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

Business development Volunteers work in education, private businesses, public organizations, government offices, cooperatives, women's and youth groups, and more.

Environment

Environment Volunteers work on a wide variety of activities, from teaching environmental awareness to planting trees within a community.

Agriculture

Agriculture Volunteers work with small farmers to increase food production while promoting environmental conservation practices.

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

Food security Volunteers work on projects to address the adverse impact of food shortages, food availability and nutrition.

Last updated Oct 03 2008