I am a former Peace Corps Volunteer ( RPCV ) assigned to assist several Non-Profit agencies on the island nation of Dominica in the Eastern Caribbean. I have lived on the island of Saint Lucia for training for about a month and another few months on the island of Grenada, prior to its distruction by hurricane Ivan. 

My primary assignment was to help in the self-sufficiency of Dominica Planned Parenthood ( DPPA ) activities and so forth. The Youth Advocacy Movement ( YAM ) is a youth-to-youth branch of DPPA and the primary benefactor of my efforts for DPPA. The Japanese Chancelor from Trinidad donated a truck for transportation of medical supplies and YAM members for outreach and medical support efforts. A pair of websites were created by myself for the organization for financial income and global outreach efforts, in which I trained the staff to maintain. Ambassador Kramer agreed to provide a large grant for a library then unfortunately retracted it due in large part to political pressure from the United States.

I have also assisted Operation Youth Quake ( OYQ ) and the Social Center. A USAID funded project for OYQ was directed by myself in which a new chicken coop and pen were built for OYQ disadvantaged children and the organization. The children were involved and I had them paint apartment numbers for the chickens... That was an adventure. Now it's been named '' Daniels Dormatory - Chicks Stay Free '' . The project was successful and still ongoing with hundreds of chickens laying about 80 eggs per day to provide substinance and self aquired financial support for the children and organization. The children directly benefit by leaning invaluable life skills from animal husbandry to keep them off the streets. Many other fun and educational activities were also provided and I met with the Dominica President on several occasions, including a nationally televised presentation.

A Caribbean Creations Cookbook, to not only promote Caribbean recipies but health and tradition as well, was created with support of the Presidents caterer and promonate local nationals and provided for reference by the Dominican government.

During the last few months of service, an economic project proposal was provided to Dominica Council On Aging ( DCOA ) to provide them a means of income and at home jobs, mostly for senior nationals. I met with the Venezualan Ambassador and made grant requests to others but the project unfortunatly was left incomplete due to my completion of service and return to the United States. I still wish to complete the project and find funding some day to help my Dominican friends.

My oldest sister, Penny, was my first (and only) family visitor. We went to several places in Dominica, including the Emerald Falls, Indian River, downtown Roseau and Portsmouth, the Airal Tram in the forest canopy, and Scotts Head Nature Reserve (a thin strip of land dividing the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean). There are dozens of incredible places to visit on Dominica but it has only just tapped into the tourest market. Much of my ventures were with the OYQ children.

The Caribbean, as you may know, has been battered by hurricanes. Dominica was untouched during my time in service but Grenada was destroyed with 90 percent of the housing damaged or destroyed, the rainforest ripped apart, and the worlds second largest nutmeg crop lost. Criminals roamed free due to all the prisons being destroyed. PCVs were abandoned to tend to themselves for several months and not evacuated before or after the class 5 hurricane hit.

I have articles and pictures in Dominicas only national magazine and in the NPCA

I experienced an earthquake on Dominica prior to Thanksgiving weekend