Wellness and Nutrition Educator

Project Description

Ecuador is looking for experienced health educators and aspiring life skills coaches to support youth health education.

The Ecuadorian government has identified non-communicable diseases-such as heart disease and diabetes-as some of the country's most pressing health challenges. Malnutrition remains a persistent concern, with undernutrition affecting nearly 30 percent of children under the age of 5. At the same time, obesity rates continue to rise steadily across all age groups. Significant gaps in sexual and reproductive health education, particularly in relation to reducing the transmission of sexually transmitted infections and preventing teenage pregnancy. In fact, approximately 20 percent of all births in Ecuador are to mothers under the age of 20. To address these challenges, the government aims to strengthen health outcomes by enhancing the quality and reach of health education across schools, households, workplaces, and broader community settings.

As a Youth Wellness Advocate, you will collaborate with community members to connect youth (ages 10-19) in rural and underserved areas with available resources and health services, allowing them to make informed decisions for their own health and daily life. You will also identify opportunities to strengthen local capacity, specifically in providing quality health education and life skills. By strengthening health education, you will help communities to adopt healthy behaviors, prevent disease, and build resilience.

SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT CITIZENSHIP: Candidates who are dual citizens of Ecuador and the U.S. are not eligible to serve with Peace Corps Ecuador. Volunteer safety is of paramount importance, and the protections of U.S. citizenship promote Volunteer safety. If anyone holding dual U.S. and Ecuadorian citizenship were to face a legal, safety, or other emergency situation in Ecuador, the Peace Corps' ability to intervene would be limited. If you hold citizenship with both the U.S. and Ecuador, we encourage you to look at other opportunities with Peace Corps.

Required Skills

Associate degree in any field and at least two years of full-time, post-high school work experience (from any combination of roles).
OR
Bachelor's degree in any field.
OR
High school diploma or GED and four years of full-time, post-high school work (from any combination of roles).

Living Conditions

Volunteers will reside in the highlands and the Amazon regions of the country with a host family during training and for at least the first three months of service. Volunteers are encouraged to live with a host family throughout their entire service, as this is the norm for most adults, including college-educated professionals, who generally live with their parents until they get married and start a family of their own.

Activities

Plan and facilitate targeted health education on topics, such as hygiene, nutrition, and reproductive health.

Organize and facilitate life skills clubs or camps that reinforce positive health messaging.

Develop and conduct training sessions on health promotion techniques for adult health workers and educators.

Plan and host events that engage the larger community in learning.

You may also work on additional projects that meet the community's interests and priorities, such as after-school sports and English clubs.

Training

As a Youth Wellness Advocate, you will be trained on effective promotional strategies to promote healthy lifestyles, the general health context of Ecuador, and the specific needs of local youth. 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.

After 9 weeks of training, you will move to a rural or urban area where you will collaborate with health service providers and community leaders to assess local needs and develop solutions based on available services.

Job Highlights

Gain hands-on international development and public health experience by supporting youth in underserved regions to make healthy life choices.
Strengthen your Spanish language proficiency through daily immersion and collaboration with community members.
Create a sustainable impact while immersed in a vibrant new culture.

Couple Training Conditions

Cross-sector couples will live with different host families who may reside in different communities during training. Cross-sector couples may see each other for joint-sector training days or on the weekends but neither are guaranteed.