A group of four students from Delta University Mississippi, headed by their professor Dr. Paulette Meikle, arrived in Grenada on May 1st 2008 to work along with the Grenada Rural Enterprise Project (GREP), in a series of activities in River Sallee, Chantimelle and the surrounding communities. The students, who will be in Grenada for a period of one (1) month, is composed of two (2) students who are completing their masters degree in Community Development and two (2) students who are engaged in undergraduate studies in Sociology.

In collaboration with GREP, the visitors will be engaged in the following:
1.     Conduct of a Basic Computer course at the River Sallee IT centre. The course will involve the basic use of Microsoft Word.

2.     Training for persons familiar with computers but not exposed to the internet, at the Chantimelle IT Centre. They will be trained in the use of the World Wide Web.

3.     The conduct of a research activity focusing on Women’s Community Engagement and Community Building in Rural Grenada.

The main purpose of the research activity is to collect data on the extent and effect of public engagement or community participation on building social capital among women. The premise of the research is that community engagement among women ultimately improves the quality of life among all community residents, reduces gender inequality, builds community cohesion, and ultimately, community activeness.

The communities of La Tante, Victoria and surrounding areas were selected for the research. Data will be collected through the administering of a questionnaire by the Delta State Students and the GREP Community Officers. They are expected to interview a total of one hundred and seven (107) women. Additionally, two focus group meetings, which will be chaired by Dr. Meikle and four other students, will be held on Monday June 23rd and Wednesday June 25th at the Victoria Hotel and Pomme Rose R.C. School, respectively. Both sessions will commence at 5:30 pm and will focus on issues that affect women within their communities.

The activities will come to a close on Tuesday June 24th 2008 with a graduation ceremony for the successful participants of the computer and internet programmes, where they will be awarded certificates from the Delta State University. The ceremony will take place at the Chantimelle’s R.C school and will commence at 2:00 pm.