What Do Volunteers Do?

Counseling teenagers in Belize. Launching an Armenian computer center. Promoting HIV/AIDS awareness in Malawi. Teaching chemistry in a Ghanaian high school. Peace Corps Volunteers work in a wide variety of areas—and no two days are ever the same.

Think of the Peace Corps and you might imagine teaching in a one-room schoolhouse or farming in a remote area of the world. But while education and agriculture are still an important part of what the Peace Corps does, today's Volunteers are just as likely to be working on HIV/AIDS awareness, helping to establish computer learning centers, or working on small-business development.

Peace Corps Volunteers work in the following areas: education, youth outreach, and community development; business development; agriculture and environment; health and HIV/AIDS; and information technology. Within these areas, the specific duties and responsibilities of each Volunteer can vary widely. Ask any Peace Corps Volunteer and he or she will tell you that everybody has a unique experience.

Education, Youth Outreach, and Community Development

Education, youth outreach, and community development Volunteers introduce innovative teaching methodologies, encourage critical thinking in the classroom, and integrate issues like health education and environmental awareness into English, math, science, and other subjects.

Business Development

Teach conversational English, English as a foreign language, or content-based English in middle and high schools.

Environment

Volunteers focus on increasing family income, improving the environment for businesses, educating young people, and helping businesses find markets for traditional or value-added products.

Agriculture

Volunteers work with local governments and communities to improve water and sanitation facilities.

Health

Health Volunteers educate and promote awareness issues such as malnutrition and safe drinking water.

HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS Volunteers provide hope and meaningful assistance to people affected by HIV/AIDS.

Information Technology

Information and communications technology (ICT) Volunteers help communities capitalize on technologies by teaching computer and multimedia skills, developing regional databases, and implementing networks for non-governmental organizations, businesses and government offices.

Food Security

Information and communications technology (ICT) Volunteers help communities capitalize on technologies by teaching computer and multimedia skills, developing regional databases, and implementing networks for non-governmental organizations, businesses and government offices.

Last updated Oct 03 2008