Start date
September 28, 2026

End date
February 22, 2027

Duration
21 weeks

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

Activity/project background

The lyceums in Ukraine serve as vital institutions of advanced secondary education, designed to prepare students for higher studies and professional life. Their mission is not only providing rigorous academic training but also to cultivate resilience, civic responsibility, and global awareness. In the context of English education, the lyceums emphasize language as a bridge to international knowledge, collaboration, and opportunity. By fostering strong English skills, the lyceums aim to equip young Ukrainians with the confidence to share their experiences with global peers, humanitarian networks, and academic opportunities. They actively support initiatives to promote student-centered learning and interactive teaching methods, English language development through clubs, projects and communication activities, civic education and volunteerism, cultural exchange, and global awareness.

Because of the war, students have few chances to talk to native speakers or experience other cultures. Thus, four groups of lyceums are interested in collaborating with Virtual Service Pilot Participants to engage students from secondary school in weekly English clubs. Potential club participants are motivated teenagers who need a safe online space to practice English, build confidence, and learn soft skills outside of regular lessons.

All educational institutions are requesting VSPPs to work with a group of 15–20 self-reliant, motivated, and change-oriented high school students, aged 14–17. Prior to orientation, VSPPs will be assigned to one or two lyceums for their engagement. Each school group will meet with their respective VSPP once a week for a 60-minute session for 21 weeks. Virtual English club participants are eager to be immersed in engaging activities that cover topics such as art, social media, youth life, traveling, natural wonders, holidays, traditions, sports, education, and others. The VSPPs will work with local teachers to create interactive activities for the virtual English clubs. These partnerships are vital to give their students a global perspective and maintain a high-quality education, despite the challenges in Ukraine.

Two lyceums have previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. Two lyceums will be engaged in summer English clubs in June for the first time. One lyceum has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. They all understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year 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-develop learning resources that incorporate U.S. culture
• Co-design English club session plans with clear policies, procedures, resources, and outcomes designed to improve students’ fluency, confidence, and cultural understanding
• Co-teach a 60-minute virtual English club session once per week for a group of 15–20 students aged 14–17 years old
• Co-assess conducted sessions, identifying learning objectives and appropriate communicative activities for future sessions
  
  

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

Online collaboration will generally occur between 3:00 p.m.–5:00 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