Apply by
January 1, 2025
Know by
March 1, 2025
Depart on
July 12, 2025
Duration
2 years, plus 3 months training
Project description
Make a lasting impact in a child’s life!
Over 30 years ago, His Excellency President Nelson Mandela invited the United States Peace Corps to work on two of the nation’s top priorities – education and HIV/AIDS. Since then, Volunteers have worked alongside host country counterparts on projects that build relationships, promote knowledge exchange, and make a lasting and measurable impact in the communities they serve.
In Peace Corps South Africa’s Literacy Enrichment Project (LEP), Volunteers work alongside South African public school teachers to support English learning for students during their first four years of primary school. In South Africa, local languages (which vary by region) are the language of instruction in the lower grades, and English is the official language of instruction starting in Grade 4. Volunteers will work with teachers and students in lower primary grades to increase English literacy and equip students with skills to transition to English instruction as they progress from Grade 4 and beyond.
Peace Corps will train Volunteers in the national basic education curriculum provided by the Department of Education in South Africa. Primary School English Teacher Volunteers will support the goals of the South African Department of Education.
In this role, Volunteers will work in collaboration with local counterparts to:
- Teach and/or co-teach the South African English curriculum to lower primary school aged students in a classroom setting.
- Facilitate remediation support for students in lower primary in English within a school setting
- Plan and facilitate events/recreational activities to create opportunities for practicing and improving English language skills.
- Guide teachers to co-plan, design, adapt, and/or pilot learning materials.
- Plan and Facilitate literacy skills using multicultural literature.
- Guide teachers in the use of techniques for promoting gender equity in the classroom.
- Plan and Facilitate extra-curricular activities with students to promote gender awareness and increase students’ confidence, participation, and leadership.
Plan and Facilitate the development of a library lending or reading room system.
- Train teachers and/or students to organize and maintain a library.
Support to Learners Beyond the Classroom
Typical classes may have 30 to 40 learners from various socio-economic backgrounds, family environments, and access to learning resources outside the classroom. Peace Corps encourages Volunteers to create opportunities for practicing and improving students’ English language skills by through participation in competitions, music, contests, games, and theatre.
Community Engagement
Volunteers may also collaborate with local partners to design and advocate HIV prevention and mitigation activities as secondary projects to address the impact of the HIV epidemic among youth in the country. LEP Volunteers will also receive training on gender dynamics and multiculturalism in South Africa and will have the opportunity to co-implement culturally appropriate gender-related activities. Peace Corps South Africa collaborates with a range of partners that promote gender awareness and girls’ education and empowerment.
Pre-Service Training
During Pre-Service Training (PST), Volunteers will learn and develop the skills and knowledge required for a successful service. PST is considered an intensive training period where Volunteers will live with a host family and receive training on key technical, intercultural, language, medical, and safety and security aspects within the context of South Africa’s diverse rural and urban settings.
NOTE: Due to the South African visa requirements, if you have ever been cited for, arrested, charged with, or convicted of any offense, regardless of whether a citation, charge, arrest, or conviction has been sealed, dismissed, or expunged from your record (excluding minor traffic violations, traffic citations, and parking tickets), your visa application may be rejected.
Required Skills
- Competitive candidates will have a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline and a strong desire to teach English
Desired Skills
Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in pre-school, early childhood, middle school, or elementary education
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with elementary education state certification
- Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline with one or more school years classroom teaching experience at the early childhood, middle school, elementary level. Montessori teaching experience is also welcome.
The Most Competitive Candidates Will Have
- A strong desire to work with children in grades kindergarten up to fourth grade.
- A demonstrated record of volunteerism and service that reflects a personal commitment to children, youth, and education.
- Literacy tutoring or teaching experience with primary and/or middle school students.
- One year or more teaching or facilitating extracurricular activities for youth.
Required Language Skills
There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.
There are 12 official languages in South Africa - Ndebele, Pedi, Sotho, South African Sign Language, Swazi, Tsonga, Tswana, Venda, Afrikaans, Xhosa, Zulu and English. While you are not expected to know a South African language before arrival, learning the assigned South African language is critical to Volunteer success. By the end of Pre-Service Training, Trainees will be expected to meet language proficiency requirements.
Living conditions
Housing
After successfully completing Pre-Service Training, Volunteers will be assigned to work in a rural school. Typically, Volunteer housing is in the same community served by the school. It is likely you will live within the compound of a host family but have your own room/dwelling separate from the main house, or in a room that is attached to the house with its own entrance. Peace Corps ensures that all Volunteer housing meets a minimum standard, but housing varies widely in South Africa. Some Volunteers have running water and electricity, while many do not. Volunteers with access to electricity often experience significant outages for hours or days at a time. Many Volunteers have access to the internet via smartphones, although the signal can be inconsistent and lapses in coverage are common.
Participation in Cultural Events in the Community
Volunteers will be invited to participate in many communal, religious, and social events during their time service. It is one of many ways to integrate with host families and communities. These are very common during the festive season around Christmastime, New Year, and Easter. Volunteers are encouraged to take part in these occasions as they will enrich the Volunteer’s experience in South Africa.
Appearance and Dress
Personal appearance is important in South Africa. During PST, the dress code is business casual. Following PST, you are expected to adhere to professional dress standards for work situations in your community. Professional dress implies dress slacks (no jeans), collared shirts, long skirts, dresses, or dress slacks. Volunteers are expected to always maintain a clean and groomed appearance as this does affect the community’s perception of the volunteer.
You can find out more about living conditions in South Africa here: https://www.peacecorps.gov/south-africa/living-conditions/
Intercultural Challenges in a Diverse Environment
South Africa is a diverse country with a complex history that continues to affect the country politically, economically, and socially. South Africa lived under the Apartheid system of institutionalized racial segregation between 1948 and 1994. Living and working in South Africa means negotiating economic disparity daily. The post-apartheid reality of South Africa means that Volunteers should be prepared to live, work, and navigate issues such as post-trauma stress, economic challenges, interpersonal/intercultural challenges, and unresolved conflict that still present barriers to day-to-day work. Challenges Volunteers may face include harassment related to gender, skin color, socioeconomic status, and language.
Diversity and Inclusion
Racial and Religious Identification
Volunteers who identify as an American racial, ethnic, or national minority or whose religious or spiritual beliefs differ from most may experience a high degree of curiosity or unwanted attention from South Africans. Ethnically, nationally, or racially diverse Americans may be questioned about their “true nationality” as American. While this may initially irritate Volunteers, many have turned these encounters into learning experiences, deepening local community members’ understanding of America’s rich diversity.
LGBTQIA+
South Africa has legalized same-sex marriage and the rights of LGBTQI+ community are enshrined in the Constitution. While South Africa is generally tolerant; values, morals, and judgements concerning sexual orientation and gender identity often differ across the country. This is especially true in rural communities where Volunteers will be placed. Volunteers will need to be mindful of cultural norms and use their judgment to determine the best way to approach sexual orientation and gender identity in their communities. There are Peace Corps support networks and trainings in place for Volunteers navigating these challenges.
You can find out more about navigating identities here: https://www.peacecorps.gov/south-africa/navigating-identities/
Learn more about the Volunteer experience in South Africa: Get detailed information on culture, communications, housing, and health/crime statistics in order to make a well-informed decision about serving.
Medical considerations
Before you apply, please review medical clearance and legal clearance to learn about the process.
Couples information
South Africa Can Accommodate Couples In The Same Sector And Support Them Living Together During The Entirety Of Pre-Service Training And Two Years Of Service. Therefore, Your Partner Must Apply And Qualify For
- Primary School English Teacher
Couples typically will not be assigned to the same school. They will be placed in different schools that may be in close proximity. Couples will live together and will be in similar housing to other Volunteers. Couples will either live with a host family or in a separate dwelling.
The Peace Corps works to foster safe and productive assignments for same-sex couples, and same-sex couples are not placed in countries where homosexual acts are criminalized. Because of this, same-sex couple placements are more limited than heterosexual couple placements. During the application process Recruiters and Placement Officers work closely with same-sex couple applicants to understand current placement opportunities. For more information please visit: https://www.peacecorps.gov/faqs/lgbtq/
