Projects in Kyrgyz Republic

Education

Volunteers in the Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) program primarily strengthen the capacity of English teachers through team-teaching English in secondary schools and universities. The focus is on the communicative methodology and building creative and critical thinking skills. TEFL Volunteers provide assistance to their schools and communities in establishing or expanding English teaching resources, contributing to curriculum development, and production of innovative teaching materials. TEFL Volunteers serve as regular members of the teaching faculty in their schools, with a workload comprised of co-teaching, lesson planning, and clubs for 36 hours per week.

Volunteers are also involved in extracurricular activities such as conducting other clubs, computer training, and youth development. Since inception in 1993, 800+ TEFL Volunteers have served as teachers at 200 secondary schools and 15 universities.

Environment

Peace Corps Response Eco-tourism Program

The Peace Corps Response program offers Volunteers with significant experience and technical skills opportunities to serve in short-term assignments for up to 12 months.

In 2024 Peace Corps Kyrgyz Republic launched a new Response program in Eco-tourism to support local economic development and the Peace Corps' Strategy to Secure a Resilient Global Future. Eco-tourism promotes responsible global tourism by considering travelers’ impact on wildlife, the environment, and local communities. Through this program, Peace Corps Response Volunteers can contribute to the growth of eco-tourism in Kyrgyzstan while fostering economic development and environmental conservation. Volunteers work in collaboration with community-based tourism (CBT) associations and other partner organizations in tourism industry.

Peace Corps Response Eco-tourism Volunteers:

• Support CBT or other partner organizations in diversifying their eco-tourism offerings to cater to a wider range of tourist interests. This may include developing nature-based tours, cultural experiences, and adventure activities.
• Train CBT or other partner organization members in effective marketing strategies to attract domestic and international visitors. This includes building websites, leveraging social media, and collaborating with travel agencies.
• Develop and promote sustainable practices to protect the environment such as natural resource management, waste reduction, and cultural preservation.
• Promote environmental education in local communities.

Applications for the 2026 Peace Corps Response Eco-tourism program will be available in July 2025.