A Youth Development Volunteer in Peru: A Chat with Eury

In this interview, you’ll hear from Eury Fabian, a Peace Corps Youth Development volunteer in Peru. Eury shares what daily life looks like, the work being done, and how service has shaped their personal and professional growth. You’ll learn about housing, cultural differences, project work, language learning, and what it’s like to live and work in a new country. This interview offers a real look into Peace Corps service and what future volunteers can expect.

Volunteer Experience and Motivation
Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration
Surprises and Challenges
Advice and Support
Practical Tips and Language Learning
Social Identity
Final Thoughts

Volunteer Experience and Motivation

1. What do you do as a Peace Corps Youth Development volunteer in Peru

As a Youth Development Volunteer, my work focuses on supporting adolescents’ social, emotional, and academic growth. On a typical day, I might run life skills workshops at a school, co-facilitate sessions with psychologists on topics like communication, bullying, or healthy relationships, and organize vocational orientation activities to help students explore future career paths. I also spend time preparing lesson plans, meeting with teachers, and finding ways to engage families in their children’s development.

2. Why did you decide to join the Peace Corps and serve in Peru?

I wanted to serve in the Peace Corps because I believe deeply in youth empowerment and education as tools for social change. Peru stood out to me because of its rich cultural diversity, strong sense of community, and the unique challenges facing youth in both rural and urban areas. I felt it was the right place to contribute my skills while also learning and growing personally.

Peace Corps volunteer in Peru reads with middle school students during a life skills lesson on self-esteem. The volunteer sits in a colorful classroom holding an open book, engaging young learners who gather around desks in the bright, poster-filled learning space. Sunlight streams through large windows as this youth development specialist connects with students through interactive reading activities that build confidence and personal growth skills. — My work is primarily with high school juniors and seniors; however I take some time to include the younger students in life skills lessons. Here I am doing some reading with a middle school class on self-esteem.

Living Arrangements and Cultural Integration

3. What is your housing like in Peru?

I live with a host family in a rural highland town, almost 14,000 ft above sea level. My home is simple but comfortable. I have my own room, and meals are shared with the family. Daily life is very different from what I was used to in the U.S., but I’ve grown to appreciate the slower pace, fresh food, and strong sense of community that comes with living alongside my host family.

4. What moments stand out during your service?

Some of my favorite moments are when students greet me with excitement, run up to share good news, or smile during an activity we’re doing together. One highlight was introducing my students to yoga for the first time, and seeing them take to mindfulness and relaxation techniques was really rewarding. Those small sparks of connection make all the hard work worthwhile.

Peace Corps volunteer in Peru leads a yoga and mindfulness session with high school students in a community center hall. Students in blue uniforms lie on yoga mats practicing relaxation techniques while the volunteer sits cross-legged with a laptop, guiding the mindfulness exercise. The spacious room features traditional Peruvian artwork, a "BIENVENIDOS" welcome banner, and wooden floors that create a peaceful atmosphere for this youth development program focused on mental wellness and stress reduction. — One of my favorite secondary projects has been my yoga club. I’ve never taught yoga until coming Peru, but I’ve enjoyed sharing this practice. I am very proud to have shared with them the benefits of mindfulness.

Surprises and Challenges

5. What has surprised you most about living or working in Peru?

I’ve been surprised by how openly people welcome you once you show commitment to the community. At first, I expected it to take a long time to build trust, but many families, teachers, and students have been generous in including me in local life. I was also surprised by how flexible and creative you need to be when working in schools, since plans often change at the last minute.

6. What challenges have you faced in your Youth Development work, and how did you respond?

One challenge has been adjusting to different perceptions of youth mental health and the role of emotional support in schools. Sometimes topics like bullying or family violence can feel sensitive or taboo. To address this, I’ve worked closely with local psychologists, leaned on Peace Corps resources, and framed discussions in ways that highlight strengths and community values. Flexibility and patience have been key.

7. What secondary projects have you worked on during your service?

In addition to school-based activities, I’ve supported vocational orientation workshops to help students understand their options for higher education and financial aid. I also introduced yoga and mindfulness sessions as a way for students to manage stress.

I have also partnered with a local youth organization to bring social emotional learning to smaller rural towns. With this same organization, we work on environmental projects. My town has the second biggest lake of Peru and the highest in the entire country. The flora and fauna are quite unique, with many endemic species. These side projects have been especially meaningful because they combine my personal interests with the needs of the youth.

Peace Corps volunteer in Peru collaborates with youth organization members, Denver Zoo staff, and SERNANP rangers on environmental conservation projects in Junín's high-altitude grasslands. The diverse group of young volunteers and conservation professionals wear masks and orange gloves while holding black trash bags, demonstrating their commitment to protecting Peru's natural areas. Behind them stretches the dramatic Andean landscape with golden grasslands, rolling hills, and traditional rural structures, showcasing the pristine environment these environmental stewards work together to preserve. — Outside of the schools I join hands with a youth organization, the Denver Zoo, and SERNANP who protect the natural areas of Peru. We collaborate on environmental projects with the youth of Junín, Peru.

Advice and Support

8. What advice would you give to future Youth Development volunteers in Peru?

Come with an open mind and be ready to adapt your expectations. Success often looks different than you might imagine, it could be a single student opening up to you or a teacher trying a new activity after seeing your example. Focus on building relationships first; the projects will follow.

9. How did Peace Corps training prepare you for service?

Pre-Service Training gave me a strong foundation in language, cultural understanding, and facilitation techniques. The sessions on Peruvian education systems and youth development frameworks were especially helpful. What I’ve found most valuable is knowing that training is ongoing; ISTs and MSTs gave me new tools at the exact moments I needed them.

Peace Corps volunteer in Peru facilitates a vocational orientation ceremony where local professionals receive certificates for participating in career guidance programs for high school students. The smiling group includes a teacher, healthcare worker, the bearded volunteer, a young professional, and a police officer in green uniform, all holding official certificates. Behind them, colorful banners display "TRED 2024" and educational ministry logos, highlighting this youth development initiative that connects students with diverse career role models in their community. — The youth development project in Peru includes the implementation of a vocational orientation program; as part of this program I invited local professionals to share their stories with my students, who are learning and exploring different career paths.

Practical Tips and Language Learning

10. What would you tell future volunteers to pack—or leave behind?

Pack items that connect you to your sense of comfort and identity, like small hobbies, a journal, or spices you love. Leave behind heavy or impractical things you’ll rarely use. Most essentials can be found locally, so don’t stress about overpacking.

11. How has language learning been for you in Peru?

I am a native Spanish speaker, but I have learned so much more here; there are work-related terminologies that I needed to learn. Daily conversations with my host family have helped me learn essential slang.

A wild vicuña stands gracefully in the golden grasslands of Peru's high-altitude plains, photographed by a Peace Corps volunteer who documents endemic wildlife species in Junín region. The elegant camelid displays its characteristic slender neck and alert posture against the vast Andean landscape of rolling hills and distant mountains. This protected species thrives in Peru's pristine puna ecosystem, where Peace Corps volunteers combine youth development work with wildlife photography and environmental conservation education. — One of my hobbies is photography. I enjoy taking pictures of the wildlife in my site. We have a lot endemic species. In this photo you can see a Vicuña, they’re very majestic and a protected specie in Peru.

12. How has your personal identity shaped your service experience?

As someone who identifies as Dominican–American, I’ve found that it shapes both how people perceive me and how I connect with them. In many ways, it’s opened doors, people are curious, and it’s created space for dialogue about culture and identity.

13. Did your identity lead to specific challenges or situations?

Yes, at times, assumptions or stereotypes have come up, and I’ve had to navigate questions that felt personal. I approached these situations with patience and used them as opportunities for cultural exchange. Having support from fellow volunteers and staff also made a difference.

Lean into the community and find your allies, both locally and within the Peace Corps. Remember that your identity is a strength that allows you to connect in unique ways. Be gentle with yourself and know that it’s okay to set boundaries.

Peace Corps volunteer in Peru stands with a local boatman on Lake Chinchaycocha, the country's second largest and highest lake at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level in Junín. The smiling volunteer holds a camera while posing on a traditional green wooden boat used for navigating these pristine high-altitude waters. Behind them stretches the vast lake surrounded by dramatic Andean mountains and wetlands, creating a stunning backdrop in this historic region where one of Peru's final independence battles was fought against Spanish forces. — I’ve been living in Junín, Peru by the second largest lake and highest in the country (Lago Chinchaycocha), at almost 14,000 ft above sea level; making me the highest volunteer in the world for all of Peace Corps. I live in a heroic city, one of the last battles against the Spanish was fought in my town, and with it, Peru gained its independence.

Final Thoughts

Approach your service with humility, patience, and curiosity. The most meaningful impacts may not be the ones you can measure, but the relationships you build and the perspective you gain will stay with you for life.

Are you thinking about joining the Peace Corps? If you’re curious about service and ready for something new, apply today. Like Eury, you can live abroad, work with communities, and grow in ways you didn’t expect.

Apply to the Peace Corps and take the next step.

The content of this post does not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. Government, the Peace Corps, or the Peru Government.