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About Kyrgyz Republic
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Overview of Peace Corps programs
The Peace Corps was established in the Kyrgyz Republic in 1992 through an agreement signed between the governments of the United States and Kyrgyzstan.
Since that time, nearly 1,400 Peace Corps Volunteers and Virtual Service Pilot Participants have supported over 130,000 Kyrgyzstani people to learn English, develop leadership skills, and engage in community projects. These Volunteers, working closely with their local counterparts, have also carried out successful teacher training, computer literacy, and youth development activities.
Currently, Peace Corps Volunteers in the Kyrgyz Republic co-teach English as a foreign language (TEFL) together with local teacher counterparts. In addition to strengthening the capacity of teachers and students in the classroom, most TEFL Volunteers participate in summer camps and teach young people about life skills, including critical thinking and planning for their futures. Volunteers and counterparts also assist communities to achieve their development goals through small projects that strengthen capacity and develop sustainability.
U.S. citizens are also helping to strengthen English language skills in the Kyrgyz Republic through Peace Corps’ Virtual Service Pilot. Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) have been co-teaching English in Kyrgyzstan virtually since February 2021, when some Volunteers who had been evacuated during the pandemic were able to reconnect with their students and counterparts. Since then, U.S. citizens have donated their time remotely as VSPPs in classrooms throughout the Kyrgyz Republic, including in the Batken, Osh, Jalal-Abad, Naryn, Issyk-Kul, and Chui regions.
In April 2023, Peace Corps Kyrgyz Republic established a partnership with a nonprofit tourism organization called Kyrgyzstan Community Based Tourism Association (KCBTA), with the goal of attracting more domestic and international visitors. Peace Corps Response Volunteers worked as eco-tourism marketing specialists with KCBTA partners to develop nature-based tours, create effective marketing strategies, establish guidelines to minimize the impact of tourism on local ecosystems, and help local partners improve their English language skills. From 2026, this program is paused, but TEFL Volunteers continue to support the tourism industry through improving English language skills throughout the country through their extracurricular activities and secondary projects.
Check for updates on Peace Corps Volunteer and Response Volunteer openings. The application period for 2027 TEFL Volunteer and Response positions will begin in June 2026 for 2027 departures.
To apply to become a Virtual Service Pilot Participant, please find the application and instructions for submitting it here.
How schools can request a Volunteer
TEFL Volunteers teach English and promote intercultural exchange in public schools and universities around the country. In partnership with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Higher Education, Technology, and Innovation, Peace Corps places Volunteers where they can make the greatest impact. Upcoming university placements will focus on training future English teachers, supporting professors in learning English, and advancing STEM and digital literacy initiatives of the Ministry. Schools and universities interested in hosting a Volunteer can submit a Volunteer Request Form to [email protected]. Questions may also be sent to this email address.
Peace Corps’ preliminary criteria for selecting partner schools:
To host a Peace Corps Volunteer, schools and universities must meet the following criteria:
- Submit a completed Volunteer Request form by November 15 each year
- Have at least three motivated and qualified English teachers who can work as a counterpart: one primary counterpart, and at least two backups in case the primary counterpart is unavailable. English teacher(s) must be available to co-teach with a Volunteer for a minimum of 18 hours per week.
- Demonstrate strong motivation from both the school and the surrounding community to host a Volunteer.
- Ensure availability of host families within a reasonable walking distance of the school and university.
- Meet Peace Corps health, safety, and security requirements.
For more information about our activities, please see these resources: