Start date
September 21, 2026

End date
December 28, 2026

Duration
14 weeks

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

Activity/project background

A Ukrainian university delivers undergraduate and postgraduate education in medicine, dentistry, and healthcare-related fields, while actively engaging in academic research, clinical training, and international collaboration.

Medical students and young healthcare professionals face a significant gap in career development skills, including career planning, professional self-presentation, creating resumes and curriculum vitaes (CVs), and writing cover letters. While participants possess strong technical and clinical training, limited exposure to structured career development and conversational practice constrains their access to global education pathways, research collaboration, residencies, and international exchange. The engagement will address this need through a structured curriculum, supporting approximately 20–25 participants, primarily senior medical students and young professionals aged 18–35.

The university is seeking the support of one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to support a career development and communication club for medical students and young medical professionals. The VSPP would fill the gap for English-language career coaching and professional communication that is not locally available. The VSPP will design and facilitate 1-hour weekly sessions over the engagement period, delivering interactive workshops, guided practice, and feedback on career planning, CVs, LinkedIn profiles, interview skills, and goal setting for international medical and academic contexts.

The organization has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. 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-develop curriculum which will include at least 10–12 sessions that focus on professional development, soft skills, professional presentation skills, job search tips, creating effective LinkedIn profiles etc.
• Co-facilitate a weekly 1-hour online session for club members (average number of participants is 20–25, aged 18–35)
• Attend a weekly meeting with Ukrainian colleagues 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 five hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 5:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Zoom, Google Meet, Telegram, emails, 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:

• Teaching, tutoring, mentoring, or coaching young professionals aged 18–35 in any educational institutions or youth clubs
• Career consulting /coaching
  
  

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