Job Description
Welcome to the Warm Heart of Africa! Takulandirani! Imagine collaborating with dedicated Malawian colleagues to support communities, particularly women, youth, and children, improve their health and well-being and live disease-free, stable, and productive lives. As a catalyst for positive change, you will work alongside Malawians to support their journey towards informed and impactful decisions about their health, well-being and the environment they live in. Consider the ripple effect of your dedication, as your skills contribute to nurturing a thriving, empowered community for everyone.
In Malawi, Peace Corps is introducing an innovative integrated approach that brings health and environmental management together, recognizing that long-term well-being depends on both. This integrated work reflects a broader vision: healthier people living in healthier environments, empowered through education, action, and partnership. As a Health and Environmental Promoter, the primary focus of your service will be to collaborate with Malawian colleagues promoting healthy behaviors that prevent disease transmission and elevate health and well-being. You will also support complementary environmental activities—such as nutrition-focused gardening, tree planting, and environmental education—to reinforce healthy lifestyles and contribute to community resilience.
Working closely with locals, a health facility, and surrounding communities, you will engage with youth, pregnant women, parents and caregivers of children under five, embracing essential health practices that combat malnutrition, malaria, diarrheal diseases and mitigate HIV and AIDS. Together, you will create a supportive environment for youth, ensuring that health services are not only accessible but also welcoming and engaging. Your passion for empowering youth, particularly girls, will shine as you elevate confidence and resilience to overcome life’s challenges. You will support your Malawian colleagues in conducting home or follow-up visits to continuously empower your audiences instilling positive health behaviors that become part of the community fabric. Additionally, you’ll collaborate with local partners and youth clubs to build awareness about how environmental stewardship can enhance public health, creating opportunities for adolescents to lead community-driven change.
In Malawi, your journey as a Health and Environmental Educator will present you with unique challenges, and also with incredible rewards. Rural health facilities face resource limitations, and community structures may lack the organizational capacity to implement effective projects. Some Malawian colleagues may have limited knowledge in certain areas, offering you the opportunity to assist them. Nonetheless, even if you experience challenges in your work, you will have the incredible opportunity to collaborate with passionate Malawians who are eager to affect positive change in their communities. As you work together, you will not only create a lasting impact on your audiences but also witness the transformation that unfolds over time. The training you receive from Peace Corps—combined with your expertise, experiences, and the relationships you build in your community—will aid you to be flexible and creative when approaching your work. Prepare to immerse yourself in two years of meaningful service, where you will contribute to the health and well-being of children and youth in Malawi.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malawi, you'll have the unique opportunity to collaborate with a Corps Africa Volunteers through our innovative side-by-side program. This exciting partnership is designed to foster teamwork, enhance community development, and empower local communities. Together, you'll share experiences, forge lasting relationships, and explore ‘home grown’ strategies for making a meaningful impact. Be part of a pioneering effort to amplify community-driven change in Malawi!
Required Skills
Qualified candidates will have an expressed interest in working in the health sector and one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any field
OR
• 5 years' professional work experience
Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
· Willingness to support community development in rural settings.
· Interest in supporting health programs that focuses on women, youth, and children.
· Willingness to integrate and work in a new environment and culture.
· Experience or interest in environmental education, clubs and/or nutritional gardening.
Living Conditions
Housing: As a Peace Corps Volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to fully immerse yourself in Malawian culture. Your housing will typically be located within the community and consist of a brick house with concrete flooring and a corrugated metal roof. You will be surrounded by neighbors, and the children will become your greatest teachers in understanding community dynamics. While amenities like electricity and running water might not be readily available, you'll have access to mobile phone coverage. Toilets are typically in form of outdoor latrines, and bathing is done using a bucket. You will use a solar lantern for lighting and a gas stove for cooking your meals. This experience offers a wonderful opportunity to embrace a simpler lifestyle, connect deeply with your local community, and contribute to meaningful change.
Transportation: Getting around Malawi is an adventure! As a Volunteer, you'll have the opportunity to walk, cycle, or use public transportation. While public transportation can be unpredictable, it's a great way to meet locals and experience the vibrant culture. If a bicycle is deemed necessary for transportation at your site, Peace Corps will provide one, along with a helmet, for your personal use throughout your service.
Cultural Immersion: To succeed as a Volunteer in Malawi, it's essential to be open-minded, motivated, patient, and flexible. By embracing the local culture and learning the language, you'll build trust with your community and become a valued member. As you integrate into daily life, you'll experience the renowned warmth and hospitality of the Malawian people, who welcome strangers with open hearts and smiling faces. Malawi seamlessly blends rich culture, natural beauty, and opportunities for meaningful service, making it an ideal destination for a rewarding and enriching volunteer experience.
Dress Code: In Malawi, dressing professionally is essential for cultural respect, integration, and meeting government employee expectations. For men, this typically includes button-up shirts, slacks, and dress shoes, while for women, sleeved blouses, skirts or dresses that cover the knee when seated, and toe-covered shoes are recommended. By dressing thoughtfully and respectfully, you'll gain respect from your community, facilitate smoother integration, enhance credibility, and amplify your impact as a Volunteer, so always remain mindful of local customs, traditions, and dress codes.
Language Skills Additional Information
Get ready to immerse yourself in the local culture! During Pre-Service Training, you'll receive personalized language instructions from experienced Malawian language instructors. You'll learn to communicate in the local language spoken in your host community, opening doors to deeper connections and meaningful relationships. By the end of Training, you will be expected to achieve an Intermediate-Mid level of language proficiency, empowering you to make a lasting impact as a Peace Corps Volunteer.
Couples Comments
Peace Corps Malawi can accommodate heterosexual couples. Your partner must apply and qualify for the following position in Malawi:
-Health and Environmental Promoter
- English and Environmental Educator
We welcome couples to serve together in Malawi! As a couple, you'll have the unique opportunity to share in the challenges and rewards of Peace Corps service while supporting each other along the way.
Training and Support: During Pre-Service Training (PST), you'll participate in sector-specific language training and technical programs tailored to your individual assignments. You'll also live together with a host family, immersing yourselves in the local culture and building meaningful relationships.
Service and Community Life: After PST, you'll continue to live together in your host community, working with different community organizations and individuals to make a meaningful impact. You'll have the opportunity to share your experiences, support each other's projects, and explore the beauty of Malawi together.
Important Considerations: Please note that Malawian culture assumes cohabiting couples are married. As such, unmarried couples will need to present themselves as married throughout their service. Unfortunately, due to local laws and restrictions, same-sex couples cannot serve together in Malawi at this time.
We're excited to have you serve as a couple in Malawi!
Language Requirements Information
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
Environmental Adaptation and Resilience Activities (Public Information)
As an Environment Volunteer, you will be trained on best practices to protect natural resources and promote an understanding of environmental changes and challenges, including their causes. As environmental challenges become more evident, the social, economic, and environmental conditions faced by communities will become increasingly problematic, particularly for vulnerable households in low-lying areas and in historically marginalized communities.
As an Environment Volunteer, you will be trained to support communities’ adaptation to global change through your activities. Such activities may include:
• Rehabilitating natural ecosystems, including by planting trees to manage coastal erosion, extreme heat, inland flooding, and other emerging natural hazards
• Promoting disaster preparedness to increase the resilience of vulnerable households and communities and their ability to respond to extreme weather events such as cyclones, hurricanes, and typhoons
• Promoting environmental education to enable community members, particularly youth, to care for nature and be mindful of environmental health, considering trends in heat, precipitation, and natural resource availability
• Assisting in the sustainable management of natural resources and ecosystem services that promote economic, health, and other benefits to the community
• Promoting nature-based solutions that the community has found successful for addressing emerging environmental issues.
