Jamaica
• Competitive candidates will have a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Science degree in any discipline and a strong desire to teach English
SPECIAL NOTICE ABOUT CITIZENSHIP: Candidates who are dual citizens of Jamaica and the U.S. are not eligible to serve with Peace Corps Jamaica. Volunteer safety is of paramount importance, and the protections of U.S. citizenship promote Volunteer safety. If anyone holding dual U.S. and Jamaican citizenship were to face a legal, safety, or other emergency situation in Jamaica, the Peace Corps' ability to intervene would be limited. If you hold citizenship with both the U.S. and Jamaica, we encourage you to look at other opportunities with Peace Corps.
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 classroom teaching experience at the Early Childhood, Middle School, or Elementary level. Full time Montessori teaching experience is also acceptable.
• 3 months 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, teaching/tutoring in areas of reading, writing and comprehension, classroom and behavioral management, teaching a second language, or ESL tutoring.
All Volunteers live in a host family setting for the duration of their service. All assignments are in rural areas, predominantly in the interior and mountainous regions of the island. The standard of living varies widely within rural communities. The most common living situation is a self-contained unit in a family yard or attached to a family home, although some Volunteers may be in a room within the family home with a private bathroom and shared living area and kitchen. During Pre Service Training or occasionally at a 2-year site (i.e., when a host family has visitors) Volunteers may have a shared bathroom situation. Cellular phone coverage is available in most rural communities, but there may not be internet at the home. All Volunteers will have access to internet either by purchasing data for home use from their living stipend or by traveling to their worksite or nearby access point. Host families assist Volunteers with orientation in the community, Jamaican home life, and cross-cultural adjustment during Pre-Service Training and in the assigned 2-year community.
Electricity is present island-wide, except in very remote areas. The amenities that each Volunteer will have with their assigned host families will vary; however, all Volunteers will have access to basic amenities, including a stove and refrigerator. Due to scarcity and high prices, conservation of electricity and water is critical while living with Jamaican host families. Volunteers may also experience short or extended power and water outages on a semi-regular basis and especially in the wake of adverse weather events such as storms. In addition, Volunteers should expect to encounter high temperatures on a regular basis and be prepared to cope with extreme heat, as air conditioning is not widely available on the island. Some sites in wet climates have challenges with mold. In these situations, staff will provide support to PCVs to mitigate mold growth. Peace Corps staff support Volunteers with training and strategies to integrate and adapt effectively and appropriately to living in the new intercultural context of their host community.
The Jamaican diet consists of mostly chicken although beef, goat, and fish are readily available. Vegetarians and vegans can be well accommodated with a wide selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, beans, and grains available, especially in larger supermarkets.
None
Education
Yes
Jamaica
24
Yes
PCV
No
As the preeminent international service organization of the United States, the Peace Corps sends Americans with a passion for service abroad to work with communities and create lasting change. Volunteers develop sustainable solutions to address challenges in Education, Health, Economic Development, Agriculture, Environment and Youth Development. Through their Peace Corps experiences, Volunteers gain a unique cultural understanding and a lifelong commitment to service that positions them to succeed in today's global economy. Since President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps in 1961, more than 240,000 Americans of all ages have served in 142 countries worldwide.
