Events

• Organization of American States Hosted
  Bay Gardens Hotel, Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, Thursday February 28, 2013

Bay Gardens Hotel, Rodney Bay, Saint Lucia, Thursday February 28, 2013



Saint Lucia, March 4, 2013 – The Executive Secretariat of Integral Development of the Organization of American States (OAS), through the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Program (CSEP) and the Energy Efficiency Working Group of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA), hosted a workshop on energy efficiency designs for office and public buildings in tropical climates. The event took place at the Bay Gardens Inn in Rodney Bay from February 28 through March 1st, 2013.





The workshop addressed the capacity of governments and energy stakeholders in charge of developing energy efficiency standards in buildings and provided guidance on opportunities and challenges linked to energy efficiency measures and renewable energy conversion technologies. A roundtable was held to debate future challenges, gaps and barriers linked to the implementation of energy efficiency standards, ways to advance discussions on this topic with policymakers, and next steps for their successful deployment. The Delegates also highlighted the need to create greater public awareness in the Caribbean with regard to energy efficiency.





About 40 guests from the National Standards Bodies and Energy Desks of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, delegates from the European Union, the CARICOM Regional Organisation for Standards and Quality (CROSQ), the Embassy of Mexico in Saint Lucia, the Caribbean Development Bank, the Organization of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Secretariat, the Government of Germany, through its Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Programme (CREDP/GIZ), and engineers and members of the Saint Lucia Institute of Architects attended the event.





Participants provided feedback on the prospective guidelines on energy efficiency designs for office buildings, which were developed by the Spanish consulting firm Trama TecnoAmbiental (TTA) at the request of the OAS Department of Sustainable Development. The delegates indicated their interest in reviewing the proposed guidelines in order to ensure they respond to Caribbean needs and challenges.





Paulo Cesar Galván Tobón, from the Commission for the Efficient Use of Energy (CONUEE) of Mexico, announced his Government’s willingness to support the efforts of the Caribbean nations in the advancement of energy efficiency policies and regulations. “The Government of Mexico is committed to supporting the governments of the Caribbean countries in improving energy efficiency”, said Galván Tobón addressing the Caribbean delegates present at the meeting.





The Department of Sustainable, with the support provided by the Government of Mexico through CONUEE, will use the feedback it received at the workshop to design future activities of the ECPA Energy Efficiency Working Group in the Caribbean. Said activities will contemplate public awareness in energy efficiency, implementation of the ISO 50001 standard on energy management systems, and energy efficiency in the transport sector among other topics


More information »

• New Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to OAS presents Credentials
  Washington DC, Friday August 10, 2012

Washington DC, Friday August 10, 2012



The new Permanent Representative of Saint Lucia to the Organization of American States (OAS), Sonia Johnny, presented her credentials to the OAS Secretary General José Miguel Insulza, taking her position for the second time as her country’s Ambassador to the regional body.


More information »

In the News

• Civil Registry to Perform Better? The Voice
• Public Service LED Lights Helen Television Systems (HTS)
• Organization of American States Hosted DBS Television

Photo Gallery / Videos

Social Development and Employment

• Community After-School Programme

  Community After-School Programme
  
  

  The project was developed against the backdrop of discussions on the role of youth in national development. Saint Lucia has a significant youth population, yet lacked initiatives to promote its meaningful development, particularly in poorer communities. Children and youth face many challenges such as high unemployment and poverty; they may engage in many high risk behaviours (early and unsafe sex, substance abuse, gang violence). Increasing numbers of youth come into conflict with the law.
  

  
  

  The Ministry of Social Transformation, Youth and Sports, in developing programming to engage young people productively, conceptualized the Community After-School Programme. The Ministry considered that the Programme could provide the requisite supervised environment for engaging youth, via media such as sports/physical activities, academic work, life skills, ICT training, and other personal enrichment activities/soft skills training). The activities provide safe havens for learning, recreation and positive relations with adults and peers.
  

  
  

  Specific programme objectives are:
  

  
  

  • To promote behavioural and attitudinal change in children and youth
  

  • To contribute to decreasing criminal or high risk behaviours by youth
  

  • To improve quality of life of participants and of communities
  

  
  

  The Programme was piloted in the communities of Mon Repos, La Maze (both rural) and Faux-a-Chaud (urban) serving 120 participants. By popular demand the Propgrmme has been extended to seven additional communities (Monchy in Gros Islet; Wilton’s Yard, Bois Patate, Sir Ira Simmons Secondary School in partnership with the NGO Rise St Lucia Inc. (all in the capital Castries); Dennery Village in Dennery; Ciceron in collaboration with the Ciceron Development Committee. The ten centers benefit a total of 560 participants.
  

  
  

  To ensure sustainability, the programme is being institutionalized by the Ministry of Social Transformation. Additionally, community resources (volunteers, financial & material resources) are continually mobilized to support the programme
  

Trade

• Development of Regulations and Legislation for Select Services Sectors in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia

  Development of Regulations and Legislation for Select Services Sectors in Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia
  
  

  Goal: To have in place Legislation and Regulations for select service sectors.
  

  Purpose: To attract investment in the services sector and facilitate strategic market liberalization.
  

  
  

  Activities contemplated n this three (3) year project include the assessment of the status of select services sectors in participating countries, and draft regulations and legislation. .
  

  
  

  Anticipated benefits to Saint Lucia’s participation include establishment of a domestic regulatory framework that will allow for the orderly participation of both local and foreign firms in the services sectors to be liberalized. There will be greater transparency in the services sectors as micro and small-scale enterprises will function within a legislated environment with clear rules and regulations. This is expected to augur well for business development and economic growth
  

  More information »

Social Development and Employment

• Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas (POETA)

  Partnership in Opportunities for Employment through Technology in the Americas (POETA)
  
  

  POETA is a hemispheric initiative in Latin America and the Caribbean that provides marginalized populations with job-ready information and communication technologies (TCT) skills to facilitate their social and economic inclusion.
  

  POETA centers are established through partnership with local organizations that provide skills training and social services to beheficiary communities, such as the National Development Skills Centre (NSDC)in Saint Lucia.
  

  This model allows for maximum reach to potential beneficiaries, program sustainability and local impact. POETA Youth training is holistic in nature, designed to provide participants with the job ready skills, civic education and technological tools necessary for meaningful self development and social inclusion.

  More information »

Sustainable Development

• Capacity Building and Creation of an Enabling Environment for the Delivery of National Environmental Education and Public Awareness Programmes in Saint Lucia

  Capacity Building and Creation of an Enabling Environment for the Delivery of National Environmental Education and Public Awareness Programmes in Saint Lucia
  
  

  The purpose of the project is to strengthen institutional capacity to deliver more effective programmes in environmental education and awareness (EE&A). The aim is to support sustainable development in Saint Lucia through strengthening human resource and institutional capacity, by training and technical assistance. Major results of the project are expected to be:
  

  
  

  1. Enhanced National Environmental and Awareness, based on documents such as the National Environmental Education Strategy (currently in draft);
  

  
  

  2. A more coordinated and focussed approach by national agencies to promoting environmental sustainability, in particular through strategic and action plans;
  

  
  

  3. A plan for sustainable financing of the National Environmental Education Programme.
  

  
  

  The project is executed in 2011. It was designed to ensure sustainability beyond project implementation, through various strategies, in particular mainstreaming of EE&A into the work programmes of relevant national agencies, and development of human resource capacity.

Social Development and Environment

• Skills Training for Marginalized Youth

  Skills Training for Marginalized Youth
  
  

  This project is implemented by the Centre for Adolescent Renewal and Education (C.A.R.E.) of Saint Lucia. Since 1993, C.A.R.E. has been instrumental in providing a second chance for unskilled adolescents to obtain training to facilitate their employment. Most of these adolescents have been unsuccessful in academic life, due to negative experiences or difficulty in adapting to environments that primarily focus on academic achievement.
  

  
  

  This OAS project, made possible thorough a grant of the Special Multilateral Fund for Integral Development (FEMCIDI), supports efforts to improve C.A.R.E’s Skills Programme by making it possible to obtain much needed tools and equipment to be used in the training environment. The project will also facilitate C.A.R.E.’s move towards becoming an accredited institution at TVET (Technical and Vocational ) Level 1. Following the recent entry into force of the OECS Economic Union Treaty, the move towards this type of accreditation is of paramount importance as it will place trainees in a more favorable position to obtain regional employment.
  

  
  

  Through the project, C.A.R.E., trainees have access to a holistic training programme that supports their development as young adolescents (13 – 19 years). The students first participate in the Adolescent Development Programme (A.D.P.), subsequently they may participate in a Skills Programme of their choice
  

  
  

  The project is supported by the Ministry of Finance, Economic Affairs and National Development. In implementing the project, C.A.R.E. is also working closely with the TVET Accreditation Unit of the Ministry of Education. The partnership formed by government ministries, the General Secretariat of the OAS and C.A.R.E. aims to improve coordination of efforts in skills development for young people, as well as to enhance the quality of training programmes offered to young adolescents, facilitating their access to gainful employment in a competitive world.
  

  
  

  The project is implemented in 2011.

  More information »

OAS Internships

The OAS Student Internship Program is designed for undergraduate, graduate and young professional student to allow them to work within their fields of study. The program although unpaid is very competitive. The OAS has 28 national offices and some special programs located in the member states. Internships are available in almost all of the offices and this will allow interns to choose whether they prefer to work in their home country or in another office.

• Why the Organization of American States?

  The Organization of American States (OAS) is the main political forum of the hemisphere which promotes and supports Democracy, Human Rights, Multidimensional Security and the Integral Development in the Americas. The OAS seeks to prevent conflicts and to provide political stability, social inclusion and prosperity in the region, through dialogue and collective actions.

• What is our offer?

  We offer you a unique opportunity to gain work experience in different areas and in an international and a multicultural environment. You will have the opportunity to participate in a meaningful learning experience with orientation to the OAS mission, pillars, structure and projects in the hemisphere.

• Where can I do my Internship?

  The OAS has 28 national offices and some special programs located in the member states. This allows anyone interested, to participate in the internship program in their country of origin, or other country of interest.
  

  Besides working in the different projects of the Office, interns must participate in a series of activities that are part of a Complementary Online Program
  

  This is an unpaid internship. Candidates must meet a series of requirements.
  

• Requirements for application

  • You must have a GPA of 3.0 out of 4 (American scale) or equivalent according to the country. This means that you have to be in the top 25% of your class).
  • While being a student is a requirement for the application, you should also be at least in the second year of your undergraduate program
  • Your internship should last at least 10 weeks and at the most 6 months.

• Documents Required

  • Complete the application form (requested to internships@oas.org)
  • 2 letters of recommendation.
  • Official transcripts with your grades.
  • Currículum Vitae.
  • Copy of your passport.
  • Once you are selected, the Intern should submit Proof of insurance.

  All the documents should be sent to internships@oas.org

  Internships are available in Washington DC. Check out www.oas.org/internships.

OAS Scholarships

The OAS Academic Scholarship Program (Regular Program), established in 1958, grants scholarships every year for the pursuit of Master’s Degrees, Doctoral Degrees and Research leading to a degree. The OAS Special Caribbean Scholarships Program (SPECAF), established in 1983, grants scholarships for the last two years of undergraduate studies to citizens and residents of the English-speaking Caribbean OAS Member States. In addition to these programs the OAS, through its Partnerships Program for Education and Training (PAEC), is able to offer other attractive scholarship opportunities for academic studies with the support of its partner institutions in the Americas and around the world.

More information »

OAS - Rowe Fund Educational loan programs for Studies in the United States

The OAS - Rowe Fund loan program for studies in the United States was established in 1948.  This program grants financial aid in the form of interest-free loans for up to $15,000 dollars for graduate, research, and the last two years of undergraduate studies, including semester exchange programs.  Applications may be submitted at any time during the studies in the U.S. and are accepted and reviewed year-round.  For more information about how to obtain a Rowe Fund loan, find other financial aid for studies abroad, or identify a university in the United States according to field of study, cost, or location, visit: www.oas.org/en/rowefund and follow us on Facebook at: www.facebook.com/rowefund