Start date
September 22, 2025

End date
December 15, 2025

Duration
12 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Ecole Tournesol is a preschool and primary school in the Aképédo community in southern Togo, northwest of Lome. Although French is the primary language of instruction, Ecole Tournesol strives to integrate English language learning into the curriculum as early as preschool.

Togo is a French-speaking country, and as such, teachers with university degrees in English lack opportunities to practice the language. Therefore, it can be a challenge to find teachers with strong English language skills.

Ecole Tournesol requests the support of three Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to assess the English language skills of staff and provide individualized coaching for one hour a week for 12 weeks . Each VSPP will mentor three staff, who may share an English proficiency language level (basic, intermediate or advanced). The VSPPs will support the staff prepare content to teach, such as learning the proper pronunciation of a song. Following orientation and the initial assessment, the VSPPs will work with their assigned staff groups. However, the VSPPs are encouraged to share ideas with one another.

The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners and other VSPPs:

• Co-facilitate discussions with staff members on their individual English language goals
• Co-assess each staff member’s English language skills
• Co-prepare weekly 1-hour one-on-one coaching sessions tailored to the individual needs of staff
• Support the staff in preparing appropriate English language content for their jobs
• Co-evaluate the progress of the teachers’ English skills at the end of the collaboration and provide a brief report to the school
  
  

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 6 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 2:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Togo time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to WhatsApp for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.

Optional Additional Activities

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

• To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
• To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
• To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
  
  

Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.

Essential Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field

Language: Basic French

Experience: 1 year of TEFL/English teaching to university students or adults

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually