Empower Parents by Supporting Special Education in Guyana

Activity/project background

The Ministry of Education established a Special Education Needs Department (SEN) in 2017 and appointed an Assistant Chief Education Officer in 2022 to plan, implement, monitor, and evaluate initiatives to support an inclusion policy while providing targeted support for students with special education needs.

Teachers refer students with parental consent for further testing and treatment, and the SEN department provides support and training. Special schools and SEN hubs are sparsely available to students and parents in cases of severe disability. In some locations across Guyana, there are higher concentrations of learners with special education needs and there is also a growing number of cases with autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. However, there is a shortage of locally qualified personnel to fill the gaps and ensure equitable access. As such, VSSPs can provide technical assistance to strengthen access to support and training services.

Special Needs Education Officers are located at each regional education department to bolster teachers’ professional development, diagnostic screening, assessments, interventions, and treatment while sensitizing parents on the technical support children may need. The department is requesting Virtual Service Pilot Participants to strengthen the capacity of parents, teachers, and education officers on how to support learners with speech delays as well as those who are non-verbal. The VSPP will work with the national and regional special education needs team to facilitate speech therapy for a diverse group as there are few qualified people to effectively support a growing population. The essential roles include assessment, training design and implementation, rehabilitation, and parent/caregiver education. The VSPPs will also collaborate with other agencies to design individual education plans and other resources.

The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

• Co-facilitate weekly sensitization seminars/trainings to a cohort of about 30–40 parents whose children are undergoing speech therapy to provide tips on how they can regulate and support children who are non-verbal
• Co-plan and co-facilitate two seminars and three educational programs to sensitize caregivers and parents to techniques for supporting non-verbal children
• Work with local counterparts to design and produce at least two brochures and other resources for distribution to parents and teachers on strategies for responding to and supporting learners with speech delays or challenges
• Co-design session plans and co-train department staff to support parents with children who are non-verbal

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 12 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 3:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Guyana time Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to WhatsApp, Zoom, and Google Meet for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0–18), two adults must be present.

Optional additional activities

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.

Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.

Essential qualifications

Education: Bachelor's degree in special education

Language: Advanced Spanish

Experience:
• 2 years teaching in special education classrooms or residential homes with persons who are disabled, handicapped, and/or hearing/visually impaired
• Expertise using digital platforms and integrating digital tools
• Performing environmental assessment
• Creative activity design
• Successful completion of supervised assignments

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually

Desired qualifications

Education: Master’s degree in special education

Experience: Virtual engagement and communication

Terms and conditions of engagement

VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.

Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.

The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.

Engagement safety and security

The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.

Supervision requirements

The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.