Youth Development Specialist - Volunteer Position - Onsite in El Salvador • North America - 2 years, plus 3 months training
United States
Posted on Sep 3, 2026
About The Project
Youth in El Salvador are motivated to step forward as leaders to engage with community members and strengthen their communities. You, too, can be part of the movement!
In El Salvador, youth make up more than a quarter of the population, making them one of the country’s greatest assets for the future. Yet, many young people face social and economic challenges that limit their access to positive learning opportunities and impact their overall well-being. Economic hardship, low school completion rates, limited life skills development opportunities, and barriers to active community engagement can make it difficult for young people to reach their full potential. National data show that only half of youth complete lower secondary school and even fewer complete upper secondary school. These low levels of school completion have significant implications for individuals and the country as a whole.
As a Youth Development Specialist, you will collaborate with school staff to equip youth with essential life skills, such as communication, empathy, creative problem-solving, and goal setting. Working alongside community leaders, you will create supportive environments that encourage youth participation in community projects and civic engagement. Over time, this work strengthens families, schools, and community networks, contributing to more supportive environments for youth and advancing El Salvador’s national priorities.
Activities
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Conduct a community assessment with community leaders and school staff to identify and prioritize youth needs.
Develop and implement a strategic work plan.
Deliver engaging life skills lessons that build communication, emotional well-being, and problem-solving abilities.
Lead structured empowerment programs for students and out-of-school youth.
Facilitate sports, arts, and recreational activities.
Guide youth participation in community projects to promote stewardship.
Foster a positive environment for youth community engagement.
Engage parents and caregivers in activities for positive family relationships.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as enriching art classes and team sports.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
OR
Bachelor's degree in any field.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time, post-high school work (from any combination of roles).
Language: Spanish
APPLY BY : January 15, 2027
KNOW BY : March 1, 2027
DEPART ON : August 15, 2027
DURATION : 2 years, plus 3 months training
Youth in El Salvador are motivated to step forward as leaders to engage with community members and strengthen their communities. You, too, can be part of the movement!
In El Salvador, youth make up more than a quarter of the population, making them one of the country’s greatest assets for the future. Yet, many young people face social and economic challenges that limit their access to positive learning opportunities and impact their overall well-being. Economic hardship, low school completion rates, limited life skills development opportunities, and barriers to active community engagement can make it difficult for young people to reach their full potential. National data show that only half of youth complete lower secondary school and even fewer complete upper secondary school. These low levels of school completion have significant implications for individuals and the country as a whole.
As a Youth Development Specialist, you will collaborate with school staff to equip youth with essential life skills, such as communication, empathy, creative problem-solving, and goal setting. Working alongside community leaders, you will create supportive environments that encourage youth participation in community projects and civic engagement. Over time, this work strengthens families, schools, and community networks, contributing to more supportive environments for youth and advancing El Salvador’s national priorities.
Activities
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Conduct a community assessment with community leaders and school staff to identify and prioritize youth needs.
Develop and implement a strategic work plan.
Deliver engaging life skills lessons that build communication, emotional well-being, and problem-solving abilities.
Lead structured empowerment programs for students and out-of-school youth.
Facilitate sports, arts, and recreational activities.
Guide youth participation in community projects to promote stewardship.
Foster a positive environment for youth community engagement.
Engage parents and caregivers in activities for positive family relationships.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as enriching art classes and team sports.
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
OR
Bachelor's degree in any field.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time, post-high school work (from any combination of roles).
Language: Spanish
- Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework in the past 8 years
- Completed college-level Elementary II Spanish semester (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
- Score between 50-62 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam in the past 6 years
- Score Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
APPLY BY : January 15, 2027
KNOW BY : March 1, 2027
DEPART ON : August 15, 2027
DURATION : 2 years, plus 3 months training