Co-facilitate Youth Club on Leadership, Communication, and Life Skills

Activity/project background

The partner lyceum in Ukraine has a science-based curriculum and is proposing to enhance student outcomes through life skills educational programming and a range of extracurricular activities. They are interested in developing a youth club on leadership, communication, and life skills to cultivate students’ personal growth, leadership qualities, and sense of responsibility for their communities. Students will participate in weekly workshops on communication, problem-solving, digital literacy, and leadership. The facilitators are committed to preparing youth for success in life while fostering a lifelong curiosity, resilience, and commitment to contributing positively to society. The club will provide participants with knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to become effective leaders and proactive change-makers within their communities, contributing to a more empowered, resilient, and socially responsible generation.
To create the club, the lyceum is seeking a Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to collaborate with facilitators to co-design and implement the club’s program, aiming to equip students aged 14–16 with essential life skills. The engagement will cover topics such as effective communication, decision-making, teamwork, problem-solving, goal setting, self-realization, and resiliency. Students will learn practical techniques for leadership, including active listening, giving and receiving feedback, conflict resolution, and strategies for motivation.
The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps. Prior to global pandemic they hosted Volunteers. 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 and establish current life skills, communication, and leadership priorities of student club members, aged 14–16
• Co-design the virtual club curriculum focused on life skills, communication, and leadership development
• Co-develop session plans for weekly 1-hour virtual club meetings
• Co-facilitate weekly 1-hour virtual club meetings and interactive workshops for 15–20 students
• Co-host cultural exchange events highlighting U.S. and local cultural practices
• Attend a weekly meeting with the host country partner 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 4:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. Kyiv time. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The host country counterpart will have access to Zoom, WhatsApp, email, Google Docs, or other shared online platforms 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:

1. To help the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
2. To help promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
3. 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:
• Working with youth, aged 14–16, in some capacity, such as a teacher, counselor, mentor or coach
• Facilitating virtual educational sessions

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

Language: Basic Ukrainian

Experience:
• Virtual engagement and communication
• Work with youth to develop critical thinking, decision-making, problem-solving, emotional intelligence, and communication skills

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.