Co-teach Communication and Life Skills Summer School Lessons

Activity/project background

A pedagogical university in Ukraine specializes in education and creating the next generation of leaders and changemakers in the classroom and for the world. The university aims to start an online life skills summer school in partnership with Sumy Regional Academic Lyceum. This project is an introduction to the world of work for youth, helping them to explore and identify a potential career path in the education field.

Unfortunately, the university does not have access to many native English speakers who are able to provide support for career readiness and life skill development. Thus, the pedagogical university is seeking one Virtual Service Pilot Participant (VSPP) to lead an online communication and life skills summer school for 20–25 participants, aged 15–18. This program will support participants’ professional readiness through core life skills; decision-making, problem-solving, developing emotional intelligence, goal setting, and collaboration—practiced alongside confident English communication. In a supportive online space, participants will build life skills through discussions and activities focused on clear self-expression, active listening, and respectful dialogue. During the 7-week engagement, the VSPP will co-develop the club curriculum and lead two one-hour weekly club lessons for 5 weeks. This summer school will advance youth development goals by equipping university and lyceum students for leadership and meaningful impact.

The organization has previously collaborated with the Peace Corps through the Virtual Service Pilot program. They understand that the role of a VSPP is very different than a Peace Corps Volunteer or Peace Corps Response Volunteer.

Engagement and tasks

• Co-assess current skills and priorities of summer school participants
• Co-design a summer school curriculum with a focus on communication and life skills
• Co-develop eight session plans for virtual meetings
• Co-facilitate two one-hour virtual meetings each week for 20–25 participants aged 15–18
• Incorporate cultural themes including American and Ukrainian holidays to the club curriculum
• Attend a weekly meeting with the Ukrainian counterparts for feedback and planning

VSPPs are expected to engage on the tasks listed above for an estimated 5–15 hours per week. This engagement is estimated to be around 7 hours per week.

Online collaboration will generally occur between 4:00 p.m.–6:00 p.m. Kyiv time twice a week. Specific times will be determined during orientation.

The Host Country Counterpart will have access to Zoom, Telegram, WhatsApp, and emails 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:

• Working with youth, aged 15–18, in some capacity, such as a teacher, counselor, mentor, coach, or volunteer
• Training youth about life skills development
• Facilitating virtual educational sessions

Intercultural skills and motivation:

• Flexible, strong cross-cultural agility, high tolerance for ambiguity, able to work independently, resourceful, creative.

Key skills/competency

• Virtual Teaching
• Curriculum Development
• Youth Mentorship
• Life Skills Education
• Communication Skills
• Cross-cultural Collaboration
• Session Facilitation
• Lesson Planning
• Student Engagement
• Professional Readiness