Start date
May 11, 2026

End date
July 10, 2026

Duration
9 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Lyceums in Ukraine prepare students aged 14–17 for further higher education and career opportunities. English is an international language that provides opportunities for communication, education, travel, and international work. English proficiency is crucial for Ukrainians as members of the European community. English learning will accelerate European integration and strengthen cooperation with the international community in the future.

Lyceums offer an English language curriculum. The local teachers believe students will benefit from authentic communication with qualified native speakers, building confidence in a virtual English summer camp setting. This English summer camp experience will support teachers and students by fostering creativity, critical thinking, and social and cultural awareness in a dynamic and engaging learning environment.

Four groups of 3–5 schools are requesting a total of four VSPPs to each work with a group of 20–25 motivated high school students. Each of the four groups will have a primary point of contact assigned and will be accompanied by a group of 4–6 partner teachers to communicate, co-plan and co-facilitate club sessions together with VSPPs. Prior to orientation, each VSPP will be assigned to a group of students from one of the groups of 3–5 schools. Each school group will meet with their respective VSPP twice a week for a 90-minute camp session. Virtual summer camp participants are eager to be immersed in engaging activities that cover topics such as art, social media, youth life, traveling, natural wonders, holidays and traditions, sport, education, and other ones generated by students.

The four groups of lyceums have not previously collaborated with two-year Peace Corps Volunteers and Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs). They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

The VSPPs will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners groups:

• Co-develop learning resources and co-develop camp curriculum that incorporate U.S. culture together with the group of 4–6 partner teachers
• Actively participate in weekly planning sessions during the four weeks of the summer camp
• Co-design eight English club session outlines with clear policies, procedures, resources, and outcomes designed to improve students’ fluency, confidence, and cultural understanding
• Co-teach two 90-minute virtual summer camp sessions each week for a group of 20–25 students for four weeks
• Co-assess conducted sessions, identifying learning objectives and appropriate communicative activities for future sessions together with the group of 4–6 partner teachers
  
  

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 5–7 hours per week.

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

The host country counterpart will have access to email, Zoom, 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 of TEFL/TESOL teaching experience in the U.S. or abroad

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