Career Services

Youth and Community Development
Construction and Skilled Trades Education Volunteers teach vocational education in schools, technical institutes , and training centers. They also work with communities and local governments to facilitate the construction of schools, health centers, markets, and other projects while transferring ther skills to tradespeople and students in their communities. Their activities include estimating costs and quantities of materials, determining types of tools required, inventory control, working with industrial equipment, and teaching building techniques. Volunteers also work with women in activities such as sewing, quilting, weaving, and pottery. Return to top
Youth Development Volunteers work with at-risk youth ages 10 to 25, helping communities develop programs to assist young people. Projects include vocational training, work with street kids, self-esteem and leadership development activities, income generation, health education, HIV/AIDS education and awareness, life skills development, community organization, organizational development, training of youth development workers, and stay-in-school programs. Return to top
Community Development Volunteers coordinate with other Peace Corps projects by conducting community outreach and needs assessments. They act as catalysts for change and are continually engaged in defining their role in response to ther host community. Community decelopment projects focus on education, youth development, health and HIV/AIDS, the environment, or business. Return to top

Health and HIV/AIDS
Health Extension Volunteers raise awareness in communities about the need for health education. They play the role of catalyst on a wide range of activities, limited only by the creativity of the community and the volunteer. Activities include identifying local leaders to teach families about maternal and child health, basic nutrition, or sanitation; setting up training on nutrition, sanitation, or oral rehydration therapy; organizing groups to raise money for needed health care materials; and training of trainers for peer education about AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Return to top
Public Health Education Volunteers teach public health in classrooms and model methodologies and subjects for primary and secondary school teachers. Projects include undertaking "knowledge, attitude, and practice" surveys in communities; assisting clinics or government planning offices in identifying health education needs; devising educational programs to address local health conditions;assisting in marketing of messages aimed at improving local health practices; carrying out epidemiological studies; and acting as backup professionals for other health Volunteers. Volunteers also work in local health clinics to develop health education and outreach programs. Return to top
Water and Sanitation Extension Volunteers serve in a broad range of projects, including organizing and mobilizing communities to provide health and hygiene education; tapping springs, constructing wells, and building latrines; improving potable-water storage facilities; and doing community outreach to heighten awareness of water and sanitation issues, health issues, and enviornmental issues. Return to top

Agriculture
Agriculture and Forestry Extension Volunteers' projects include establishing and maintaining soil and water conservation structures and practices; fruit tree production, live fences, and other agriculture-related forestry practices; fish cultivation; raising trees in small nurseries; apiculture and honey production; livestock health; meat and wool production; range management; and vegetable gardening and nutrition education. Return to top
Applied Agricultural Science Volunteers encourage sustainable crop production through promotion of organic-farming techniques and better farm managemnet. Among their activities are conducting workshops on intergrated pest management; introducing composting, green manures, and other soil improvement techniques; testing new varieties of seeds and demonstrating post-harvest management methods; and teaching agriculture and extension methodologies in formal training institutions. Return to top
Farm Management and Agribusiness Volunteers work with small-scale farmers, farmers cooperatives, agribusinesses, and nongovernmental organizations. They teach basic business practices such as marketing, credit price determination, and general business planning; work on crop and livestock production and preservation; assist in organizing networks of local farmers; identify market structures and channels; and perform production cost and price analysis. Return to top
Animal Husbandry Volunteers work to enhance farm families' nutrition and household income through improved livestock management techniques. Activities include promoting vaccination against common diseases; teaching young farmers better production techniques; improving marketing techniques for products like meat, wool, and eggs; developing land use plans for pastoral farmers; and projects such as vegetable gardening, range management, and beekeeping. Return to top

Environment
Environment Education or Awareness Volunteers assist communities where environmental issues are in conflict with basic needs for farming and income generation. Their activities are limited only by their own creativity and that of the community. Activities include teaching in elementary and secondary schoools; providing environmental education to youth groups and individuals outside school settings; organizational development of environmental groups, often in newly emerging democracies; promoting sustainable use of forest or marine resources by communities; development of income-generating activities for communities living near protected areas; and management of sanitation in urban areas. Return to top
Forestry Volunteers help communities conserve natural resources by working on projects such as soil conservation; watershed management and flood control; production of sustainable fuels; improvement of agroforestry practices such as soil conservation; watershed management and flood control; production of sustainable fuels; improvement of agroforestry practices such as fruit production; building live fences and alley cropping; and preservation of biodiversity, sometimes near national parks or other reserves. Return to top
Protected-Areas Management Volunteers provide technical assistance and training in natural resource conservation, generally in close affiliation with national parks or other reserves. Their activities include technical training of park managers, working with park staff on wildlife surveys, conducting community-based conservation such as sustainable use of forest or marine resources, and promoting income-generating activities for communities living near protected areas. Return to top
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering Volunteers work with local governments and communities to improve water and sanitation facilities. They train people in facilities operation and maintenance, help communities access resources and form management committees to sustain facilities, design and build potable-water sources and supply systems, construct sewage and irrigation systems, design and build garbage collection facilities, and build earthen dams and concrete spillways. Return to top

Business Development
Business Advising Volunteers work in a variety of settings, assisting both private and public businesses, local and regional governments, nonprofit organizations, women's and youth groups, and educational institutions. They train and advise entrepreneurs and managers in business planning, marketing, financial management, and product design; advise agricultural cooperatives, agribusinesses, and farmers; develop and write project funding proposals; and work with community and business support groups. Other projects include assisting with credit programs; facilitating business training workshops; and teaching business courses, English, and Junior Achievement programs. Return to top
Business Development Volunteers work in a wide variety of projects in secondary schools, technical institutes, universities, nongovernmental organizations, and business centers. They consult with businesses and conduct seminars on starting a business, strategic planning, marketing, merchandising, organizational development, and tourism development. They also advise Junior Achievement organizations, teach basic business subjects and English, develop business education curricula, and design training materials; work with women and minority groups to strengthen their participation in the economic system; and assist local and regional governments in planning and implementing the economic development strategies. Return to top
Nongovernmental Organization Development Volunteers work with local, national, or international nongovernmental organizations that deal with youth social services, small business development, or the environment. Typical projects include increasing an NGO's organizational capacity and sustainability; creating strategic and funding plans; raising public awareness of an NGO's mission; conducting community outreach; recruiting, training, and motivating NGO volunteers; developing mission statements, bylaws, and other documentation; working with boards of directors; mentoring and skill building of staff; and increasing the quality and effectiveness of an NGO's services. Return to top
Urban and Regional Planning Volunteers work with municipalities and communities, as well as with regional or national governments. Projects include assessing the impact of planed activities or economic and environmental development on communities, planning infrastructure for primary and secondary cities, planning and controlling budgets, and coordinating activities between governmental organizations and communities. Return to top
Information Technology Volunteers provide technical training and support to school systems, health ministries, municipal government offices, and nongovernmental organizations. By teaching computer skills and data processing, helping to develop regional databases, and implementing networks for business and government offices, they link entrepreneures to new business opportunities (including e-commerce), expand farmers' access to information on market prices, bring the Internet into classrooms, and provide forums for communities to share ideas about development activities. Return to top