Namibia
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
OR
• 5 years' professional work experience
Qualified applicants will have practical experience in at least two or more of the following areas:
• Experience in public health with a focus on youth and
community groups
• Coaching and mentoring skills
• Presentation, facilitation and training skills
• Demonstrated knowledge and understanding in
community and global health
• Demonstrated leadership and community organization
skills
• Experience with working with specific population groups
i.e. youth; people living with HIV (PLHIV), pregnant and
breastfeeding woman
• Experience in Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
(MER)
• Experience analyzing data
• Strong oral and written communication skills
Namibia is an incredibly beautiful and unique country with great weather, averaging 300 days of sunshine each year! You will arrive in winter, which is sunny but chilly, with nighttime temperatures occasionally dropping to 40 degrees. Temperatures rise steadily in October, followed by the rainy season in December. November to March is the hottest period, reaching over 90 degrees. Namibia is an arid country with a lack of surface water, low humidity, and dry heat.
During Pre-Service Training (PST), you will live with a local family who will share Namibian culture and traditions, teach you how to manage village life, and practice speaking the local language with you.
Your permanent living situation will depend on where you are assigned to work. Health Volunteers are commonly placed in urban or peri-urban centers and live in their own room/ apartment with modern amenities, such as a basic refrigerator, stove, shower, inside kitchen, etc., in a single room/ apartment on the Hospital grounds, or in a modest house with a shared kitchen and common areas. All houses have indoor plumbing and electricity though some communities have outages. Flexibility and adaptability are desired characteristics for any potential Volunteer, as is the ability to navigate personal health risks associated with shared housing and common areas.
Namibian cuisine tends to be meat-heavy, often paired with carbohydrates. However, vegetarians can easily find options thanks to the abundance of fresh vegetables, fruits, legumes, and eggs. Alcohol is commonly consumed, particularly during holidays or special events but if you don't drink or prefer not to, a polite decline is perfectly acceptable.
Volunteers either walk or bike if the workplace is nearby and have been approved as safe for biking. For longer distances, they take minibuses or shared taxis.
Namibia is predominantly Christian, and while generally open-minded, values and morals are more conservative than in the U.S. Staff and currently serving Volunteers will address this topic during Pre-Service Training and identify support mechanisms for incoming Trainees. For more information, please see the State Department’s Travel Information page on Namibia: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/Namibia.html/
Namibia is exceedingly diverse with a complex history affecting its politics, economy, and society. Living and working in Namibia means navigating extreme economic disparity, especially around race and ethnicity. Peace Corps will assist Trainees understand and navigate these situations.
Volunteers who are of an American racial, ethnic, or national minority may experience a high degree of curiosity or unwanted attention from Namibians. Diverse Americans may be asked where they are “actually from” or if they are “really” American. Many Volunteers have been able to turn these encounters into learning experiences, sharing American values and deepening local community members’ understanding of Americans.
You will live among people who may have cultural norms different from the ones you are familiar with. Your effectiveness as a Volunteer is partly dependent on your ability to navigate these norms, so flexibility and a willingness to learn and understand, are key. Examples of norms you may encounter include a high importance placed on personal relationships, a casual attitude towards time and deadlines, sexism, strong hierarchies, bureaucracy, perceptions of American affluence, etc. Your training will equip you for these challenges.
None
Health
Yes
Namibia
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.
