About Paraguay

Located in the heart of South America, Peace Corps Paraguay is one of the oldest continuously operating posts in the agency. The Paraguayan government and the Peace Corps signed a joint agreement on November 4, 1966, and the first Volunteers arrived in 1967 to work on agricultural extension in rural areas. Before long, projects were also established in the health and education sectors.

With its one-of-a-kind bilingualism, deeply rooted cultural traditions, vibrant landscapes, signature native crafts, and rich history, Paraguay captures the hearts and imaginations of the Volunteers who have the privilege to call this little-known slice of South America home for two years. Though the land itself has much to offer, it’s the bonds forged across language and cultural barriers with community members that move Volunteers to eagerly share their experiences with friends and family back home and build bridges between countries, one story at a time.

Many former Volunteers remain informed about the country’s affairs and continue to contribute to its development efforts years after they complete their service, demonstrating their dedication to support Paraguay’s most valuable resource - its warmly welcoming people.

Until recently an average of 100 Volunteers arrived each year, joining the nearly 5,300 Peace Corps Volunteers who have served in Paraguay since 1967.

Peace Corps Paraguay is close to achieving pre-pandemic levels of Volunteers and is one of the top three countries in the world for numbers of currently serving Volunteers, continuing Peace Corps Paraguay’s work to collaborate with communities on environmental, health and economic development initiatives.

Volunteer satisfaction, health, and safety

• Annual Volunteer Survey satisfaction results [PDF]
• Health and medical care summary [PDF]
• Crime, harassment, and early termination of service [PDF]

Partners

Our programs are conducted in close coordination with a wide array of local, national, and international organizations who share our vision of sustainable community development. These partner agencies provide technical expertise, program support, and other assistance that strengthens the work of our Volunteers. Our strong collaboration with a wide range of governmental, non-profit, and international agencies is integral to the success of Peace Corps Paraguay. Below are some of our national and international partner agencies in Paraguay.

Paraguayan governmental agencies

Entidad Binacional Yacyreta

Itaipú Binacional

Secretaria Técnica de Planificación - STP

Ministerio de Agricultura y Ganadería

Ministerio de Educación y Cultura

Ministerio de Salud Pública y Bienestar Social

Ministerio del Ambiente y Desarrollo Sostenible 

Ministerio de Desarrollo Social 

Secretaría Nacional del Turismo

Ministerio de la Juventud

Servicio de Empleo, Trabajo y Seguridad Social 

Servicio Nacional de Promoción Profesional

International organizations

Korean International Cooperation Agency

Plan Internacional

Special Olympics

Grassroot Soccer

Food & Agriculture Organization, United Nations

United Nations Volunteer

World Wildlife Foundation Paraguay

Asociación de Jóvenes Empresarios - Capítulo Paraguay

National organizations

A Todo Pulmón – Paraguay Respira'

Asociación Guyra Paraguay

PROCOSARA

Para La Tierra

Cooperativa Universitaria

Fundación DEQUENI

UNA – Facultad de Agronomía

UNA – Facultad de Veterinaria

Fundación Vencer

Fundación Visión

Fundación Moisés Bertoni

INCUPAR – Asociación Paraguaya de Incubadoras de Empresas y Parques Tecnológicos

INFONA – Instituto Forestal Nacional

IPTA – Instituto Paraguayo de Tecnología Agraria

REFOPAR – Reforestemos Paraguay

Crédito Agricola de Habilitación  - CAH

Resources

Peace Corps service is a life-changing experience, and no two Volunteers experience their service in exactly the same way. Check out some of the links below to learn more about our country and the experiences other Volunteers have had serving here.

U.S. Department of State

To find information about countries around the world, including social and political history, travel information, and U.S. embassy websites.

Secretaría Nacional de Turismo

Learn more about tourism in Paraguay and what you can expect when planning your visit to Paraguay

National Peace Corps Association (NPCA)

Made up of returned Volunteers. You can find links to all the “Friends of” groups for most countries of service.

Friends of Paraguay Facebook group

Friends of Paraguay, a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, was created in 1987 to establish a network of returned Peace Corps Volunteers and others who are interested in improving communication and information exchange in support of social, cultural, and economic development in Paraguay.