EntryFull TimeEN
Liberia
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in Secondary Education with concentration in any science
OR
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with secondary certification in science
OR
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in General Science, Biology, Chemistry, Physics, or Engineering
OR
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any physical science or any biological science or equivalent
OR
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with a minor or equivalent (15 semester/22 quarter hours) in Biology, Chemistry, or Physics
Additionally, Liberia strongly prefers its Volunteers have one or more of the following qualifications:
• Experience teaching hands-on science activities to elementary/middle/high school students (such as through a science outreach program, summer camp, or as a science teacher)
• Experience teaching science lab courses to students (i.e. working as a TA in a lab course)
• Experience working in or managing a science lab (may include conducting research, working in the stockroom at a college, or working in a job that involves lab work)
• Experience working and teaching in a multi-level classroom
• Experience working with youth in unstructured or semi-structured environments or in community and organizational development
• Teaching experience including lesson planning, basic classroom management, student evaluation, and public speaking
• Experience creating job and/or teaching aids using limited resources
Housing: Volunteers are expected to be willing to accept a variety of housing possibilities during their two years of service. Volunteer housing consists of both single and duplex homes, depending on the school's site and housing availability. Most homes consist of three to four rooms, including a bedroom, a common area, kitchen and an indoor bathroom that requires bucket flushing. Volunteers should not expect to have electricity or running water in their home, and they will get their water from a nearby hand pump or well. During Pre-Service Training (PST) trainees will stay with a host family and commute to the training center for sessions. They will have their own bedroom within the host family’s house.
Diet: The staple food in Liberia is rice. It is the base for most meals and is typically served with a sauce or “soup” made from a variety of locally grown vegetables and prepared with meat, fish or chicken when available. Cassava or “fufu” is another main staple and can be found dried, fermented, or fresh depending on the dish. Because of Liberia’s wide-spread food insecurity, access to higher nutrition foods tend to be limited and many Volunteers find the amount of carbohydrates to be much higher than they are used to. Spices and hot peppers are also common in Liberian cuisine and many dishes put even the most spice tolerant palates to the test.
Communication: All calls in Liberia are made via cell phone and most communication with staff and locals will be done through text messaging apps. Volunteers are required to have a smart phone. Volunteers will be provided funds to purchase a smart phone or have the option to bring an unlocked phone with SIM access. While a few Volunteers may not have service in their houses there will be places in the community to access both phone coverage and internet.
Transportation: During Peace Corps service, Volunteers will travel via public transportation, often in the form of tightly packed taxis. Many roads and vehicles are in extremely poor condition, especially during the rainy season. All Volunteers are trained in transportation safety; however, transportation will always be a challenge during service. While traveling between locations, Volunteers should be prepared for old and crowded vehicles and long hours on the road. Volunteers are expected to commute daily between their home and work location, which is no more than 30 minutes walking distance.
Health and Safety: The health, safety and security of Volunteers are the Peace Corps' top priorities. During the 10-week Pre-Service Training (PST), Volunteers are trained on awareness and prevention activities such as handwashing, food safety and other hygienic practices in the Liberia context. Volunteers are also given information on Emergency Action Plans and ways to keep themselves safe during service. Peace Corps Liberia also provides extensive training and information on personal safety and security best practices and available resources throughout the Volunteer’s service. The Peace Corps Liberia team includes dedicated Medical Officers, a Safety and Security Manager, and other designated staff at Post and at Peace Corps’ headquarters who are always available to support and respond to Volunteer health, safety, and security needs.
None
Education
Yes
Liberia
24
Yes
PCV
No
Increased readjustment allowance