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Serve where you’re needed mostEnvironmental Education Specialist
Education
Environment
Job highlights
Ecuador • South America
In partnership with: GAMMA, Grupo de Apoyo al Movimiento de Mujeres del Azuay
Applications are now closed. View current openings.
Apply by
November 15, 2025Know by
January 15, 2026Depart on
May 31, 2026Duration
12 monthsAbout the project
The Grupo de Apoyo al Movimiento de Mujeres del Azuay (GAMMA) in Ecuador has requested the support of a Peace Corps Response Volunteer (PCRV) to serve as an Environmental Education Specialist. Since 2023, GAMMA has been implementing the SURVIDA Project: Building Autonomy and Co-Responsibility to Prevent Violence Against Women in Southern Ecuador. In August 2024, the entire Garupamba area (GAMMA's action center for conservation issues) suffered a forest fire that consumed more than 500 hectares and affected the Andean forest ecosystem, dwarf oaks, moors, and plantations close to the communities with which the SURVIDA project works. In response, GAMMA is working to reinforce prevention actions, through environmental education and awareness, restoration of ecosystems through research to generate protocols for the propagation of native Andean forest plants, implementation of nurseries, conservation campaigns, and awareness of water sanitation and protection.
The PCRV will support this entire restoration process that integrates actions of environmental education in schools in the Susudel and El Progreso parishes, research, and work in nurseries for the generation of seed propagation protocols in Garupamba and in other sectors that are required as part of the project implementation. The PCRV will also support the creation of a comprehensive conservation plan for the area, which includes environmental adaptation and resilience practices for sustainability. The objective would be to move towards the declaration of a private protected area that allows for the care and maintenance of water sources for all the surrounding communities.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Ecuador project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
• BA/BA in Education, Environmental Science or related field.
• 2 or more years of experience facilitating environmental education programming and/or conservation education.
Language: Spanish
A. Completed 4 years of high school Spanish coursework in the past 8 years
B. Completed college-level Elementary II Spanish semester (Elementary III in quarter system) within the past 6 years
C. Score between 50-62 on the Spanish College Level Examination Program (CLEP) exam in the past 6 years
D. Score Novice-High or Intermediate-Low on official American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI) in Spanish within the past 6 years
Required behavioral competencies
These competencies are essential for all service assignments and are assessed in the application and interview process:
Motivation for and commitment to service
Adaptability and open-mindedness
Problem solving and resourcefulness
Behavioral maturity and professionalism
Photos from Ecuador
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Ecuador country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Ecuador
Maja S.
Health and Well-Being Volunteer
"[From my community] I learned to conserve resources by doing dishes once a day; taking short, cold showers; unplugging electronics while not in use; and taking advantage of natural light whenever possible."
See full Volunteer profile
No couples are accepted for this position.
Application process
From application to departure takes around nine months. Learn about the application process for Volunteer opportunities.
Medical/legal clearance
You will need to be cleared medically and legally in order to serve in Ecuador. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
