Competitive candidates will have one or more of the following criteria:
• Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in Preschool, 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 1 or more school year classroom teaching experience at the Early Childhood, Middle School, or Elementary level. Full-time Montessori teaching experience is also acceptable.

Desired Skills

Additionally, Liberia prefers its Volunteers have one or more of the following qualifications:
• Experience in early childhood development, elementary education or youth development. This includes elementary education/literacy, life skills education, parent education/support, social work, library studies and/or creative arts.
• Experience in classroom and behavioral management.
• Experience working with students, teaching a second language, or ESL tutoring.
• Willingness to work with children between the ages to 6-12 years old.

Required Language Skills

There are no pre-requisite language requirements for this position.

There are 15 local languages spoken in Liberia with Liberian English spoken throughout the country. Standard English is the official language of instruction in schools; however, many teachers teach in Liberian English. Liberian English is very different in pronunciation and structure from Standard English and will require training to understand. In addition to training in Liberian English, Volunteers receive limited training in the local language relevant to their community.

Living Conditions

Housing: Volunteers can expect a variety of housing possibilities during their two years of service. Volunteer housing consists of both single and double dwelling homes, depending on the school’s site and housing availability. Most homes consist of three to four rooms, including a bedroom, a common area, kitchen, and an indoor bathroom that requires bucket flushing. Volunteers should not expect to have electricity or running water in their home, and they will get their water from a nearby hand pump or well. During Pre-Service Training (PST), Trainees will stay with a host family and commute to the training center for sessions. They will have their own bedroom within the host family’s house.

Diet: The staple food in Liberia is rice. It is the base for most meals and is typically served with a sauce or “soup” made from a variety of locally grown vegetables and prepared with meat, fish or chicken when available. Cassava or “fufu” is another main staple and can be found dried, fermented, or fresh depending on the dish. Because of Liberia’s wide-spread food insecurity, access to higher nutrition foods tend to be limited and many Volunteers find the amount of carbohydrates to be much higher than they are used to. Spice and hot peppers are also common in Liberian cuisine and many dishes put even the most spice tolerant palates to the test.

Communication: All calls in Liberia are made via cellphone and most communication with staff and locals will be done through text messaging apps. All Volunteers are required to have a smart phone and will be provided with one upon arrival in Liberia. While a few Volunteers may not have service in their houses there will be places in the community to get service, which applies to both phone coverage and internet.

Transportation: Volunteers will travel via public transportation, often in the form of tightly packed taxis. Many roads and vehicles are in extremely poor condition, especially during the rainy season. All Volunteers are trained in transportation safety; however, transportation will always be a very large challenge during service. While traveling between locations, Volunteers should be prepared for old and crowded vehicles and long hours on the road.

Health & Safety: The health, safety, and security of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCVs) are the Peace Corps’ top priorities. During the eleven-week PST, PCVs are trained on awareness and prevention activities such as handwashing, food safety, and other hygienic practices in the Liberia context. Volunteers are also given information on Emergency Action Plans and ways to keep themselves safe during service. We also provide extensive training and information on personal safety and security best practices and available resources throughout the Volunteer’s service. The Liberia team includes dedicated Medical Officers, a Safety and Security Manager, and other designated staff at Post and at Peace Corps’ headquarters, who are always available to support and respond to Volunteer health, safety, and security needs.

LGBTQIA+ Volunteers: While Liberia is generally less conservative than neighboring countries, local laws and wide-spread cultural beliefs are opposed to same sex relationships and non-heteronormative presentations and behaviors. Despite this cultural context, LGBTQIA+ Volunteers engage in safe, rewarding services. Peace Corps Liberia has designated Safe Zone staff who are trusted and trained to support LGBTQIA+ Volunteers, and who can advise Volunteers on how to safely disclose their sexual orientation and/or gender identities should they choose to do so. As part of Peace Corps Liberia’s commitment to supporting LGBTQIA+ Volunteers, all Trainees receive Safe Zone training as part of Pre-Service Training. As a general best practice, it is strongly recommended that Volunteers do not disclose LGBTQIA+ identity to other trainees, volunteers, or staff prior to receiving Safe Zone Training.

Serving in Liberia

Learn more about the Volunteer experience in Liberia: Get detailed information on culture, communications, housing, health, and safety — including health and crime statistics — in order to make a well-informed decision about serving.

Couples Information

Your partner must apply and qualify for the following position in Liberia:
• Junior High Math Teacher
• Junior High Science Teacher
• Health Extension Volunteer

Peace Corps Liberia welcomes applications from couples. Couples will live apart during training. At site, couples will share a home that meets the same standards for all Volunteers. There will be time during service when couples will spend days and nights apart, such as when one is attending a meeting, routine medical appointments, etc.

Medical Considerations

Before you apply, please review Medical Information for Applicants to learn about the medical clearance process.