Paraguay
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
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 the local language, Guarani
Community Environmental Promotors serve in rural villages to 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 bus.
TRANSPORTATION: Public buses to Asunción from most communities are available, although some places may have infrequent service or require the Volunteer to connect multiple bus routes. Volunteers may need to bike or walk up to 6 miles in heat and humidity.
TEMPATURES: It can get into the 90s (Fahrenheit) with 80% humidity during the summer. The temperature can drop during the winter to be in the 40s (Fahrenheit). Most homes where Volunteers live do not have air-conditioning or heating.
HOUSING/AMENITIES: Volunteers typically have access to electricity, running water and local cell service in the community. However, temporary electricity and running water outages are common in many communities. Reliable Internet and Wi-Fi will be limited or not available in the community. Most Volunteers are within an hour’s of more reliable Internet. People in Paraguay use messaging apps, like WhatsApp that are capable of many functions without requiring access to strong 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 Volunteer service in their assigned communities. Some homes may be very basic, but they have all met or exceeded Peace Corps’ safety and security criteria.
TRAINING: During Pre-Service Training Trainees will receive specific training sessions on cultural differences and community integration that promote a healthy and safe lifestyle. There are training sessions and discussions about specific strategies for integration into Paraguayan culture. Peace Corps provides various training and support services recognizing that each person has a unique combination of cultural, experiences, values and assumptions.
FOOD: 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. yuca and pasta or yuca and rice). In many Paraguayan families, manioc and meat are eaten almost daily. Fruits are available seasonally. Most communities have tomatoes, onions and green peppers, but limited access to other vegetables. Some Volunteers plant gardens to increase access to vegetables.
CLOTHING: Working situations range from manual labor in a field to facilitating lessons in a classroom to official meetings in a local government office. Paraguayans place importance on personal appearance, including cleanliness. Paraguayans may be offended by body odor or an unkempt appearance. Therefore, cleanliness and a neat appearance is important for Volunteers who represent the Peace Corps and host partner organizations. 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.
Read more about living conditions at: https://www.peacecorps.gov/paraguay/living-conditions
None
Environment
Yes
Paraguay
24
Yes
PCV
No
As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in Education, Health, Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Youth Development. Through their Peace Corps experiences, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a lifelong commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide.
