Environmental Education Volunteer

About the project

Since 2006, Peace Corps Mexico has worked in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT) to strengthen the resilience of individuals and rural communities in Mexico. Peace Corps Mexico supports community-based efforts to instill a deep appreciation for the environment and local ecosystems within individuals and communities, while empowering them to take action to enhance local resilience. The program works with community members of all ages, from children to adults, with a focus on integrating a gender and youth perspective.

The program is guided by two core objectives. The first seeks that community members have greater knowledge and capacity to address the environmental stressors on both people and nature, while the second strives to facilitate actions that reduce these adverse impacts and promote increased resilience within the community.

To achieve the first objective, Volunteers engage in a range of activities. They co-facilitate educational activities through classes, workshops, environmental fairs, or talks that enhance individuals' understanding of local environmental stressors and seek to foster an appreciation for nature, which may include collaboration in the development of environmental education resources. Additionally, Volunteers co-train sessions to equip individuals with techniques to increase their resilience such as vegetable gardening for food production or the construction of cisterns to harvest and store rainwater.

To accomplish the second objective, Volunteers support the efforts of SEMARNAT and the community to implement sustainable soil and water conservation practices, as well as basic practices for responsible waste management such as composting, recycling, etc. Furthermore, Volunteers support the implementation of locally appropriate biodiversity conservation practices to preserve the unique ecosystems that surround rural communities such as monitoring biodiversity with the use of camera traps, creating gardens for pollinators, etc.

The focus of any Volunteer’s work will depend on local priorities as defined by SEMARNAT and the community, and as revealed through the “discovery” phase of a Volunteer’s service. Peace Corps Mexico Trainees visit their assigned communities during the fourth week of Pre-Service Training, which provides invaluable insight into the reality of their community and informs the remainder of their training.

Volunteers live in rural communities or small cities, and work under the supervision of SEMARNAT. They collaborate with local stakeholders—including community leaders, schools, and local organizations—to carry out program activities effectively and to ensure a lasting impact.

By joining the Environmental Awareness and Action Program, you will have an opportunity to make a tangible difference in the lives of individuals and communities in Mexico, not only for today but into the future. You will play a crucial role in adapting, fostering environmental stewardship, and empowering local stakeholders to take meaningful action to build resilience. Together, we can create a sustainable future and inspire positive change.

Learn more about what Volunteers do in country by visiting our Mexico project page.