Community English Initiative Professional Volunteer

What can be expected of you 

Across northern Peru, particularly in rural areas such as Lobitos, schools struggle to provide adequate English lessons for their students. This is detrimental for multiple reasons. Pupils are expected to meet a certain level of English proficiency at the end of their time at Secondary School, sought after by both higher education institutes and employers.  

At the local scale, English is a very useful language given the high influx of tourists in Lobitos, encouraging business development. As a professional volunteer under this programme, you will therefore be making a tangible impact across the community. You will be helping to expand English language learning in Lobitos. Daily tasks will vary depending on the project stage, offering diverse opportunities. Responsibilities therefore shift but may include: 

• Coordinating with teachers, local English speaking professionals & volunteer-interns under this project, to deliver effective English education. There are seven 1.5 hour English lessons a week at the Lobitos School, running from Wednesday to Friday, with students aged 10-17.  

• Consolidating the English curriculum, developing lesson plans & creating teaching resources, for future use by the Lobitos school. 

• Working with the EcoSwell team to develop and deliver informal English learning & cultural exchange activities for students and the wider community. By improving opportunities for conversational English, you will be equipping local people with the communication skills to participate in Lobitos’ surf-economy. You will also be actively partaking & learning more about Peruvian ways of living, key to EcoSwell’s vision of this programme as a joint cultural experience. 

• Monitoring the progress of this new project and communicating with teachers to understand successes & impacts. 

• Attending & engaging with teaching workshops organised by the Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano (ICPNA) in the nearby city of Talara. This learning opportunity at a recognised English centre in Peru will help both you and the EcoSwell team to deliver effective English teaching in a cross-linguistic setting. 

If you have the passion and skillset to help EcoSwell develop this programme, you are the person we are looking for!

Requirements

This professional programme is designed for participants with a completed university degree and relevant professional experience who are interested in teaching English as a second language, education, and community-centred, sustainable development. This programme is particularly suited to Teachers; Language Specialists; Tutors; Community Volunteers; Education Specialists; and other professionals with demonstrated experience in the delivery of educational activities for young people. 

To be eligible applicants must: 

• Have graduated from a university programme in a relevant discipline, or demonstrate equivalent professional experience in pedagogy, education, community development, or related fields. 

• Be a minimum of 18 years of age.

• Have the ability and motivation to work collaboratively in multidisciplinary teams, often in remote, low-resource settings, where programmes for English education are developing.

Before applying, please ensure that you have familiarized yourself with the information in regards to the financial contribution required for this position. We look forward to hearing from you!

“EcoSwell offers a rare opportunity to create real impact while immersing yourself in an inspiring environment and community”

“I spent eight weeks with EcoSwell, and the experience was truly life-changing. It was incredibly rewarding to see the real, tangible impact my skills could have within a small, mission-driven organisation.

One of the highlights was the opportunity to work closely with all four Directors, engaging in honest, thoughtful discussions around real challenges. It felt like a genuine partnership where my experience was valued and applied in meaningful ways. The experience exceeded my expectations, and I was able to make a lasting contribution to EcoSwell’s mission.

Beyond the professional growth, the personal experience was equally enriching. I learned to surf on a hardboard and ride large waves on some of the best point breaks in Latin America, deepened my yoga practice, learned how to make ceviche, swam in the sea almost every day, and met truly inspiring people along the way. The EcoSwell team made the experience exceptional—from the attentive and supportive Volunteer Coordinator, to Meche’s incredible Peruvian food, to the wider local staff who support you throughout your entire stay.

EcoSwell offers a rare opportunity to create real impact while immersing yourself in an inspiring environment and community. I left not only having made a real impact on the organisation, but with a renewed sense of purpose, perspective, and connection.”

- EMILIE MACKEOWN, FINANCE PROFESSIONAL, Ireland