Community Development Initiatives
Volunteers wishing to get involved in one of our Community Development Initiatives (CDI) will work as part of a team dedicated to a particular project pertaining to one of our three main program areas: Education, Youth Development, and Environmental Conservation. These volunteers have the chance to interact directly with the community by preparing and coordinating workshops and activities with local counterpart organizations, community groups, government agencies, and NGOs whose goals are closely related to those of PSF. They are also actively involved in the execution of educational training workshops and project monitoring and evaluation. PSF’s Community Development Initiatives provide volunteers the unique opportunity to continuously improve program parameters and best practices. Our programs are constantly enriched by the participation and insight of volunteers with a wide range of experience and educational backgrounds.
Recommended Skills and Experience
PSF looks for motivated, enthusiastic and responsible volunteers to contribute to CDI. There are three categories of volunteers supporting CDI: Program Managers, Project Leaders, and CDI General Volunteers. While CDI Program Managers must have relevant technical skill and experience as well as the ability to communicate effectively in both Spanish and English, there are myriad opportunities for volunteers who are willing to put in the time and effort. Though there is no standard mold for PSF volunteers working in CDI, the following examples illustrate some of the skills of greatest value:
- Strong oral and written communication skills in English & Spanish.
- Ability to work independently in an unstructured environment and meet set deadlines.
- Ability to work effectively in collaboration with others from diverse backgrounds.
- Strong organizational skills.
- Ability to adapt to (sometimes drastic) cultural differences of Peru.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
- Strong creative and improvisational skills.
Although having these abilities upon arriving at PSF will allow you to be more effective in your work, those whose skills are less refined will have the opportunity to learn from others on the CDI team and still make important contributions in numerous ways. Those who are willing and able to commit to longer terms of service are very often promoted to Project Leader and Program Manager positions as they develop greater understanding of local idiosyncrasies and program dynamics in addition to acquiring valuable project management skills.
Furthermore, there are several specific qualifications we are looking for in direct support of particular CDI Projects:
- TEFL certification
- Teaching experience
- Project management experience
We invite you to check out some of our past and current CDI projects promoted through our three main program areas. If you think you can contribute to the development, management and/or execution of any of the programs or projects listed below, we want to hear from you!
Main Program Areas
