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 is one of the major hubs for students in western Ukraine. The war makes traditional school learning challenging; teachers at the lyceum aim to create an environment where students can nurture their resilience and develop skills needed for personal success. In doing so, they will enable students to maintain their emotional wellbeing and self-esteem, as well as develop strategies for self-care and healthy relationships.

The lyceum is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to co-facilitate a “Resilience for Personal Success” club. This club will aim to develop students’ (ages 14-16) soft skills, including emotional intelligence, healthy relationship-building, effective communication, active listening, time management, problem-solving, decision-making, teamwork, and stress management. These skills will equip young people with the ability to emotionally strive, learn self-regulation, and succeed in the face of adversity.

The Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) will collaborate with Ukrainian counterparts to co-facilitate the club. Throughout the club Ukrainian students will delve into the art of resilience, cultivating emotional intelligence, fostering a growth mindset, and mastering the ability to bounce back from setbacks. Students will have an opportunity to learn about America and American culture, which will broaden their outlook.

The lyceum has not previously worked with Peace Corps Volunteers. 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:

• Coordinate with lyceum partners to learn about existing club efforts, students’ motivation, and resilience in their current context
• Co-design a curriculum for the club covering soft skill topics
• Co-facilitate 12, 1-hour online weekly meetings for 15-20 students
• Co-host monthly cultural events about American holidays and historical events
• Attend a weekly meeting with the counterpart for feedback and discussion
  
  

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

Online collaboration will generally occur between 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, WhatsApp, Telegram, emails, and Google Docs 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: 1 year working with youth in some capacity, such as a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, or volunteer

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