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Serve where you’re needed mostYouth Program Coordinator
Youth in Development
Job highlights
- Hone your Spanish language skills daily through conversations with colleagues and the larger community.
- Gain international experience in youth development best practices.
- Become a valued member of your Guatemalan host family and the community.
Guatemala • North America
In partnership with: Middle schools, high schools
Applications are now closed. View current openings.
Apply by
March 15, 2026Know by
May 1, 2026Depart on
September 6, 2026Duration
2 years, plus 3 months trainingAbout the project
Middle and high schools in Guatemala are looking for individuals to support the youth (ages 12 to 18) realize and reach their full potential.
Over 50 percent of Guatemala’s population is under the age of 25. Currently, the youth do not receive sufficient information to give them the agency to make decisions about their health and well-being. This gap in information exists largely because local resources and infrastructure for comprehensive youth education remain limited, particularly in rural areas where access to trained professionals and accurate information is scarce. Recognizing the long-term impact on public health and economic development, the Ministry of Education has recently prioritized youth-focused programs, signaling an urgent need for collaboration to strengthen these efforts nationwide.
As a Youth Program Coordinator, you will collaborate with teachers, principals, or community members to strengthen the youth’s knowledge and skills in the areas of health, well-being, and life skills. In your role, you will provide culturally appropriate education and mentorship to equip young people with the necessary tools to make informed choices. Alongside your colleagues, you will enable the youth to avoid risky behaviors, contribute to their community, and prepare for a successful future.
Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Guatemala project page.
Required skills
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
Qualified candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
OR
• 5 years' professional work experience
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 Guatemala
How you and the community will make an impact together:
Identify opportunities to engage with youth and the community through a participatory approach.
Produce and lead youth trainings on health and life skills, service learning, and leadership.
Create strategies with local, regional, and national organizations to strengthen positive youth development approaches.
Design, plan, monitor, and evaluate relevant activities in formal and informal settings.
Develop and implement service-learning opportunities for youth to engage in their communities.
You may also work on additional projects that meet the community’s interests and priorities, such as after-school clubs and sports.
Most Volunteers live in medium-sized to larger rural communities (3,000 to 40,000 people) that have electricity and running water, but the supply may be intermittent. Volunteers will be required to live with a host family for the full duration of their service in Guatemala. While each living situation is unique, Volunteers will have their own private bedroom and bathroom access. Volunteers often opt to prepare their own meals, but sharing meals with host families is common, too. Volunteers currently live and work in the departments of Sacatepéquez, Chimaltenango, Sololá, Quiche, Totonicapán, and Quetzaltenango.
Learn more about the living conditions, including detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics on our Guatemala country page. You can also delve into stories about local communities by reading our blog or Volunteer stories.
Meet a Volunteer in Guatemala
John E.
Teacher Trainer
"Whatever we can do to show our appreciation for different cultures, support learning, and do whatever we can to bring peace to the world, as difficult as it is, can never be undervalued."
See full Volunteer profile
As a Youth Program Coordinator, you will be trained on ways to engage youth through a participatory approach and conduct skill-building trainings or activities for both formal and informal settings. Peace Corps/Guatemala will strengthen your Spanish language skills to help you reach an intermediate level of oral proficiency, which will help you comfortably live in and connect with the community. Volunteers in areas where Mayan languages are spoken may elect to study the language once they arrive at their assigned site.
After 10 weeks of training, you will move to your assigned community where you will collaborate with youth service providers and community leaders to assess the local needs and develop solutions based on positive youth development methodologies.
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 Guatemala. Review information on medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
