With over 300 Volunteers, Peace Corps’ Ukraine program is the largest in 75 countries.

Over the past 13 years, 1800 Volunteers have served in Ukraine. They have taught Ukrainians English, management skills, economics, ecology, healthy lifestyles and civics. Their principal worksites are schools and nongovernmental organizations. Many Volunteers have also carried out projects in teacher training and to strengthen community participation in civil society by teaching critical thinking, leadership, project planning and implementation, gender education, computers and Internet technology, and other subjects.

Peace Corps Volunteers presently work in all Ukrainian oblasts in over 217 towns and villages. Peace Corps continually seeks to maintain a good balance of Volunteers in all of Ukraine’s regions. The program particularly seeks placement for Volunteers in economically disadvantaged areas where the presence of the Volunteer can positively influence the development of the Ukrainian community.

Under the agreement signed by former Presidents George. W. Bush and L. M. Kravchuk in 1992, Peace Corps’ sponsor organization in the Ukrainian Government has been the Department for Coordination of International Technical Assistance in the former Ministry of Economy and European Integration. Peace Corps also has project agreements with the Ministry of Education and Science and the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

Immediately after arrival in Ukraine, Volunteers participate in a 12-week intensive training program. The training includes an intensive course in the Ukrainian or Russian language, as well as technical and cross-cultural components. During pre-service training, Volunteers live with a Ukrainian host family. Following successful completion of the three-month training program, they move to a town where they work for the following two years. During their first month there, Volunteers again live with a Ukrainian host family. This arrangement facilitates continued language learning and community integration. After the initial month in their assigned city, Volunteers and their host families may elect to continue the host family living arrangement or Volunteers may decide to move to an apartment or dormitory.

Projects

Community Development

The Community Economic Development Project aims to enable businesses to improve their profitability and non-governmental organizations to achieve sustainability and expand their services to local populations. Volunteers transfer free-market business skills and expertise through teaching and consulting to business associations, individual entrepreneurs, nongovernmental organizations, schools and local governments. Volunteers organize trainings on marketing, business infrastructure, sales techniques, advertising and public relations for entrepreneurs and business students in communities throughout Ukraine. Citizens’ involvement in local governance has been encouraged through programs on inclusive budgeting processes, citizen information bureaus, cooperative investment strategies, and public-private partnerships.

Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL)

The Teaching English as a Foreign Language Project aims to enhance students’ and teachers’ communication abilities and encouraging independent thinking and problem solving through the creation of an interactive learning environment and use of contemporary methods and materials. Volunteers work in educational institutions as English teachers and teacher trainers. Volunteer English language teachers work in classrooms with more than 20,000 students each year. Many classroom teachers also work as teacher trainers bringing contemporary methodologies to the Ukrainian educational system fostering debate, critical thinking skills, and teacher-to-teacher links.

Youth Development

The Youth Development Project aims to develop opportunities for youth in economically disadvantaged areas to stay healthy and gain the knowledge and skills they need to be competitive in today’s Ukraine. Volunteers conduct classroom lessons and extracurricular activities on civic responsibility, computer and Internet literacy, drug and HIV prevention, environmental awareness, and basic business. Educational activities are presented in an interactive format to engage and sustain young people’s interest and motivation.

If you have a question or concern, please Contact Peace Corps Ukraine.

If you represent an organization in Ukraine which is interested in applying for a volunteer, please visit the Apply for a Volunteer Section.