Start date
September 15, 2025

End date
December 29, 2025

Duration
15 weeks

ELIGIBILITY: Must be at least 18 years of age. Must be a U.S. citizen.

Activity/project background

The partner lyceum strives to develop leadership qualities in students and educate young people who can make independent, informed decisions. Serving students from 10 villages and the central urban city, the school aims to provide opportunities for students to succeed through continuous self-development.

The lyceum is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to co-develop an after-school club that equips students with the skills and knowledge needed for stress-resistant conflict resolution, goal setting, and communication. Topics may include the following: building a clear sense of direction, integrating technology and innovation, and supporting service-learning projects. Students will learn communication skills and techniques for effective leadership, such as active listening, providing feedback, and overcoming communication barriers.

The club will equip students from grades 8-11 with the necessary knowledge, skills, and attitudes to become effective, competitive youth and community changemakers, whose involvement and leadership will be essential to create a sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous future for post-war Ukraine.

The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their Host Country Partners:

• Co-assess current skills and priorities of club members
• Co-design the virtual club curriculum with a focus on communication and life skills
• Co-develop 12 session plans for virtual club meetings
• Co-facilitate a 1-hour virtual club meeting bi-weekly for 2 groups of 10 students, separated by age
• Co-host cultural events devoted to American and Ukrainian holidays or historical events
• Attend a weekly meeting with the Ukrainian counterparts for feedback and planning
  
  

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5-15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be around 6 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Kyiv time twice a week. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, Telegram, WhatsApp and emails for regular communication and collaboration.

Per the Child Protection Code of Conduct, when engaging online with minors (0-18), two adults must be present.

Optional Additional Activities

The Peace Corps mission is to promote world peace and friendship by fulfilling three goals:

• To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
• To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
• To help promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans.
  
  

Goal 1 will be achieved through the VSPP's engagement and completion of the above tasks. The counterpart and VSPP may also choose to identify an activity that aligns with Goal 2. Additionally, the VSPP may identify a Goal 3 activity to implement during their engagement. See recommendations and tools for Goal 3 activities.

Essential Qualifications

Education: Bachelor’s degree in any field

Experience:

• Working with youth, ages 13-17, in some capacity, such as a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, or volunteer
• Facilitating virtual educational sessions
  
  

Intercultural skills and motivation: Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative, and genuinely motivated and capable to serve virtually