Health and Well-being Promoter - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Ecuador - 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
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.
Health and Well-being Promoters encourage youth in rural and underserved areas in Ecuador through the provision of key information and skills development for healthy lifestyles.
Volunteers provide technical assistance through health promotion and education activities with their counterparts at the Ministry of Public Health and other local agencies and organizations. They work within the primary healthcare model, coordinating with health professionals, community leaders, and other health organizations in order to link youth and their communities with resources and services. Volunteers and their counterparts seek to increase information and options available for youth to exercise more control over their lives, focusing on one or more of the following areas: promoting healthy lifestyles (including improving nutrition and physical activity, and avoiding drugs and alcohol), sanitation, hygiene, sexual and reproductive health.
Education
The greatest health needs and priorities identified by the Ecuadorian government are related to non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cerebral vascular diseases, and hypertension. Malnutrition is a recurring problem, with undernutrition affecting approximately 30% of children under 5 years of age. Obesity increases in prevalence in each age group. There are also many needs associated with sexual education and reproductive health, including preventing teen pregnancy and preventing transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections such as HIV. For instance, 20% of births in the country are from mothers under 20 years of age. Therefore, the promotion of healthy lifestyles in youth is an area of focus for Volunteers. These health education activities take place in schools, homes, workplaces, and in general community settings. Volunteers will work within the two objectives of the Health and Well-being Project:
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in the health sector and one or more of the following criteria:
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.
Health and Well-being Promoters encourage youth in rural and underserved areas in Ecuador through the provision of key information and skills development for healthy lifestyles.
Volunteers provide technical assistance through health promotion and education activities with their counterparts at the Ministry of Public Health and other local agencies and organizations. They work within the primary healthcare model, coordinating with health professionals, community leaders, and other health organizations in order to link youth and their communities with resources and services. Volunteers and their counterparts seek to increase information and options available for youth to exercise more control over their lives, focusing on one or more of the following areas: promoting healthy lifestyles (including improving nutrition and physical activity, and avoiding drugs and alcohol), sanitation, hygiene, sexual and reproductive health.
Education
The greatest health needs and priorities identified by the Ecuadorian government are related to non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, cerebral vascular diseases, and hypertension. Malnutrition is a recurring problem, with undernutrition affecting approximately 30% of children under 5 years of age. Obesity increases in prevalence in each age group. There are also many needs associated with sexual education and reproductive health, including preventing teen pregnancy and preventing transmission of Sexually Transmitted Infections such as HIV. For instance, 20% of births in the country are from mothers under 20 years of age. Therefore, the promotion of healthy lifestyles in youth is an area of focus for Volunteers. These health education activities take place in schools, homes, workplaces, and in general community settings. Volunteers will work within the two objectives of the Health and Well-being Project:
- Increase the knowledge and skills of youth to improve their health and well-being through health and life skills education: Volunteers will focus their work on youth (between the ages of 10 and 19 years) co-facilitating clubs and camps that provide comprehensive health information to youth and allow them to build their own skills in establishing and promoting healthy lifestyles.
- Increase the capacity of health care workers and other service providers in the community to provide health and life skills education: Volunteers work with health care workers and other service providers in the community to ensure the sustainability of their projects by centering and expanding local knowledge and cultural practices.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in the health sector and one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
- 5 years' professional work experience