Activity/project background
Partner: 1. Lyublynets Town Council, 2. Kub Youth Center, Koryukivka Town Council, 3. Cherkasy State Technological University (Government)
In Ukraine, three host country partner organizations, the Kub Youth Center, organized by the Koryukivka Town Council, the Lyublynets Town Council, and Cherkasy State Technological University are each seeking the assistance of a Virtual Service Pilot Participants (VSPPs) to help their youth improve their conversational English skills.
- Koryukivka is community of approximately 10,000 people located in the northeast of Ukraine, very close to the Russian border. Similar to other northern border communities, Koryukivka has been heavily affected by the ongoing war, including a brief Russian occupation in 2022. The town is dealing with migration challenges, the loss of conscript age male residents, and residents are coping with high levels of stress and anxiety associated with ongoing airstrikes and uncertainties ahead of them. The Youth Center in Koryukivka has been playing an important role in supporting local youth mentally, emotionally, and physically by offering both offline and online opportunities for youth in the town and surrounding villages. Such opportunities include regular film screenings, board game nights, poetry recitals, guitar playing and singing, lectures and training events, and sports competitions. For a small community, they have a large following on social media. When the Youth Center staff became aware of the Virtual Service Pilot, they identified up to 10 youth who are interested in improving their conversational English. The organization previously applied for a Peace Corps Community Development Volunteer in 2019, but because of the COVID-19 pandemic and then the full-scale war, it has not been able to collaborate with a Volunteer. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
- The community, Lyublynets, has a population of approximately 5,000 and it is located in the far west of the country. Despite being far away from the frontline, the community has found itself dealing with the effects of the ongoing war, such as providing shelter and services to internally displaced populations, while at the same time trying to maintain an appropriate level of services, including education programming.
The town council, in partnership with local schools, is requesting a VSPP to support informal English language education for 20 middle and high school students (ages 15-18) who would like to improve their conversational English skills. The Lyublynets community has previously hosted a Community Development Peace Corps Volunteer. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a two-year Volunteer.
- Cherkasy State Technological University is a state-owned higher educational institution subordinate to the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine. It is located in central Ukraine and is hope to 5 schools: 1) Economics and Management; 2) Humanitarian Technologies; 3) Technologies, Construction and Rational Nature Management; 4) Electronic Technologies, Motor Vehicles and Mechanical Engineering, Information Technologies and Systems; and 5) Educational and Research Centre for International Students. The University runs 12 scientific schools and specialized academic councils that award doctoral degrees in technical and economic specialties.
The University has a brief history of cooperation with Peace Corps Ukraine in the framework of Youth Development program between November 2019 – March 2020 before all Volunteers were evacuated due to Covid pandemic. In 2022, the University collaborated with a VSPP.
Engagement and tasks
Each VSPP will engage in the following tasks, in collaboration with the Host Country Partner matched with them:
- Co-assess the English skill level of youth in the club
- Co-create an English club curriculum and club schedule
- Co-design English club sessions and teaching materials for 5-10, one-hour long online sessions that enhance English communication skills for students aged 15-20 years
- Co-facilitate English club 1-hour club sessions twice a week
- Discuss and evaluate the effectiveness of the club materials used in the session with the counterpart
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 hours per week including preparation.
Online collaboration will generally occur twice a week between 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 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: 6 months experience facilitating conversational English classes with any audiences
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
Desired Qualifications
Education: Bachelor's degree in education, secondary education, or related field and relevant certification: TEFL, TESOL, Cambridge, or similar
Language: Intermediate Ukrainian
Experience
- Familiarity with virtual engagement and communication
- 1 year of TEFL/TESOL teaching experience in the U.S.A. or abroad
Terms and conditions of engagement
VSPPs will be engaging with the host country partner, in coordination with Peace Corps post staff, remotely from the US. They should have access to a computer, internet, and telephone in order to enable direct engagement with the Peace Corps overseas office and the Host Country Counterpart assigned by the host country partner.
Orientation with the host country partner will be provided, within the designated virtual service hours, during the first week of virtual service via an online presentation and discussion. The host country partner will provide an overview of its organization, the local context, and how they envision collaborating with the VSPP.
The VSPP will have regular check-ins with their counterpart and bi-weekly check-ins with Peace Corps staff. Spending unstructured time with counterparts can be critical to relationship-building and is encouraged through activities such as coffee chats and informal calls within the weekly 5-15 hours.
Engagement safety and security
The VSPP will receive an orientation on Peace Corps’ Child Protection Policy and how it relates to online engagement along with IT security best practices. The VSPP will be expected to follow safety and security guidelines for online engagement to ensure their safety and that of the Host Country Partner and their counterpart, and any beneficiaries of the engagement.
Supervision requirements
The VSPP will report to a designated Peace Corps staff member. The VSPP will be expected to abide by the Virtual Service Pilot Participant and Donation Agreement and Participant Principles of Engagement. The VSPP will also be expected to check in with the designated host country counterpart as assigned by the host county partner.
