Apply by
January 1, 2025
Know by
March 1, 2025
Depart on
September 22, 2025
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
Project description
Paraguay is the “Heart of South America.” Located in the center of the continent, it is a country known for the warmth of its people, its tranquil lifestyle, and terere – an ice-cold yerba mate infusion. Home to diverse ecosystems such as the Atlantic Forest, wetlands, and savannas, Paraguay has also seen immense land use changes in recent decades in favor of farming. Deforestation and substandard solid waste management practices have led local partners to identify environmental conservation as a top priority for Peace Corps Volunteers.
Environmental Conservation Volunteers work in three main areas: environmental education, reforestation, and zero waste. In schools, Volunteers work primarily with teachers and students in 4th-9th grade, though they may also work with younger and older students. Volunteers co-design, co-plan and co-facilitate environmental education initiatives with teachers, such as celebrating environmental holidays. They also co-implement structured eco-clubs and put on environmental events like Earth Hour. Volunteers organize tree plantings with both native and exotic species to address rural, low-resourced communities’ environmental and economic realities. Many Volunteers also work with the Paraguayan Forest Service to start and/or manage tree nurseries. To promote zero waste practices, Volunteers may organize a Basura Cero initiative, work with municipalities on source separation, and participate in community clean up events. All Volunteers should feel comfortable working with groups of diverse stakeholders including teachers, youth, farmers, local elected officials, and government/non-government organization workers.
Volunteers facilitate a wide range of activities, and their success depends on their willingness and ability to integrate into the community, speak the local languages, build trust and adapt to the varying needs, ideas and work styles of community members.
Volunteers will receive training to learn how to design, implement, and evaluate primary and secondary project activities. Trainees receive 10 weeks of Pre-Service Training before moving to their communities and then attend additional training events during their two years of Volunteer service with their community counterparts.
Climate change activities
As The Impacts Of Climate Change Become Ever More Evident, The Social, Economic, And Environmental Conditions Faced By Local Communities Will Become Increasingly Problematic, Particularly For Vulnerable Households In Low-lying Areas And Historically Marginalized Communities. As a Peace Corps Volunteer, You Will Be Trained To Use a Participatory Approach And Tools To Identify Locally Determined Priorities And Conditions, Including Those Related To The Impacts Of Climate Change. The Types Of Interventions Undertaken Will Be Guided By National And Local Priorities For Climate Change Adaptation As Identified In Your Country’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP) And Those Environment-related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 6, 12, 13, 14 & 15) That Have Been Identified For Local Action. As An Environment Volunteer, You Will Be Trained To Use This Knowledge To Work With Government, Local, And Community Stakeholders To Mitigate Some Of The Adverse Impacts Of Climate Change While Promoting Resiliency, And Engaging In Projects And Activities That
- strengthen the ability of vulnerable households and communities to respond to extreme weather events such as cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons;
- enhance local and community capacities for effective implementation of NAP and SDG priorities;
- reduce greenhouse gas emissions through promoting the expansion of renewable energy technologies;
- support the development of sustainable mechanisms that incorporate the “3 Rs” (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle) of effective solid waste management practices; and
- work with Volunteers in other sectors to integrate climate change adaptation practices into their activities (e.g., work with Health Volunteers to reduce respiratory health issues of women and girls through use of improved cook stoves; work with Education Volunteers to mitigate the impact of heat waves on local teaching or establishing tree nurseries and planting trees to reduce the time that students use in collecting firewood).
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in promoting environmental awareness in schools and communities, and one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
OR
- 5 years' professional work experience
Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following desired skills
- Experience working directly in community training for environmental conservation
- Demonstrated successful experience in organizing and/or planning community events
- Experience working in a rural area under challenging conditions
- Community service or volunteer work experience
- Experience implementing behavior change methodologies
- Interest and skills in people-focused environmental work regarding environmental education, tree planting and trash management
- Background in environmental education, science, or studies
- Demonstrated ability to work effectively with teachers, students and youth groups as well as with local elected officials, other elementary school staff and local government workers
- Strong interest to learn an indigenous language
Required Language Skills
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position. Trainees will learn basic Spanish and Guarani as Paraguay is a bilingual nation where both are official national languages. While there are no prerequisite language requirements, applicants who come with some prior Spanish language skills may be able to start learning Guarani sooner during pre-service training. To communicate in the capital city of Asunción (and other large urban areas), Spanish is most commonly spoken. However, in most semi-urban to rural areas where Volunteers are placed, Guaraní or “Jopara” (a mixture of Guaraní and Spanish) is the most common way to communicate. Trainees will have daily language classes in small groups during their Pre-Service Training. Once Volunteers move to their communities, they receive tutoring and additional language classes during In-Service Training events. Successful Volunteers have a strong interest and positive attitude about language learning and dedicate a substantial amount of time outside of class to studying and practicing both languages, especially with their host family. Volunteers are required to successfully pass language benchmarks in Guaraní during training. Learning an indigenous language like Guaraní is something unique that will enrich your Peace Corps experience, impress Paraguayans, and make you stand out after your Peace Corps service to future employers. If perfecting or becoming fluent in Spanish is a main goal of your Peace Corps service, Paraguay may not be the best fit.
Living conditions
Environmental Conservation Volunteers serve in rural villages to medium-sized towns with populations from just 200 to over 30,000. Each Volunteer is assigned to serve in a community that will be located anywhere between 2 to 13 hours from the capital city of Asunción by public busses.
Buses to Asunción from most communities are available, although depending on the size of the community may have infrequent service. Volunteers may need to bike or walk up to 6 miles in heat and humidity, often in the 90s (Fahrenheit) with 80% humidity during the summer. The temperature can drop during the winter months to be in the 40s (Fahrenheit). Most homes where Volunteers live do not have air-conditioning or heating.
Volunteers typically have access to electricity and local cell service in the community. However, temporary electricity outages are common in most communities. Internet and Wi-Fi will be limited or not available in the community. However, most Volunteers are within an hour’s traveling distance to another location with more reliable internet. People in Paraguay use messaging apps that are capable of many functions without requiring access to Wi-Fi.
All Trainees are required to live with a host family for the 10 weeks of Pre-Service Training and the first two months of service in their assigned communities. Some homes may be very basic, with outdoor latrines and no modern plumbing. During Pre-Service Training Trainees will receive specific training sessions on cultural differences and community integration that promote a healthy and safe lifestyle. Trainees and Volunteers will also partake in training sessions and discussions regarding the diversity of Americans and specific strategies for integration into Paraguayan culture. Peace Corps provides various support services for all Trainees and Volunteers including those from diverse identities and backgrounds.
The Paraguayan diet is heavily based on meat; therefore, it can be challenging for vegetarians. The diet is also very high in carbohydrates and many meals involve more than one starch at a time (e.g. manioc and pasta or manioc and rice). In many Paraguayan families, manioc and meat are eaten almost every day. Fruits are available seasonally. Most communities have access to tomatoes, onions and green peppers, but limited access to other vegetables. Some Volunteers plant gardens to increase access to vegetables.
Working situations range from outdoor manual labor in a field to facilitating lessons in a classroom to official meetings in a local government office. Paraguayans place high importance on personal appearance, including cleanliness. Paraguayans may get offended by visitors to their homes or offices who have body odor or an unkempt appearance. Therefore, cleanliness and neat personal appearance are very important for Volunteers who represent the Peace Corps and host partner organizations. This is a valuable concept to remember as it will help Volunteers integrate into their community, because it shows respect for Paraguayan values. It is expected that Volunteers wear business casual clothing as a working professional would in the U.S. Most Paraguayans dress up for special occasions. In schools and offices - including the Peace Corps facilities, - “office casual” is appropriate (nice jeans, khakis, and knee-length skirts; button-down shirts or nice pullover blouses; closed-toed shoes or dressy sandals). Shorts, flip-flops, and tank tops are inappropriate except around the house or for recreational activities.
The pace of life is much slower than in the U.S. and decisions may take longer than one may have previously been accustomed to. Language barriers coupled with indirect communication styles can also pose challenges; however, most Volunteers are able to overcome these with effort and dedication. In general, Paraguayan communities are very welcoming to Volunteers and the program has an overall positive reputation in the country.
Learn more about the Volunteer experience in Paraguay: Get detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics in order to make a well-informed decision about serving.
Medical considerations
Before you apply, please review medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
Couples information
Paraguay is happy to accept couples within the same programmatic sector. Therefore, your partner must apply and qualify for: Community Environmental Promoter.
Couples will live together with the same host family during Pre-Service Training (PST) and for the first two months of service; but may be separated for certain field-based activities during PST. Volunteers who serve with their partners will have the opportunity to work on projects together and individually in their community. As a couple they will enjoy the added benefit of having each other as a built-in support system to process and learn throughout their Volunteer service.
Peace Corps works to foster safe and productive assignments for same-sex couples and same-sex couples are not placed in countries where homosexual acts are criminalized. Because of this, same-sex couples’ placements are more limited than heterosexual couple placements. During the application process, Recruiters and Placement Officers work closely with same-sex couple applicants to understand current placement opportunities.
For more information please visit: https://www.peacecorps.gov/faqs/lgbtq/
