Start date
September 28, 2026

End date
March 29, 2027

Duration
26 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Vocational colleges in Ukraine prepare specialists who sustain social, economic, and industrial workforce development. They combine practical training with applied knowledge to ensure students are prepared for immediate employment and that they can contribute to schools, communities, and critical infrastructure. Vocational colleges recognize that the strength of their programs depends not only on student training but also on the continuous growth of their instructors.

Thus, three vocational colleges in Ukraine have expressed their interest in collaborating with the Peace Corps through the Virtual Service Pilot. The three VSPPs being requested will collaborate with teachers in Ukraine to facilitate virtual English clubs for English instructors at vocational colleges nationwide. They will coordinate with one of three virtual American teachers and guide three interregional groups of 15–20 English instructors, representing ten different regions of Ukraine.

This engagement brings together new participants who will be engaging with the initiative for the first time with returning colleagues who have previously engaged with Virtual Service Pilot Participants for clubs. The latter have spoken highly of the progress they achieved in English proficiency, confidence in communication, and cross-cultural learning. The selected VSPPs will engage participants in English-speaking clubs that aim to enhance their command of the English language, confidence in using English for professional needs, improve communication skills of participants, and develop their intercultural competencies.

One college has not previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. All colleges understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

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

• Collaborate with the counterparts to establish practices for session planning and facilitation
• Co-develop a syllabus for an English-speaking club with clear policy, procedures, resources, and learning outcomes
• Co-facilitate a 60-minute English-speaking club each week
• Incorporate cultural topics and intercultural exchange activities into the English club lessons
  
  

VSPP is 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 4:00 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 phone 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 in TEFL/English teaching to adults

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