Monthly Report: November 2021 - Jamaica Positive Pathways Activity

under Contract No. 72053220C00001, with the primary goal of promoting positive youth development and community peacebuilding in Jamaica. The program is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and focuses on supporting local organizations in their efforts to address social and behavioral issues affecting youth. In November 2021, the program achieved several key milestones. A Grants Announcement Ceremony was held on November 24, where the awardees of recent Community Peacebuilding, Social and Behavioral Science, and Positive Youth Development grants were presented. The event received coverage in The Gleaner and sparked two radio interviews that will be broadcast at a later date. Additionally, the program invested $200 in boosting Facebook and Instagram posts related to the grants and video storytelling opportunities, resulting in reaching over 96,000 accounts and 3,000 post engagements. Training activities were also a significant focus for the program in November. Two one-day Prospective Grantee Workshops were conducted on November 16 and 17, respectively, to provide potential grantees with information on grant proposal requirements and processes. Twenty-six persons attended these workshops. Furthermore, two one-day Parenting Practitioners Workshops were held on November 23 and 25, respectively, to examine best practices for parenting interventions and promote upcoming grant opportunities. Thirty-three persons attended these workshops. The program also made progress in its grant implementation. The Forward Step Foundation completed their Peacebuilding training activities during the month, while Peace and Love in Society (PALS) started training and screening activities for their Peacebuilding grant. The Family and Parenting Center completed their first milestone in November and will start trainings in early January. The Sandals Foundation's Peacebuilding grant started activities with youth, including assessments, in mid-November. In terms of administrative activities, the program's Director of Program Management, Naomi Rasmussen, traveled to Jamaica from November 16 to 28 to meet with staff, USAID officials, and participate in workshops and ceremonies. A new hire, Office Attendant/Receptionist Renee Newman, started on November 8, while Program Officer Shanae Owen resigned effective November 15. The program also underwent remodeling of its office in New Kingston, with the first shipments of furniture arriving. The program encountered one issue in November, with a participant in the November 16 grants workshop reporting a positive COVID-19 test on November 19. All staff and workshop participants were immediately notified, and testing was offered to any staff who had been in contact with the participant or in contact with persons who attended that workshop. There were no further reports of positive cases. Looking ahead to December, the program anticipates several key activities, including oversight of small grants in target communities, travel by Program Officer Karina Valenzuela, and the conduct of Parenting Practitioners Workshops and a Program Officer Training Workshop.