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Serve where you’re needed mostLiteracy and Math Education Trainer
Education
Job highlights
- Advance your teaching experience by learning Guyana’s national curriculum and navigating educational challenges.
- Foster community engagement through any number of activities that strengthen local capacity to address unique challenges.
- Experience a unique Caribbean country and South American culture while building enduring relationships.
Guyana • South America
In partnership with: Regional education departments, schools
Get answers live — every weekday at .
Apply by
November 15, 2026Know by
January 1, 2027Depart on
May 30, 2027Duration
10 monthsAbout the project
Guyana is seeking education professionals to support national and regional initiatives aimed at improving literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students.
The Ministry of Education has implemented several nationwide initiatives to bolster literacy and numeracy, including targeted interventions and the creation of libraries. Despite these efforts, many students—particularly at the elementary level—continue to face significant challenges in mastering foundational skills. In 2025, just over half of students passed mathematics and fewer than 60% passed English on the national primary exit assessment. Regional education departments are responsible for scaling these national programs. However, rural and hinterland regions, where teacher shortages, limited resources, and geographic barriers persist, require additional support to effectively implement and sustain these initiatives.
As a Literacy and Math Education Trainer, you will work with regional education departments and schools to improve instructional activities to ensure each student receives the support needed. Together, you will develop creative ways to link and sustain programs that improve the literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students, including those with special education needs. Your support will help students build the foundational skills they need for long‑term academic success and equip teachers with effective, sustainable instructional techniques that can positively shape classrooms for generations.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Guyana project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have the following criteria:
Bachelor's degree in literacy education or relevant field.
AND
Three or more years of experience in literacy education.
Language: There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
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 Guyana
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Facilitate targeted literacy and math instructional workshops for teachers that model effective strategies.
Design high‑quality, culturally relevant instructional materials and toolkits for teachers, parents, and caregivers that support foundational literacy and numeracy development.
Provide on-the-spot training to students, teachers, parents.
Plan and facilitate education improvement projects that enhance teaching quality and strengthen learning environments.
Implement organizational development practices, tools, or resources to strengthen organizational capacity.
Develop and facilitate activities that deepen understanding of cultural values, norms, languages, histories, and perspectives.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as supporting a reading club at a community library or summer youth camps.
Volunteers serve in regional communities ranging from remote towns to semi‑urban villages. Volunteers will live in a private room within their host family’s house. Daily life may include modest living conditions with limited electricity, internet, and running water. While most sites are rural, Volunteers can visit larger markets monthly to restock supplies. This role requires regional travel, which will be fully funded by the Ministry of Education.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Guyana country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Guyana
Christopher J.
Small Business Trainer
"It has been rewarding to see how much we can accomplish and how my skills can be applied in different contexts, all from the comfort of my home."
See full Volunteer profile
After one-week orientation on topics such as health and safety, you will move to a regional capital where you will collaborate with regional and national departments of governmental organizations, non-governmental organizations to assess the needs and develop a work plan in line with their established goals.
Only heterosexual couples can be accepted for this program. Each person must apply separately and must qualify for a position in either the same or a different sector than their partner. Couples will live together during training but may separate occasionally for field-based activities. Couples who are selected for the same sector will live together but work with different local partners which may be in the same community or in neighboring communities (not more than 30 minutes apart).
To learn more about serving as a couple in Guyana, visit the country page.
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 Guyana. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
