Country Welcome for Jamaica

Welcome and thank you for visiting Peace Corps Jamaica’s webpage!

The United States Peace Corps was established in 1961 to promote world peace and friendship and is guided by three goals:

1. Help countries that express a need for trained assistance
2. Help promote better understanding of the U.S. by host countries
3. Help promote a better understanding of host countries by U.S. nationals

The first Volunteers arrived in Jamaica in June of 1962. In 2022, Peace Corps Jamaica celebrated its 60th anniversary. Since 1962, more than 4000 Volunteers have served in this amazing country. They have worked in the areas of education, youth development, agriculture, the environment, community health and Small business development.

Peace Corps’ approach to development is community driven. Volunteers partner with individual Jamaicans, groups, and communities to advance Jamaica’s development goals. Currently, Volunteers engage in locally prioritized projects and facilitate participatory development with local partners in the areas of agriculture and education. This focus on working alongside the community helps ensure that Volunteers’ work is sustained long after their service is complete.

Peace Corps Jamaica Volunteers promote a better understanding of Americans among Jamaicans through day-to-day interactions with their host families, counterparts, friends, and others. Over the course of their service, Volunteers share the diversity of American culture with Jamaicans and develop deep relationships with community members. As they integrate into the local culture, Volunteers also learn more about local challenges, opportunities, resources, and conditions in Jamaica. Over time, they develop mutually beneficial partnerships that are essential to project success. Peace Corps Jamaica assigns one or more “counterparts” to each Volunteer. Counterparts are the primary host community partners who aid Volunteers in community integration and work.

During their service, Volunteers learn Jamaican Patwa (Patois or Jamaican Creole), customs, traditions, and the values of Jamaicans with whom they live and work. Volunteers bring Jamaica back to the United States by sharing their service experiences with family, friends, and the American public during and after their service. Volunteers deepen and enrich Americans’ awareness and knowledge of Jamaicans. Long after they return from Jamaica, Returned Volunteers continue their service by promoting a better understanding of other cultures, encouraging and supporting volunteerism, and engaging in public service.

To learn more about what it's like to live and work in Jamaica as a Peace Corps Volunteer, we invite you to read stories from our Volunteers and also invite you to explore our social media platforms.

All my best,

Tammy L. Palmer
Country Director
Peace Corps Jamaica