Start date
September 15, 2025

End date
December 15, 2025

Duration
13 weeks

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

Activity/project background

The center is a regional institution that acts as an open space for young people, ages 14-35, in Ukraine. The center creates opportunities for personal development, civic engagement, and non-formal education. Activities include conducting educational events, supporting youth initiatives, and developing volunteerism and social entrepreneurship. The center also serves as a meeting place for active youth, opinion leaders, and NGOs.

The center seeks to expand access to quality English-language education during the war. Young leaders, volunteers, and civic activists need practical language skills to represent themselves on international platforms, communicate with partners, attract resources, and share Ukrainian stories with the world. The target audience for the project is young people involved in civic and social initiatives, along with the youth center team.

The organization is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to develop the conversational English skills of its youth workers and participants ages 14-35. This will allow participants to effectively present youth projects, volunteerism, and youth policy in English, as well as foster intercultural dialogue. The engagement with the VSPP will position Ukrainian youth to be opinion leaders and ambassadors of change.

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 students’ current English knowledge and skill level to identify club priorities
• Co-develop a curriculum and teaching or training resources related to youth work
• Co-host a weekly 1-hour online session for 10-20 beginner English language learners
• Co-host a weekly 1-hour online session for 10-20 intermediate English language learners
• 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 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 WhatsApp, Telegram, Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom 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 of TEFL/TESOL in the U.S. or abroad
• Training session design, development, and facilitation
  
  

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