Sierra Leone
Government of Sierra Leone, Ministry of Health, Health centres or clinics, Community Health Workers, schools, youth centers, Other Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) etc.
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).
All candidates who meet the required skills are encouraged to apply. Additional skills that may make you a more competitive candidate include:
• Experience in maternal and child health or health promotion.
• Experience in counseling, training, coaching, mentoring, and community outreach.
• Professional work experience in health, community outreach and development, and positive youth development.
Volunteers may be placed in the northern, southern, or eastern regions of Sierra Leone. There may be some independent Volunteer houses within a family compound based on the availability of houses within the community. Volunteers will live in modest housing that typically includes two rooms and a small parlor, along with either an indoor or outdoor bathroom. Shortly after arrival Volunteers will receive a local SIM card for their smartphones; however, Volunteers should be prepared for inconsistent cell service and internet connectivity. While public transportation is available, a bicycle can be provided to interested Volunteers.
None
Health
Yes
Sierra Leone
24
Yes
PCV
No
Evaluate community needs alongside community stakeholders.
Provide grant writing and project development training to community health workers.
Facilitate informative cooking demonstrations that teach how to diversify meals with nutritious foods.
Organize youth clubs and camps that promote healthy behaviors and life skills.
Facilitate health outreach and campaign activities on nutrition, hygiene, and positive youth development.
Support community garden development for improved nutrition.
Additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as school health clubs or leadership camps for girls.
As a Maternal and Child Health Educator, you will be trained to support families to adapt improved hygiene practices, detect early warning signs of pregnancy, and engage family members to support mothers and children. Peace Corps/Sierra Leone will teach you Krio to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. You will also receive language resources and may learn secondary languages, such as Mende, Temne, Limba, Kono, and/or many more local languages.
After 10 weeks of training, you will move to a rural community where you will collaborate with a health clinic to assess the needs and develop solutions based on community identified priorities.
Gain international experience with maternal and child health within a resource-limited setting.
Receive high-quality training in maternal and child health, hygiene, nutrition, health promotion, and community engagement—building a strong foundation for any public health career.
Learn Krio from skilled language and intercultural facilitators.
Only heterosexual couples can be accepted for this program.
Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner.
Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities.
Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners, which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart)., Cohabitating couples are highly encouraged to present themselves as married throughout service due to cultural expectations.
Yes
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.
