Peace Corps Jamaica is one of the most successful in the world, says Suchet Loois



"The purpose of the celebrations is to acknowledge God for his blessings on Peace Corps Jamaica, as our second longest running agenda worldwide. We will use the period to inform the public of our history and work as well," says Dr. Loois.

Peace Corps Jamaica is one of the most successful in the world, says Suchet Loois

Peace Corps Ja - among most successful worldwide
published: Saturday | February 25, 2006

Joseph Cunningham, Gleaner Writer

PEACE CORPS Jamaica is one of the most successful in the world, says Suchet Loois, head of the local chapter of this United States Government programme.

Internationally the Peace Corps is celebrating its 45th anniversary. This milestone will also be marked locally.

"The purpose of the celebrations is to acknowledge God for his blessings on Peace Corps Jamaica, as our second longest running agenda worldwide. We will use the period to inform the public of our history and work as well," says Dr. Loois.

The corps first came to Jamaica in 1962, the year of the country's Independence and has since posted a total of 3,300 volunteers to the island with a further 111 currently serving two-year terms here.

IN 138 DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Established to promote mutual understanding between Americans and other nationalities, the corps currently operates in 138 developing countries. Its first volunteers in Jamaica worked in library development, vocational education, and agriculture. Today Peace Corps workers in Jamaica assist in conservation, information technology, promoting healthy living, and helping young people to gain the skills and education they need for their future.

The 111 volunteers in Jamaica will have already gone through a relatively arduous application process. Candidates must first attend an introductory meeting to learn about the work and history of the corps. At this same session they must also fill out a 27-page application form to investigate their management and leadership skills. And after all this they must undergo a rigid medical examination.

NO AGE BARRIERS

There are no age barriers (Volunteer of the Week, Bob Keagi is 72 years old) and if accepted candidates are assigned based on their professional skills. In Jamaica they are assigned to two different programmes. The first is Youth-as-Promise which focuses on youth development . The second is Crisis Corps which deals with natural disaster relief and reconstruction.

The corps works closely with local organisations including the Jamaica Red Cross. Under a recently signed agreement, volunteers may soon be attached to all 14 Red Cross parish headquarters.

Julie Burnette from Tennessee and Robin Carlson, Chicago, are assigned to 'Youth-as-Promise'. Like every other volunteer they are expected to 'blend in'. What this means is that they have had to live with a Jamaican family for six weeks, familiarise themselves with Patois, learn to cook local foods and even hand wash their own clothes.

NO BEACH CORPS

Assigned to the community of Flankers in St. James, their experience of Jamaica will be far different from that of their countrymen frolicking on local beaches this Spring Break. As the new batch of volunteers explained to Volunteer Today when they arrived in July, "This is not the Beach Corps!"

And their presence has not gone unappreciated by locals. According to Marilyn Nash, administrator at the Flankers Peace and Justice Community Centre, "To get trained professionals to serve freely is just remarkable. We have seen significant improvement with each student. Students even visit their home for assistance."

When this story was posted in March 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:




Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers

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March 1, 1961: Keeping Kennedy's Promise On March 1, 1961, President John F. Kennedy issues Executive Order #10924, establishing the Peace Corps as a new agency: "Life in the Peace Corps will not be easy. There will be no salary and allowances will be at a level sufficient only to maintain health and meet basic needs. Men and women will be expected to work and live alongside the nationals of the country in which they are stationed--doing the same work, eating the same food, talking the same language. But if the life will not be easy, it will be rich and satisfying. For every young American who participates in the Peace Corps--who works in a foreign land--will know that he or she is sharing in the great common task of bringing to man that decent way of life which is the foundation of freedom and a condition of peace. "

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The Peace Corps Library The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory. New: Sign up to receive PCOL Magazine, our free Monthly Magazine by email. Like to keep up with Peace Corps news as it happens? Sign up to recieve a daily summary of Peace Corps stories from around the world.

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Top Stories: February 2, 2006 Al Kamen writes: Rice to redeploy diplomats 20 Jan Peace Corps mourns the Loss of Volunteer Tessa Horan 1 Feb RPCV pursues dreams in America's Heartland 1 Feb Sargent Shriver documentary to be shown in LA 30 Jan W. Frank Fountain is new board chairman of Africare 27 Jan Abbey Brown writes about acid attacks in Bangladesh 26 Jan Christopher Hill Sees Ray of Hope in N.Korea Standoff 26 Jan Jeffrey Smit writes on one man diplomatic outposts 25 Jan Joe Blatchford's ACCION and microfinance 24 Jan James Rupert writes: A calculated risk in Pakistan 23 Jan Sam Farr rips conservative immigration bill 21 Jan Americans campaign for PC to return to Sierra Leone 20 Jan Kinky Friedman supports Gay Marriage 20 Jan Margaret Krome writes on Women leaders 18 Jan James Walsh leads bipartisan US delegation to Ireland 17 Jan Mark Schneider writes on Elections and Beyond in Haiti 16 Jan Robert Blackwill on a "serious setback" in US-India relations 13 Jan Kevin Quigley writes on PC and U.S. Image Abroad 13 Jan Emily Metzloff rides bicycle 3,100 miles from Honduras 9 Jan Charles Brennick starts operation InterConnection 9 Jan Lee Fisher tells story of Pablo Morillo 7 Jan Nancy Wallace writes: Was PC a CIA front after all? 4 Jan

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Paid Vacations in the Third World? Retired diplomat Peter Rice has written a letter to the Wall Street Journal stating that Peace Corps "is really just a U.S. government program for paid vacations in the Third World." Director Vasquez has responded that "the small stipend volunteers receive during their two years of service is more than returned in the understanding fostered in communities throughout the world and here at home." What do RPCVs think?

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RPCV admits to abuse while in Peace Corps Timothy Ronald Obert has pleaded guilty to sexually abusing a minor in Costa Rica while serving there as a Peace Corps volunteer. "The Peace Corps has a zero tolerance policy for misconduct that violates the law or standards of conduct established by the Peace Corps," said Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez. Could inadequate screening have been partly to blame? Mr. Obert's resume, which he had submitted to the Peace Corps in support of his application to become a Peace Corps Volunteer, showed that he had repeatedly sought and obtained positions working with underprivileged children. Read what RPCVs have to say about this case.

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Military Option sparks concerns The U.S. military, struggling to fill its voluntary ranks, is allowing recruits to meet part of their reserve military obligations after active duty by serving in the Peace Corps. Read why there is opposition to the program among RPCVs. Director Vasquez says the agency has a long history of accepting qualified applicants who are in inactive military status. John Coyne says "Not only no, but hell no!" and RPCV Chris Matthews leads the debate on "Hardball." Avi Spiegel says Peace Corps is not the place for soldiers while Coleman McCarthy says to Welcome Soldiers to the Peace Corps. Read our poll results. Latest: Congress passed a bill on December 22 including language to remove Peace Corps from the National Call to Service (NCS) military recruitment program

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Why blurring the lines puts PCVs in danger When the National Call to Service legislation was amended to include Peace Corps in December of 2002, this country had not yet invaded Iraq and was not in prolonged military engagement in the Middle East, as it is now. Read the story of how one volunteer spent three years in captivity from 1976 to 1980 as the hostage of a insurrection group in Colombia in Joanne Marie Roll's op-ed on why this legislation may put soldier/PCVs in the same kind of danger. Latest: Read the ongoing dialog on the subject.

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PC establishes awards for top Volunteers Gaddi H. Vasquez has established the Kennedy Service Awards to honor the hard work and service of two current Peace Corps Volunteers, two returned Peace Corps Volunteers, and two Peace Corps staff members. The award to currently serving volunteers will be based on a demonstration of impact, sustainability, creativity, and catalytic effect. Submit your nominations by December 9.

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Friends of the Peace Corps 170,000 strong 170,000 is a very special number for the RPCV community - it's the number of Volunteers who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961. It's also a number that is very special to us because March is the first month since our founding in January, 2001 that our readership has exceeded 170,000. And while we know that not everyone who comes to this site is an RPCV, they are all "Friends of the Peace Corps." Thanks everybody for making PCOL your source of news for the Returned Volunteer community.

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