Start date
September 22, 2025

End date
January 31, 2026

Duration
18 weeks

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

Activity/project background

The partner university is a leading higher education institution and a scientific and cultural center in the northwestern Ukraine. The university continues to provide education to Ukrainian youth during the war. The staff recognize that education can serve as a source of stability and normalcy during wartime, providing a sense of purpose and direction for students who may feel overwhelmed or uncertain about the future. In 2023, the university collaborated with a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to introduce an empathy and resilience club for students. The club equipped young people with the emotional and social skills they need to not only survive but thrive in difficult circumstances. Based on the youth’s feedback, the university recognized a continued need for developing their emotional and social skills.

The university is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to collaborate with teachers to support the development of youth (ages 18-22) using a trauma-oriented care approach. The club will cover a range of topics related to leadership, community service, the role of community changemakers, and the importance of trauma-oriented approach in community building. Ukrainian students will learn to cultivate leadership skills in the face of adversity, challenges, and stress. With the support of the VSPP, students will also develop an adaptive mindset for responding to change. This new engagement was developed based on the feedback provided by the participants from the 2023 engagement. Peace Corps Ukraine is seeking a VSPP who is empathetic to the lived experiences of youth who continue to experience war.

The organization has 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:

• Conduct initial meetings to learn current university efforts, student motivation, and areas to improve leadership and community-building
• Co-design the leadership and trauma-informed care club curriculum for at least 12 sessions on topics, such as the role of community leadership, benefits of community building, and the need for community service
• Co-facilitate a weekly 2-hour club meeting for a group of 20 third-year students
• Attend a weekly meeting with the Ukrainian 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 around 5 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, Google Meet, and WhatsApp 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 (ages 17-22) in some capacity, such as a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, or volunteer
• 1 year of leadership development
  
  

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.