Start date
September 23, 2025

End date
January 27, 2026

Duration
18 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Through a rigorous academic curriculum and a range of extracurricular activities, the partner lyceum in Ukraine strives to cultivate students' leadership qualities, encourage active citizenship, and promote a sense of responsibility for the greater good. Students from the town and neighboring villages are enrolled in the lyceum. The teachers are committed to preparing students for success and instilling a lifelong love of learning and commitment to serving others.

The lyceum is requesting a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to collaborate with the English teachers and co-design an extracurricular club that equips students (ages 12-16) with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to become effective leaders and community changemakers for a sustainable, peaceful, and prosperous post-war future. The club will cover a wide range of topics, including leadership styles, effective communication, strategic planning, decision-making, conflict resolution, team building, active listening, and motivation.

The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. Prior to the global pandemic they hosted Volunteers, and in the fall of 2023, they engaged online with a VSPP. 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 for student club members
• Co-design the virtual club curriculum with a focus on communication and leadership skills
• Co-develop session plans for virtual club meetings
• Co-facilitate fifteen 1-hour online club meetings for 10-15 students
• Meet weekly 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 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, WhatsApp, Telegram, 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: 1 year working with youth (ages 12-16) 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