Deadline: January 1, 2023
Peace Corps has a long and rich history in North Macedonia. Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) have played a pivotal role in the country’s growth by offering their skills and talents for over 25 years with 845 Peace Corps Volunteers having successfully served in the country. Since Peace Corps North Macedonia’s inception, Volunteers have inspired their students, created sustainable projects and programs, and formed lasting person-to-person connections; leaving an enduring legacy in their host communities.
Specifically, there is a need for English teachers in primary (grades 1-8) and secondary schools (grades 9-12), particularly in rural communities and smaller towns. Volunteers teach Monday to Friday, 20-30 hours a week, in addition to lesson planning and engaging in extracurricular activities (clubs and other activities at the school). The school year begins September 1 and ends June 10, with one winter break in January. The North Macedonian educational system is fairly sophisticated, and many schools are staffed with teachers who are well-trained and experienced in traditional teaching methods. However, many schools may have limited resources for teaching aids and materials. Therefore, you may work with your colleagues and community members to develop strategies to improve educational resources in your school and community.
Peace Corps North Macedonia has a successful 25-year partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science. All Volunteers will co-teach with a local English teacher counterpart. Your skills as an English Language Co-Teacher will help address the demand for English education in North Macedonia. The English language teacher project focuses on accomplishing the following four objectives:
1) Improving teaching methodologies.
2) Increasing student success in English language learning.
3) Strengthening life skills of students through English.
4) Increasing community members involvement in student learning and/or school improvement.
Community Development Associate
Community Development Associate Volunteers will focus on supporting local communities and organizations to effectively manage sustainable community development. Key national partners, such as the Agency for Youth and Sports, the Red Cross, and umbrella youth organizations have expressed the need for support of active citizen participation, organizational development and youth development. Volunteers could be working at a local NGO, government municipality, secondary school (with a focus on youth development), or a combination of a few organizations; collaborating with NGO workers, youth workers, municipality public servants, and teachers. Volunteers will be working to improve the contributions of organizations and community groups as identified by community needs. They will increase community engagement, especially among the youth.
The Inclusive Education Project is critical to the mission of building a more inclusive and accessible society for all individuals in North Macedonia. Specifically, Special Needs Educator Volunteers are needed to improve the quality of teaching and inclusive education in primary schools for students.
Currently, there is lack of teacher training to support students with special needs in classrooms. Educational and social care systems are currently engaged in reforms on the national and local level which promote inclusive education. Schools working with individuals with special needs in North Macedonia are currently facing many challenges including a lack of resources and trained teachers to work in an inclusive classroom, in addition to disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Project has expanded due to the demonstrated and expressed interest from local partners and governments who have seen the value of PCVs in supporting the national government’s efforts for increasing inclusive education and developing teacher competencies. Volunteers continue to support the growth of schools by helping to design an inclusive approach for all students.
Volunteers may work with beneficiaries of different age groups, from children to adults, in multiple contexts: schools, non-governmental organizations, and government daily centers for education and care of persons with special needs. Schools operate with limited resources for teaching and many schools lack designated spaces for students with special needs. Volunteers are also expected to work with limited resources focusing on teacher and staff training. They will serve as coaches and help develop teacher and staff competencies for successful lesson planning and teaching in an inclusive classroom.