Community Health Facilitator

Geography and Climate:

Peru has three primary geographic regions: Pacific Coast, Andean mountains, and Amazon rainforest. The climatic conditions in each of these three regions are vastly different depending on the time of year. The Andean Mountain areas are often high-altitude communities with cold weather, experiencing a wet and dry season. Amazon rainforest communities experience more rain throughout the year and sometimes hotter climates.
Community Health Facilitators will be assigned to the Andean region. These communities are mostly in rural areas where water quality and accessibility can be challenging. Volunteers should expect to walk long distances on rough terrain on a regular basis.

The project focuses on working in small, rural communities where there is greater need for public health education, higher rates of malnutrition and anemia, opportunities for improved hygiene practices, and challenges related to traditional male and female roles.

Host Family:
All Volunteers are required to live with a host family during Pre-Service Training and in their assigned community for the full two years of service. Couples live with the same host family. The homestay experience supports the Volunteer with establishing safety and security strategies, strengthening language acquisition, and community integration. Although this can be a big adjustment for individuals who have lived independently, it is often one of the most memorable and rewarding experiences in a Volunteer’s service.

Diet:
Peru is known as the gastronomic capital of South America for a reason. Peru is famous for “lomo saltado” (a stir-fried steak dish with peppers and onions), as well as many varieties of “aji” (a traditional spicy chili paste that goes great with meat, chicken, fish, and vegetables). While your daily diet may vary depending on your host community, there are plenty of opportunities to explore traditional Peruvian foods.

The Peruvian diet varies based on geographic location but, in general, it will include a high-starch diet (potatoes, rice, or Andean corn) and potentially include an option of meat, chicken, or fish. Host families will prepare meals based on what’s available in their area and Volunteers should be prepared to eat with host families to show respect for their hospitality and culture. Host families are not accustomed to eating as many fruits and vegetables as Volunteers may be accustomed to, and they are not expected to prepare special meals for the Volunteer.

Transportation:
Peace Corps Peru expects that Volunteers can walk or use a bicycle to travel to and from work, for shopping for basic needs (food items, personal care, household essentials, etc.), and for other personal errands in their assigned community. Common methods of transportation include ‘combis’ [small buses], ‘colectivos’ [shared taxis], moto-taxis or ‘tuk-tuks’ [three-wheeled motorcycles].

Communication:
Wi-Fi availability at restaurants and cafes is common in Peru, especially in bigger cities. However, once a Volunteer is placed in their permanent community, they may or may not have access to the internet and may only have access when visiting a larger city.

Volunteers have found that bringing a laptop or tablet, while not a requirement, facilitates completing assignments during service.

Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Peru country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.