Program Goals and Duties

Program: Environmental Awareness and Action

Job Title: Environmental Educator

Description (as published in Peace Corps literature):

"Peace Corps/Peru's Environmental Awareness and Action project will address Peru's multiple conservation and environmental challenges, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas. Volunteers will work with local schools, community groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and protected areas staff to strengthen environmental awareness, provide conservation skills, and build organizational capacity and leadership."

Goals:
-Peruvians will improve their environmental awareness through environmental education and participating in environmental activites.
-Peruvians wil promote the protection of natural resources through learning and adopting conservation practices.
-Peruvians will develop and improve leadership abilities and organizational capacity to address the environmental neds of their community and participate in environmental management.

Specific responsibilities might include:
*Training residents in the importance of biodiversity, and in Peru's uniue role in terms of global ecosystems.
*In communities adjoining protected areas, training residents in the importance of conservation and sustainable forestry techniques.
*Developing environmental education modules for incorporation in school curricula, and co-teaching classes.
*Designing craft projects for children and adults, utilizing recycled materials.
*Establishing a summer program, or an environmental youth group, to foster a stewardship ethic among community youth.
*Developing small scale projects in coordination with local leaders to improve the quality of life of residents, such as community clean-up and reforestation campaigns.
*With the local municipal government, developing more environmentlaly sound ways to dispose of trash and to carry out other public service functions.
*Training residents in composting techniques, so as to allow small gardens to be more environmentally sensitive and less costly.
*Training a local community leader to become a resouce person for the community in the promotion of conservation practices and environmental knowledge.
*Providing leadership training to a community environmental group so it can co-manage a local protected area.