Costa Rica
Public schools
Bachelor's degree in any field.
All candidates who meet the required skills are encouraged to apply. Additional skills that may make you a more competitive candidate include:
• Experience designing or facilitating youth life skills lessons, such as communication, emotional well-being, problem-solving, or girls’ empowerment.
• Experience teaching, tutoring, or supporting learning environments in schools, after‑school programs, or experiential education settings.
• Experience organizing youth groups, community projects, service‑learning activities, or coaching sports, arts, physical activities, or recreation for youth.
For the first 4 months, Volunteers will live in a private room within a host family’s house. The Volunteer may then move to independent housing, such as a small building or apartment, if available within five kilometers of the primary work site. The Volunteer will walk, bike, or use public buses to commute.
(PCV) Spanish 1
Youth in Development
Yes
Costa Rica
24
Yes
PCV
No
Conduct a community assessment with school staff, counselors, and leaders to identify priority youth needs.
Develop and implement a strategic youth development work plan.
Deliver engaging life skills lessons that build communication, emotional well-being, and problem-solving abilities.
Lead structured empowerment programs for girls and targeted education activities for boys.
Facilitate sports, arts, and recreational activities.
Guide youth participation in service-learning and volunteer projects.
Collaborate with teachers and service providers to foster a united, supportive network.
Engage parents and caregivers in activities that promote 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.
As a Youth Development Educator, you will be trained in the positive youth development approach, participatory methodologies, and how to design and facilitate training sessions. Peace Corps/Costa Rica will provide advanced Spanish classes to help you comfortably live in and connect with the community.
After 11 weeks of training, you will move to a rural, semi-urban, or urban community where you will collaborate with the staff at a public school. You will work with the community to assess the youth development needs and develop solutions based on assessment findings.
Develop international experience in youth programming and life skills education that will support a global career.
Inspire the youth in Costa Rica to become confident leaders through meaningful service projects.
Develop Spanish language skills while forming authentic, lasting connections with community members.
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.
