Durrant Pate/Contributor

A new set of Peace Corps volunteers has arrived in Jamaica, where they will serve in communities across the island for the next two years, supporting national priorities in the education and agriculture sectors.

The group of 21 volunteers were recently sworn in at a ceremony held at the Medallion Hall Hotel in St Andrew attended by representatives from the US Embassy and the Government of Jamaica.

During their two-year service, the newly sworn-in volunteers will work at the grassroots level with primary schools and farmers in rural parishes. Their assignments will focus on improving literacy outcomes, promoting sustainable farming practices, and strengthening community resilience.

Volunteers will also support post-Hurricane Melissa recovery and rebuilding efforts in partnership with their host communities. This will include assessing and documenting storm damage, and assisting with cleanup across farms, schools, and community spaces. During their two-year service, the 21 newly sworn-in volunteers will work at the grassroots level with primary schools and farmers in rural parishes. Their assignments will focus on improving literacy outcomes, promoting sustainable farming practices, and strengthening community resilience.

At the ceremony, US Charge d’Affaires Scott Renner, himself a former Peace Corps volunteer in Mali from 1987-1989, emphasised the importance of partnership and community as volunteers begin their service, telling them, “your presence over the coming months will matter. Jamaica’s resilience is strong, and partnership, real partnership, makes it stronger. You will contribute to that strength. Be guided by your fellow community members and follow their lead in the rebuilding process.” 

Renner also extended gratitude to Jamaican partners who make Peace Corps service possible, adding, “to our Jamaican partners, ministries, community leaders, schools, and host families, many of whom have made a tremendous sacrifice to be here in the wake of hurricane recovery, thank you for welcoming these Volunteers and supporting this enduring partnership.” The event featured remarks from Peace Corps Jamaica director Tammy Palmer and Dr Winne Berry, deputy chief education officer with responsibility for curriculum support with Jamaica’s Ministry of Education.

Country director Palmer reaffirmed the agency’s long-standing commitment to Jamaica, noting that the volunteers of Group 95 will continue the legacy of service that has defined Peace Corps Jamaica for more than six decades. The US Peace Corps’ presence Jamaica traces its beginnings to February 22, 1962, when Premier Norman Washington Manley formally invited the Peace Corps to establish a programme. 

The first cohort of Volunteers arrived on June 12, 1962, just weeks before Jamaica gained independence. 

This year marks 63 years of continuous Peace Corps service in Jamaica. To date, more than 4,000 volunteers, including 47 Peace Corps response volunteers, have served across the island. An additional 48 participants have contributed virtually to the education and agriculture sectors through the Virtual Service Pilot Program (VSPP).