Community Health Facilitator - Volunteer Position - Onsite in Peru - 2 years, plus 3 months training
Peace Corps
United States
Posted on Aug 2, 2025
About The Job
Apply by :
January 1, 2026
Know By
March 1, 2026
Depart On
September 7, 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
Three of the biggest rural health challenges in Peru are anemia, chronic malnutrition and teenage pregnancy.
In Peru, one out of two kids under the age of five is impacted by anemia and one in ten by chronic malnutrition. Although there is a long history of chronic child malnutrition in Peru, between 2010 and 2019 remarkable progress was made due to inter-institutional collaboration between local governments and the Ministry of Health. The coordinated work resulted in a notable decrease in chronic malnutrition at the national level, however this positive change has not been reflected in many rural areas, as of the last measurement in 2022, prevalence (23.9%) was twice that of urban areas (11.7%). Most of the health facilities in these areas do not have enough personnel to cover all the work needed in health promotion practices and field education. The incorporation of local community health promoters has supported the fight against malnutrition and anemia. This is a niche for Peace Corps Volunteers to support the training and coaching of these important health promoters to reach the most underserved populations in peri- urban and rural communities of Peru.
Teenage pregnancy is common in rural areas, with one in five girls becoming pregnant before the age of 18. These rates are higher among young women with a primary education level than with those who possess a secondary or higher level of education. Traditional roles for women and high levels of poverty also contribute to this challenge. The Government of Peru has recently changed its strategy, focusing more on youth sexual and reproductive health, and the enhancement of adolescent life skills to support them in making more informed decisions. Peace Corps Volunteers work collaboratively with teachers and school psychologists through continuous training and the co-implementation of a peer education program.
Community Health Facilitators work directly with health service providers and school professionals to co-promote healthy behaviors that will contribute to the reduction of malnutrition, anemia, and adolescent pregnancy in Peruvian communities, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Health Service Model, mandated by the Ministry of Health. The work includes visiting the local health facility to coordinate health education promotion activities in urban and rural settings.
Community Health Facilitators also leverage relationships and capacity-building methodologies to work effectively and collaboratively with health service providers and school professionals. Together, they provide systems of support for adolescents to make positive lifestyle choices and deliver curriculum focused on sexual and reproductive health, life skills, nutrition, and basic mental health. This includes using interactive and participatory co-training approaches, allowing teachers and peer educators to apply these training methods. There are opportunities to co-develop public health monitoring and evaluation skills and facilitation techniques as trainers of trainers.
There are also numerous opportunities to participate in secondary activities. These might include (but are not limited to), co-organizing community-wide events such as summer classes, coaching sports and co-teaching English classes during summer classes.
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 :
January 1, 2026
Know By
March 1, 2026
Depart On
September 7, 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
Three of the biggest rural health challenges in Peru are anemia, chronic malnutrition and teenage pregnancy.
In Peru, one out of two kids under the age of five is impacted by anemia and one in ten by chronic malnutrition. Although there is a long history of chronic child malnutrition in Peru, between 2010 and 2019 remarkable progress was made due to inter-institutional collaboration between local governments and the Ministry of Health. The coordinated work resulted in a notable decrease in chronic malnutrition at the national level, however this positive change has not been reflected in many rural areas, as of the last measurement in 2022, prevalence (23.9%) was twice that of urban areas (11.7%). Most of the health facilities in these areas do not have enough personnel to cover all the work needed in health promotion practices and field education. The incorporation of local community health promoters has supported the fight against malnutrition and anemia. This is a niche for Peace Corps Volunteers to support the training and coaching of these important health promoters to reach the most underserved populations in peri- urban and rural communities of Peru.
Teenage pregnancy is common in rural areas, with one in five girls becoming pregnant before the age of 18. These rates are higher among young women with a primary education level than with those who possess a secondary or higher level of education. Traditional roles for women and high levels of poverty also contribute to this challenge. The Government of Peru has recently changed its strategy, focusing more on youth sexual and reproductive health, and the enhancement of adolescent life skills to support them in making more informed decisions. Peace Corps Volunteers work collaboratively with teachers and school psychologists through continuous training and the co-implementation of a peer education program.
Community Health Facilitators work directly with health service providers and school professionals to co-promote healthy behaviors that will contribute to the reduction of malnutrition, anemia, and adolescent pregnancy in Peruvian communities, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the Comprehensive Health Service Model, mandated by the Ministry of Health. The work includes visiting the local health facility to coordinate health education promotion activities in urban and rural settings.
Community Health Facilitators also leverage relationships and capacity-building methodologies to work effectively and collaboratively with health service providers and school professionals. Together, they provide systems of support for adolescents to make positive lifestyle choices and deliver curriculum focused on sexual and reproductive health, life skills, nutrition, and basic mental health. This includes using interactive and participatory co-training approaches, allowing teachers and peer educators to apply these training methods. There are opportunities to co-develop public health monitoring and evaluation skills and facilitation techniques as trainers of trainers.
There are also numerous opportunities to participate in secondary activities. These might include (but are not limited to), co-organizing community-wide events such as summer classes, coaching sports and co-teaching English classes during summer classes.
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