Start date
June 1, 2026

End date
August 23, 2026

Duration
12 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Lyceums are high schools in Ukraine that provide dynamic and inclusive learning environments which foster intellectual curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking during school activities. In addition to academics, the lyceum aims to help youth foster confidence in decision-making, problem solving, conflict resolution, communication skills, emotional intelligence, setting life goals, self-respect, socialization, and stress relief.

Unfortunately, due to the war in Ukraine, lyceums have less access to native English speakers to support teaching and youth development goals throughout the country. Thus, one lyceum is requesting the support of one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to co-create and co-facilitate an English-speaking youth summer club on financial literacy and life skills for students in grades 8–10 (ages 13–16). They hope that the VSPP will bring real life examples of everyday money situations so that students can practice English while learning how to make smarter decisions, make plans for the future, and take responsibility for their choices. Students will use critical thinking skills to practice decision-making by comparing different options, weighing pros and cons, and choosing how to use limited resources. Additionally, they will develop communication and collaboration skills through group problem-solving tasks and short presentations.

The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps through the Virtual Service Pilot Program. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response 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 life skills and financial literacy
• Co-develop ten session plans for virtual club meetings on financial literacy and life skills
• Co-facilitate one one-hour virtual club meeting every week for group of 15–20 students (aged 13–16)
• 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 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, Telegram, WhatsApp, and email 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, aged 13–17, in some capacity, such as a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, or volunteer
• Facilitating virtual educational sessions
• Coaching and/or teaching youth to develop decision making, goal setting and/or financial literacy skills
  
  

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