Notifications
Clear all
Topic starter
greetings all
i read the information regarding employment on the islands, but i wondered if anyone could help with some more specific questions. my longtime girlfriend and i are finishing college this spring and are exploring our options for after graduation. we are both interested in doing work for populations in need (i with at-risk youth, perhaps in an community center or after-school setting, and she with counseling and adult education, possibility working in prisons). we are both flexible, however. the virgin islands came up as a possibility and so we are trying to learn about the options there. i guess my first question is: is it likely that two young mainlanders would have luck finding this sort of work on the islands? we are limited in that we absolutely cannot afford to visit the islands beforehand to seek work. but i should mention that we are willing to live modestly. we would of course need to a place to live and food to eat, and i will have loans to pay off, but beyond that we can get by with little. we are rather serious about working for those in need and are not viewing life on the islands as a vacation. it would be dishonest to say that the weather and the culture are not attractive (we live in northern new england right now), but we would hope to do real work there. are we being naive or unrealistic to think that we could, with very limited means, find work and support ourselves? is there a demand for such work? can you think of people or organizations we should contact? we are looking into americorps and internships and other programs that might help usher us into island life and work with some support; are there other similar programs we might not know of? and are we likely to find housing we can afford? any insight will be much appreciated. we are serious and committed to making this work, but we feel we need determine whether a move to the islands is realistic and appropriate. many thanks in advance for anything you can offer.
be well!
jonathan roberts
durham, nh
Posted : January 20, 2003 2:07 pm
Jonathan: My quick response to your question is that most of what you are asking about comes under the government umbrella (adult ed in the Education dept, prisons in Justice dept, etc.) And the problem there is that the local government is notorious for hirng locally (i.e. you have to be here to find and get a job). There are a couple of other ideas, though!! Lutheran Social Services on St Croix runs many programs- (340) 772-4099, Seaview Adolescent unit on St Thomas (777-3303 ask for Michael), VI Resource Center for the Disabled (St Thomas) 777-2253. The prison is on St Croix. The biggest impediment is not being here for face to face interviews. Believe me, the work that you do is very important and needed, but it may be difficult work to get.
Posted : January 20, 2003 9:12 pm
