Description of Peace Corps Volunteer Service

Jordan C. Longacre

US Peace Corps Grenada

Jordan Longacre served in the US Peace Corps as a Community Development worker from August 2006 to August 2008, successfully completing his two year commitment.

Following a highly competitive application process, Jordan officially began training for the Peace Corps on July 26, 2006 in Georgetown, Washington D.C.  The next five weeks of training continued on the island nation of St. Lucia.  During the training in St. Lucia, Jordan was selected to serve on the island nation of Grenada and thus completed an additional two weeks of training before officially swearing in as a US Peace Corps Volunteer on September 15, 2006.

During the initial seven weeks of training and the following three months of training Jordan was trained on cross cultural integration, personal health, safety and security, participatory community development and issues pertaining to HIV/AIDS.  Throughout his service he continued to attend trainings and workshops in the areas of project design and management, HIV/AIDS and general community development.

As a Peace Corps Volunteer, Jordan was actively involved in four different communities including Hope, Marquis, Grenville and Belair.  His assignments included areas of teaching and education, HIV/AIDS awareness and general community development.

Teaching and Education

·         Assisted in two after school tutoring programs with 15 students (cumulatively) with emphasis on English, math and reading. 

·         Developed theatre workshops and lesson plans for local area schools as well as for the Ministry of Culture.

·         Taught theatre basics to 15 students for one full school year.

·         Planned and taught lessons in creative development and art at two local schools with 20 students in each class.

·         Worked one on one with several community members and trained them on computer technology and programs.

·         Facilitated several discussions concerning young men’s health at local area schools

·         Assisted at a summer school teaching art, drama and reading to 35 students

HIV/AIDS Awareness

·         Developed and produced informational brochures and flyers addressing sexual health related issues for Grenada Planned Parenthood and Youth Advocacy Movement.

·         Participated in a Behavior Change Communication (BCC) event aimed at raising awareness about HIV/AIDS.

·         Distributed HIV/AIDS informational handouts and engaged youth in health related surveys at two World AIDS Day events.

·         Trained 10 Marquis youth leaders in HIV/AIDS information and prevention with emphasis on abstinence and being faithful.

·         Developed a summer long HIV/AIDS awareness project with the Marquis youth leaders.

·         Coordinated two all day workshops addressing issues of HIV/AIDS, inclusive of free HIV testing, guest speakers and interactive group games.

·         Created and conducted 31 pre-test surveys among the Marquis youth ages 15-35 years.

·         Educated 55 young people in Marquis on HIV/AIDS issues facing the Caribbean as well as methods of prevention.

·         Produced 20 music CDs which incorporated HIV/AIDS facts through brief infomercials and song selection.  Distributed the CDs to bus drivers and shop owners who agreed to participate and play the CD for one month.

·         Applied for and received a $2,200 EC grant from the Presidential Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) which was used to assist in the development and implementation of an HIV/AIDS awareness campaign.

·         Assisted a team of Marquis youth in creating and producing an original play addressing issues of HIV/AIDS and sexual health choices facing today’s Grenadian youth.

·         Developed and compiled HIV/AIDS training materials to be utilized by future Peace Corps Volunteers.

·         Participated in two local one hour radio shows dealing with HIV/AIDS.

General Community Development

·         Assisted the Grenada Industrial Development Corporation in developing a marketing strategy for distribution and sales of local crafts.

·         Held meetings with key community representatives from Marquis to prioritize the needs of the community.

·         Assisted fellow Peace Corps Volunteers in areas of website design, school sporting events, community fairs, children’s theatre and community enhancement projects.

·         Participated in local church groups and community activities.

·         Collaborated with the Grenada Rural Enterprise Project in assessing small projects in Marquis that could benefit from specialized grants.

·         Developed advertising and marketing strategies for St. Andrew’s Development Organization (SADO) in Grenville.

·         Assisted SADO in the selling of goods, events preparation and setup and rallying community involvement.

·         Created several painted banners for local community groups including GRENSAVE, SADO and Dorothy Hopkins Centre for the Disabled

·         Trained a small group of leaders from Hope Area Development in successful project proposals, marketing strategies and fundraising.

·         Enhanced the look of Belair Government School and St. Marten’s Home for the Elderly with outside mural paintings.

·         Participated in Community clean-up and enhancement projects.

·         Produced and created a promotional video for Buckle My Shoe Children’s Resource Center.

·         Assisted Stanley Gill Fisheries in developing a project proposal aimed at raising funds for the development of the fishing industry.

·         Designed a PowerPoint presentation addressing finance for the T.A. Marryshow Community College.