and Ecuadorian citizenship were to face a legal, safety, or other emergency situation in Ecuador, the Peace Corps' ability to intervene would be limited. If you hold citizenship with both the U.S. and Ecuador, we encourage you to look at other opportunities with Peace Corps.

Ecuador is a very multicultural country. Although geographically small, Ecuador’s four regions are home to some of Earth’s greatest ecosystems. As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ecuador, you will have the opportunity to collaborate with Ecuadorian communities while gaining experience living and working in this rich geographic and cultural tapestry.

The goal of the Peace Corps Ecuador Youth and Families Development (YFD) Project is to support youth to become healthy, productive, civically engaged adults with the support of their families. YFD Volunteers work with youth ages 10 to 29 from under resourced communities to implement positive youth development and community programs. Projects include life skills development, leadership activities, developing self-esteem, substance abuse prevention, service learning, vocational training, income generation, parenting skills development, community organizing, organizational development, and stay-in-school programs.

The YFD Project Has 4 Objectives

• Strengthen the life skills of youth.
• Expand opportunities for youth community engagement.
• Increase youth employability skills.
• Strengthen the skills of parents/caregivers to support positive youth development.
  
  

Activities Under These Objectives Could Include The Following

• Training youth in life skills, such as self-esteem, goal-setting and values, decision making, communication, leadership, alcohol and substance abuse prevention.
• Leading and supporting youth in clubs, camps, sports, art, recreation and physical activity as an alternative outlet where youth can exercise positive behaviors.
• Designing and facilitating a Training of Trainers (agency staff, community members, teachers, youth leaders, social workers, etc.) workshop, on using positive youth development approaches, facilitation skills, volunteerism, service-learning, advocacy, community assessment, and project design and management.
• Coordinating with counterparts to improve their organizational capabilities, helping them to initiate and organize community development activities.
• Training youth in employability and vocational skills.
• Tutoring youth in after-school and literacy programs that help youth to improve reading and comprehension skills.
• Training families and community members on parenting skills, and positive youth development.
  
  

YFD Volunteers participate in the Peace Corps monitoring, reporting, and evaluation (MRE) process. All Volunteers receive MRE training and submit regular reports. The MRE system helps Peace Corps monitor its progress, report its accomplishments, and evaluate and improve its impact. The opportunity to learn and practice professional MRE skills is among the many valued and tangible benefits of Peace Corps service.

Required Skills

Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working with Youth in Development and one or more of the following criteria:

• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
  
  

OR

• 5 years' professional work experience