The Other PCRVs

I thought it would be interesting to learn what the other PCRVs who will be arriving when I do will be doing. Peace Corps can’t tell me their names until they are medically cleared (I’m glad that I am already medically cleared!) but these are their position descriptions:

Community Infrastructure/Building Designer
Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. (GK) is requesting four Peace Corps Response volunteers to create site development plans and community infrastructure designs to rehabilitate existing informal settler communities within Metro Manila. The purpose of the project is to transform settler communities into safer and more secure environments for residents and visitors alike, and to transform existing slum communities into decent communities. In close collaboration with the partnering organization, the PCRVs will be responsible for reviewing previous and current project implementation; designing site-specific infrastructure and a site development plan; presenting designs for approval of all stakeholders; providing technical assistance; and supervising project implementation to ensure that designs are strictly followed to maintain proper safety standards.

Architect and Landscape Planner, Construction Supervisor
Stairway Foundation, Inc. (SFI) is a resource center for the protection and promotion of children’s rights. Stairway is in the process of renovating and expanding its residential and training facilities and is requesting a Peace Corps Response volunteer to develop an overall plan and design a complex that is functional and conducive for therapy, education, training and physical as well as mental development. The PCRV will be responsible for developing an overall plan and design for the Resource Center complex to include topography, sewage, plumbing and electrical plans. In addition, the PCRV will be asked to map out topography and vegetation on Stairways mountain property (10 hectares), and give suggestions for the development of a future school for the indigenous people on the site.

Special Education (SPED) Teacher/Expert
Taw-Kabui for a Child, Incorporated is a non-governmental, faith-based and community-based center for special children in Puerto Princesa City. The organization is requesting a Peace Corps Response volunteer to develop the capacity of teachers at the Center to effectively use accepted SPED methods, strategies and techniques to support the educational development of children with learning disabilities. The PCRV will work daily at the Center to provide technical assistance on the knowledge, attitude and skills required to teach special children to co-teachers through demonstrations and focus group discussions. The PCRV will also be responsible for preparing and developing program materials and a teaching guide with the teachers; reviewing and enhancing Individual Educational Plans for teachers; and enhancing assessment and evaluation materials for the children and their parents.

Note - Puerto Princesa City is the capital of Palawan, south of Luzon (where Manila is) and west of the Western Visayas, where most of the well-known tourist beaches are. I was writing in my other blog about UNESCO World Heritage Sites and I looked up the ones in the Philippines – Puerto Princesa is the home of one, a subterranean river, so maybe I will visit that PRCV!

And this is the position description for the PCRV who will be starting with Habitat for Humanity Philippines in September (at least it was planned for September when I was leaving in June; I wonder if that has changed…):

Impact Assessment Officer
The Habitat for Humanity Foundation, Inc. (HFHP) is requesting one Peace Corps Response volunteer to conduct impact assessments of HFHP’s community development project. The PCRV will be responsible for measuring the effectiveness of the project on the target communities; developing recommendations on how to approach and improve community-relations and key relationships that will impact future operations of the project; organizing and participating in stakeholder consultations and meetings; ensuring the timely delivery of required outputs (i.e. progress reports); and conducting a presentation of the results or findings, as well as recommendations from the impact assessment for key HFHP staff.