Youth Leadership Development Facilitator - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Panama - 2 years, plus 3 months training
Peace Corps
United States
Posted on May 3, 2025
About The Job
Apply by :
October 1, 2025
Know By
December 1, 2025
Depart On
June 20, 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
Panama is commonly referred to as “puente del mundo, corazón del universo” (bridge of the world, heart of the universe). It is also a land of mixed realities. Its strategic geographic location influenced the construction of the canal, which accelerated immigration and contributed to Panama’s diverse population. With one of the fastest growing economies in the region, Panama is an international logistics, banking, and tourism hub. However, Panama also has the second-worst income distribution among Latin American countries, with approximately 22% of the population with income below the national poverty line.
Panamanian youth face heightened socio-economic instability, few professional and personal development opportunities, and low civic and educational engagement. The Panamanian government is committed to increasing youth education, civic engagement, and employability, especially the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) and Ministry of Social Development (MIDAS).
Peace Corps Panama’s Youth Leadership Development (YLD) program complements national youth development initiatives by equipping youth with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to successfully navigate life challenges, make positive contributions to their communities, and pursue employment opportunities. The program focuses on collaboration with local partners to provide opportunities for Panamanians ages 10 to 24 years old to strengthen their communication skills, develop self-esteem, navigate relationships, engage with their communities, and pursue future employment.
YLD Volunteers collaborate with counterparts at secondary schools (e.g., counselors, social workers, and teachers), as well as community members and local institutions (e.g., government agencies, churches, IT centers), to co-plan and co-facilitate in-school workshops, after school clubs, camps, recreational activities, service-learning projects, and awareness days. These activities may focus on self-esteem, communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, leadership, employability skills, digital literacy skills, or gender equality. Through collaborating with Panamanian community members, Volunteers take part in a mutually beneficial capacity-building experience and ensure that all activities are aligned with community interests, desires, and priorities.
During their first three months in the community, Volunteers learn about the Panamanian education system, the culture of the school, youth priorities, and opportunities to implement and strengthen positive youth development programs. In collaboration with teachers, youth service providers, and community leaders, Volunteers will perform a participatory community analysis to assess school/community resources and, based on the findings, will create a plan for service. YLD Volunteers support ongoing youth-oriented programs in schools and the community, bringing new ideas, approaches and/or techniques to those spaces while incorporating youth and counterpart’s assets to ensure relevance and sustainability.
During Pre-Service Training and throughout service, Peace Corps Panama provides learning experiences to strengthen Volunteers’ competencies in areas such as positive youth development and participatory analysis. The most important skill to be successful as a Volunteer is the ability to communicate ideas clearly and to develop strong interpersonal relationships. Creativity in using locally available resources will also be helpful. Volunteers must be prepared to be proactive, self-driven and to motivate others.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Apply by :
October 1, 2025
Know By
December 1, 2025
Depart On
June 20, 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
Panama is commonly referred to as “puente del mundo, corazón del universo” (bridge of the world, heart of the universe). It is also a land of mixed realities. Its strategic geographic location influenced the construction of the canal, which accelerated immigration and contributed to Panama’s diverse population. With one of the fastest growing economies in the region, Panama is an international logistics, banking, and tourism hub. However, Panama also has the second-worst income distribution among Latin American countries, with approximately 22% of the population with income below the national poverty line.
Panamanian youth face heightened socio-economic instability, few professional and personal development opportunities, and low civic and educational engagement. The Panamanian government is committed to increasing youth education, civic engagement, and employability, especially the Ministry of Education (MEDUCA) and Ministry of Social Development (MIDAS).
Peace Corps Panama’s Youth Leadership Development (YLD) program complements national youth development initiatives by equipping youth with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to successfully navigate life challenges, make positive contributions to their communities, and pursue employment opportunities. The program focuses on collaboration with local partners to provide opportunities for Panamanians ages 10 to 24 years old to strengthen their communication skills, develop self-esteem, navigate relationships, engage with their communities, and pursue future employment.
YLD Volunteers collaborate with counterparts at secondary schools (e.g., counselors, social workers, and teachers), as well as community members and local institutions (e.g., government agencies, churches, IT centers), to co-plan and co-facilitate in-school workshops, after school clubs, camps, recreational activities, service-learning projects, and awareness days. These activities may focus on self-esteem, communication, conflict resolution, goal setting, leadership, employability skills, digital literacy skills, or gender equality. Through collaborating with Panamanian community members, Volunteers take part in a mutually beneficial capacity-building experience and ensure that all activities are aligned with community interests, desires, and priorities.
During their first three months in the community, Volunteers learn about the Panamanian education system, the culture of the school, youth priorities, and opportunities to implement and strengthen positive youth development programs. In collaboration with teachers, youth service providers, and community leaders, Volunteers will perform a participatory community analysis to assess school/community resources and, based on the findings, will create a plan for service. YLD Volunteers support ongoing youth-oriented programs in schools and the community, bringing new ideas, approaches and/or techniques to those spaces while incorporating youth and counterpart’s assets to ensure relevance and sustainability.
During Pre-Service Training and throughout service, Peace Corps Panama provides learning experiences to strengthen Volunteers’ competencies in areas such as positive youth development and participatory analysis. The most important skill to be successful as a Volunteer is the ability to communicate ideas clearly and to develop strong interpersonal relationships. Creativity in using locally available resources will also be helpful. Volunteers must be prepared to be proactive, self-driven and to motivate others.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
- 5 years' professional work experience