Start date
September 14, 2026

End date
March 19, 2027

Duration
27 weeks

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

Activity/project background

Five Ukrainian universities share a mission to promote academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement while fostering responsible, interculturally aware professionals. These universities aim to become leading centers of education and research that effectively integrate different subjects with modern technologies and apply foreign languages for their future professions. Universities provide professional training for students who specialize in different spheres of economy.

The ongoing war in Ukraine requires educators to seek expanded opportunities for encouraging language acquisition in students. Thus, the universities are interested in collaborating with the Peace Corps to engage with Virtual Service Pilot Participants to support English speaking clubs to enhance the language practice for students so they can attain higher levels of proficiency and success.

The VSPPs will collaborate with groups of 15–20 university students, aged 17–22, to strengthen the students' proficiency in English, boost their confidence in using the language, enhance their communication abilities, and cultivate intercultural awareness. Through collaboration with the VSPPs, students will engage in an immersive English-speaking environment, offering them valuable opportunities to interact with American experts, native speakers.

Two universities have previously collaborated with the Peace Corps two years program and VSP. Three other establishments have 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

Each VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with their host country partners:

• Co-assess English language skills of students and discuss English club priorities with counterparts
• Co-plan and co-design conversation club curriculum relevant to the education needs of club participants and sessions list based on students’ interests
• Co-facilitate weekly virtual planning sessions to discuss and create club sessions outlines with the partner teachers
• Co-facilitate a weekly 60–90 minute online English language conversation club session for 15–20 students which engage participants in discussions and debates in English to practice their speaking and presentation skills
• Compile and organize learning materials from the virtual speaking club sessions to share with teachers and students for sustainable English club development
  
  

VSPPs are expected to engage in the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be 6–8 hours per week. Club meetings schedule and meeting information will be discussed during orientations sessions.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 2:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Ukrainian/Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterparts will have access to Zoom, 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: 2 years teaching EFL/English to university students

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