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Connect with the Peace Corps
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Serve where you’re needed mostEnvironmental Educator
Environment
Job highlights
- Make a meaningful impact by mentoring youth to be environmental champions.
- Strengthen Spanish language skills through daily collaborations and interactions.
- Gain a deeper understanding of South American culture as you live and work alongside the community.
Ecuador • South America
In partnership with: ChildFund International, USA
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
November 15, 2026Know by
January 1, 2027Depart on
May 30, 2027Duration
12 monthsAbout the project
Ready to inspire the next generation of eco‑leaders? There’s a place for you in Ecuador.
ChildFund Ecuador works with in-country partners to support children and adolescents in vulnerable communities. One of their partners in the Pichincha province leads youth programs that integrate environmental education, disaster risk reduction (DRR), and sustainability. Because the area experiences natural hazards, such as flooding and landslides, these topics are especially relevant and valuable for the youth. A community-adapted methodology linking these areas has been piloted, and the next phase focuses on full implementation, quality assurance, and supporting youth-led environmental micro‑projects.
As an Environmental Educator, you will develop the specialized, technical skills of the staff, guiding the implementation of the integrated methodology, and mentoring youth as they design and execute environmental micro-projects. Together, you will ensure programmatic quality while strengthening the partner's long-term capacity to sustain and scale this environmental approach independently.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Ecuador project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
Bachelor's degree in any field related to environmental management and/or disaster management.
AND
Two or more years of experience in environmental management, natural resource management, solid waste management, and/or disaster risk reduction (DRR).
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:
Guide the implementation and refinement of the integrated environmental education, DRR, and sustainability methodology.
Provide technical assistance in adapting and contextualizing methodology sessions to community realities, age groups, and environmental conditions.
Mentor youth participants in the identification, design, and execution of environmental micro-projects.
Strengthen staff capacity in environmental management and DRR approaches.
Contribute to program monitoring through field documentation, case studies, and regular reporting.
Contribute to evidence generation and evaluation processes on the effectiveness of the methodology.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as environmental education activities and teaching English.
The Volunteer will live in a simple house or apartment in an urban area within Ecuador’s Pichincha province—a biodiverse and ecologically rich area characterized by cloud forest and river systems. The assignment requires regular field visits with the counterpart to communities, schools, and project sites. The office facilities will provide access to a computer, internet, and telephone, though connectivity may be limited.
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
After a 1-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to an urban community where you will collaborate with a nongovernment organization to assess needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.
Peace Corps/Ecuador will equip you with Spanish language resources and you may work with a local tutor who can help you build basic language skills to connect with the community.
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.
