Events

• Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission Conducts Mission to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday April 2, 2013

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tuesday April 2, 2013



The Multilateral Evaluation Mechanism (MEM) of the Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission (CICAD) – a specialized agency of the Organization of American States (OAS) serving as the Hemisphere’s policy forum on all aspects of the drug problem - conducted a sensitization mission to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on March 26 and 27, 2013.





The Mission comprised Ms. Angela Crowdy, CICAD’s Acting Assistant Executive Secretary, and Ms. Karen Sanjines, MEM Specialist, and was joined on-island by Ms. Melene Glynn, OAS Country Representative.





The MEM is a diagnostic tool designed by the member countries of the OAS, which carries out periodic, comprehensive, multilateral evaluations of the actions taken by individual member states and by the hemisphere as a whole to deal with the drug problem. The Mission sought to build support for and promote the fullest participation of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in the MEM process.





During the two days of meetings, the Mission met with key Government officials, including Hon. Girlyn Miguel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education; Mr. Luis DeShong, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, Wellness & the Environment; Ms. Patsy Wyllie, Chief Health Educator, Ministry of Health and Mr. Harvey Farrell, Health Educator, Ministry of Health. The discussions centered on the revised MEM process, the recommendations emanating therefrom for Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (which include the approval of a national drug plan and establishment of a national drug authority) and the support that CICAD could provide in this regard, particularly the secondary school survey currently being coordinated by the Ministry of Health to determine the prevalence of drug use among students and the related issues that affect them.





A workshop to inform national anti-drug stakeholders about the MEM and to prepare them for their participation in the Sixth Evaluation Round, which commences this year, was held on the morning of March 27. Participating in the Workshop were officials of the Ministry of Health, the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, the Ministry of Legal Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Financial Intelligence Unit, the Customs and Excise Department and the University of the West Indies.





Speaking upon conclusion of the current Mission, Ms. Crowdy noted that the workshop marked “…a re-energizing of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ participation in the MEM’s process”. While she acknowledged that the country had faced major challenges which impeded progress in the implementation of recommendations from the previous round, Ms Crowdy welcomed the commitment expressed by Permanent Secretary DeShong and looked forward to St. Vincent and the Grenadines “…deriving the benefits offered by this multilateral process.”


• The Organization of Women of the Americas Provides Project Award to the Roving Caregivers Programme of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday February 25, 2013

Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Monday February 25, 2013



The Organization of Women of the Americas (OWA) has awarded US$5,000 to the Roving Caregivers Programme (RCP) of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.





The award will fund the RCP Project – “Women, Children and Community Learning together in the Roving Caregivers Programme” – which seeks to enhance parenting knowledge, stimulate good parenting behavior and promote appropriate child rearing practices among project participants.





RCP is an informal early childhood development programme that aims to reach young children (birth – three), who do not have access to any structured formal early childhood development services. The programme’s core objectives are to provide early stimulation for children in their formative years and improved parenting practices amongst parents and other caregivers.





The Organization of Women of the Americas, a non-profit, charitable organization founded in 1997, comprises lady Ambassadors who are permanent members of the Organization of American States (OAS) as well as the wives of Ambassadors, Permanent Observers and Alternate Representatives to the OAS, along with the wives of the Secretary General and of the Assistant Secretary General of the OAS. The Organization works to highlight the social and cultural realities facing women and children in the Western Hemisphere and supports the identification and financing of solutions to their needs and problems.





The OWA award was presented to RCP Coordinator Mrs. Judith Hull-Ballah on Monday, February 25, 2013, at the Office of the Organization of American States (OAS) in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The OAS Country Representative, Mrs. Melene Glynn, made the presentation on behalf of OWA.

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Tourism

• Development and Strengthening of Agro-Tourism Linkages

  Development and Strengthening of Agro-Tourism Linkages
  
  

  Under this project, the OAS is supporting the development of two pilot agro-tourism sites (Peter’s Hope Germplasm and Orange Hill) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In addition to preparing and upgrading the sites, the project has allowed project officials to visit best-practice agro-tourism sites in Barbados and Jamaica, and has trained farm managers, workers and other stakeholders in the tourism industry to manage the facilities and services.

Sustainable Development

• Capacity Strengthening for Community Management of Resources for Sustainable Development

  Capacity Strengthening for Community Management of Resources for Sustainable Development
  
  

  The project sensitized the general public to issues concerning the environment and development with the goal of leading resource users to adopt sustainable approaches to livelihood creation. Focus group discussions in a variety of communities and in the media, public consultations, training workshops and promotional activities, were employed to inform stakeholders on the importance of using natural resources sustainably.

Social Development and Creation of Productive Employment

• Empowering Caregivers for the Roving Caregivers Programme (RCP) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

  Empowering Caregivers for the Roving Caregivers Programme (RCP) in St. Vincent and the Grenadines
  
  

  The Roving Caregivers Programme of St. Vincent and the Grenadines provides informal early childhood education to vulnerable children, 0 – 3 years old, who do not have access to formal education. OAS funding trained Roving Caregivers to provide young, unemployed parents in five poor communities with the skills, attitudes and knowledge needed to meet the educational and nutritional needs of their children. Nutrition workshops and a book of recipes for young children were also funded by the OAS.

Heritage Tourism

• Caribbean Heritage Tourism Development

  Caribbean Heritage Tourism Development
  
  

  The project encouraged economic activity in participating countries through developing their heritage tourism industries. With OAS funding, participating countries restored heritage tourism sites, trained tour guides, strengthened their craft sectors and provided training in craft design, production and marketing. Participating countries also received computer equipment to enhance promotion of their tourism product, and training in establishing and managing a museum or heritage site.

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