Support Social Media Marketing for Center for the Deaf

Activity/project background

The Caribbean Christian Centre for the Deaf (CCCD) is an organization in Jamaica that provides accessible education and authentic community to the deaf by operating three residential schools and one Deaf village. For over 60 years, students have been able to learn sign language, gain an education, obtain vocational skills, and ultimately be integrated into the wider society. However, many will graduate and have nowhere to go due to the overall lack of awareness, rights, and accessibility for the Deaf in Jamaica. Should center graduates move to the Deaf village, they will have access to apartments, a church, a woodworking shop, a community center, and the ability to employ and find gainful employment for its members.

Within the disabilities sector, CCCD is well known internationally. Outside of this niche, there is less awareness of CCCD. Though this does not affect day-to-day operations, stronger visibility could bring more resources and potentially allow for a greater impact. Thus, the CCCD seeks to make a concerted effort to increase visibility and build greater awareness of the Deaf. This may also create opportunities to diversify funding sources and introduce a compatible/complementary collaboration for collective impact. CCCD seeks to work with a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) with experience in social media marketing, strategic communications, and content development.

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:

• Evaluate CCCD’s current social media presence and co-develop a social media marketing plan
• Co-create a series of audio-visual content (short videos and stories) for multiple social media platforms over the six months of engagement with at least two postings weekly
• Co-create simple animation and slides, through established, new, and emerging programs to highlight activities at CCCD over the six months of engagement (post every 1–2 weeks)
• Mentor and train CCCD staff members in social media content creation and management

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

Online collaboration will generally occur between 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Jamaica time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Zoom 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 any field

Experience: 1 year developing digital communications, brand campaigns, or social media content

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

Language: Basic American Sign Language or Jamaican Sign Language

Experience:
• Managing social media
• 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.