After a highly competitive application process stressing strong applicant skills, adaptability and cross-cultural sensitivity, Mr. Gleeson began Peace Corps Training on July 11, 1996. An intensive six-week training program was conducted at sites in St. Lucia and St. Vincent and included orientation to Caribbean culture, familiarity with government and ministry operations and educational systems, technical skills acquisition and training in language and customs.

Mr. Gleeson successfully completed training and was enrolled as a Peace Corps Volunteer on August 24, 1996. Mr. Gleeson was assigned to the National Youth Council (NYC) of St. Vincent and the Grenadines as a Field Officer, responsible for the 30-odd community based youth groups affiliated to the National Youth Council on the Leeward coast of St. Vincent. He worked with two local staff members, a managing executive committee, and another PCV. He accomplished the following tasks during his two-year assignment

• Assisted youth groups in designing and implementing strategies to meet identified needs;
• Helped to identify and access resources to address those needs;
• Planned and conducted training and education programs with groups, covering topics such as leadership, communication skills, and grant writing;
• Organized and mobilized for national NYC activities, such as the annual cross-country walk, work/study camp, and conferences of delegates;
• Computerized records on NYC affiliated groups and instituted a data collection system to regularly update group records;
• Made recommendations for the improvement of NYC’s structure, policies and procedures.

Additional primary job responsibilities and accomplishments include:

• Created a Youth Training Center, including eight new computers, at NYC’s headquarters (along with the other PCV attached to NYC). Task included securing over $23,000.00 in funding and managing the refurbishment of the space used to house the Center.
• Edited and designed NYC’s quarterly newsletter, the FLAME;
• Created and maintained NYC’s web page (http://www.geocities.com/TheTropics/2660);
• Conducted computer training sessions for NYC staff and executive members in word processing, newsletter publishing, web page design and HTML programming, and Windows 95.