Start date
May 4, 2026

End date
September 25, 2026

Duration
21 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Minkayni Foundation, located in Guayaquil, Ecuador, develops training programs in youth leadership, entrepreneurship, and employability. One of their strongest programs is “La Batucada Popular,” a youth group with more than 300 members from 11 impoverished sectors of Guayaquil, which has received international recognition as one of the 10 best initiatives in the world for violence prevention and forced recruitment. “La Batucada Popular” is a Brazilian rhythm adapted by the foundation as a tool that gives young people opportunities to reconnect with their creativity, boost their self-esteem, and build community through the rhythm and persistence of the drum.

Currently, the foundation is hosting displaced youth because of the massacres carried out in Guayaquil territories taken over by organized criminal groups. They are requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support and expand its outreach to young people and women through youth development and virtual training. The VSPP will co-design four virtual sessions on life skills and employability with young leaders from the batucadas populares, develop practical training materials for future use by partner staff, and co-facilitate eight online workshops for young people and women navigating human mobility. In addition, the participant will advise young leaders on the use of digital tools for academic and professional development and support them in assessing the impact of each virtual activity through post-workshop evaluation and reflection.

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

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

• Co-design four virtual sessions on life skills and employability with the young leaders that are part of the partner organization
• Develop teaching materials and practical guides and training materials for the partner organization staff to use in the future
• Co-facilitate eight online workshops for young people and women navigating human mobility
• Advise young leaders within the partner organization about using digital tools for their academic and professional development
• Support young leaders to assess the impact of the virtual activities for this engagement
  
  

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 6–8 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. Ecuador time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Zoom, WhatsApp, Teams, and email for 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: Advanced Spanish

Experience:

• 2 years working with youth development programs, community education, or social projects
• 1 year designing and facilitating virtual workshops
  
  

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