50 Years of Peace Corps: Celebration in Kyiv

One hundred and three citizens of United Sates of America have been sworn in to serve Ukraine. On June 16th, the swearing in ceremony for the new Peace Corps volunteers’ took place in Kyiv.

From now on, these volunteers will work side-by-side with Ukrainians in various parts of Ukraine, sharing their professional experience.

Americans coming from different states, being of different ages and skin color, holding their right hand up, in unison recited the oath: I do solemnly swear that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States of America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion, and that I will well and faithfully discharge my duties in the Peace Corps of the United States of America, serving Ukraine to the best of my abilities and demonstrating the respect and consideration due its people. So help me God.

Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine John Francis Tefft swore the volunteers in. He reminded the audience that this year is remarkable for the Peace Corps – 50 years have already passed since it was founded by President of United Sates John Kennedy.

Remarks by John F. Tefft, Ambassador of the United States to Ukraine

The US Peace Corps is a federal agency, financed by American taxpayers. For more than half a century over 200 thousand Americans volunteered in 139 countries.

Ukraine is the biggest Peace Corps post. At the moment, 462 volunteers are working here. The Peace Corps Ukraine program was founded in 1992.

“The greatest treasure of the United Sates is its people”, Director of Peace Corps Ukraine Douglass Teschner mentioned during the ceremony. He addressed his fellow citizens with words: “Thank you for the noble decision to do something bigger than yourself. Peace Corps is a calling, a way of life. Each one of you has what it takes to make a difference in Ukraine…Don’t underestimate your impact”.

Opening and remarks by Douglass Teschner,
Peace Corps Ukraine Country Director

 Remarks by Mykhailo Harmash, Deputy Director of the Department on International Technical Assistance and Cooperation with International Financial Organizations of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade

 Remarks by Oleg Yaresko, Director of the Department of Secondary and Pre-School Education of Ministry of Education, Science, Youth and Sports of Ukraine

At the moment, the Peace Corps works in three projects: Teaching English as a Foreign Language, Community Development and Youth Development.

“Some people implement projects, help to get thousands worth of investments, some people are able to help several youths to turn the right way, without tobacco and drugs”, Iryna Krupska, the Director of Training Programs of the Peace Corps in Ukraine, comments for GURT.

Volunteers will work in those places were their knowledge and skills are needed above all.

Remarks by Peace Corps volunteers

Iryna Kossa, representative from Kirovograd Regional Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education told GURT, that the Institute where she works cooperates with the Peace Corps volunteers for over 10 years. “Teachers working at rural schools do not have an opportunity to practice their English all the time. That is why communication with native speakers is crucial”, says Kossa. Besides, American teachers’ experience in methodology of education is valuable. Now volunteers help teachers of the Kirovograd region with introducing the communicative approach to education in schools."

“I didn’t even know what it is – to actually lecture. Everything happens as a discussion in USA. When I started talking to students here, they couldn’t understand why I’m talking to them instead of just dictating things to put them down”, recalls Zukoski who facilitated marketing classes at Symferopil University.

“I didn’t even know what it is – to actually lecture. Everything happens as a discussion in USA. When I started talking to students here, they couldn’t understand why I’m talking to them instead of just dictating things to put them down”, recalls Zukoski who facilitated marketing classes at Symferopil University.

After a two-year service in Ukraine Zukoski decided to stay here. Now she’s working in the Ukrainian Microsoft affiliated agency.

“They live here just like average Ukrainians. They do not get a luxury apartment. They live in modest conditions, as, for example, Ukrainian teachers in villages”, explains Krupska.

Remarks by Jorge Zukoski, President of the American Chamber of Commerce in Ukraine, RPCV in Ukraine

According to Ambassador Tefft, who quoted Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams, "...the Volunteers...have much to gain from their experiences. As Director Williams further explained, ..Volunteers return to the U.S. as global citizens, with leadership skills, language skills, technical skills, problem-solving skills, and cross-cultural insights that position themselves well for careers across fields and industries throughout the United States.”

“They live here just like average Ukrainians. They do not get a luxury apartment. They live in modest conditions, as, for example, Ukrainian teachers in villages”, explains Krupska.

“For some volunteers it’s currently difficult to adjust, they need help all the time. Others adjust very quickly. We have a volunteer who loves Ukrainian food so much that she doesn’t know how she will live without it in the USA. She says, that our food is delicious and healthy”, says Iryna Kossa from Kirovograd Regional Institute of Postgraduate Pedagogical Education.  

Remarks by Iryna Kossa, Counterpart of Peace Corps Volunteer

Cortney Zukoski recalls that Ukrainian third-class couches were a weird thing for her. In the 90s there were no supermarkets either. “That’s why I went to the market. And I didn’t know how much potatoes cost, because the prices were per kilogram. I didn’t know what a kilogram is, because we use pounds in the States. I would just say to shop-assistants: the same for me”. 

 Remarks by Tom Ross, Peace Corps Ukraine Programming & Training Officer

The new volunteers have not had time yet to completely immerse themselves into Ukrainian everyday life. They speak of Ukraine with admiration only. “I like everything here! Kyiv is a very, very beautiful city!” shares with GURT Meryl Houten from Colorado.
“I’ve always had this dream to volunteer to help people and share my knowledge. Finally it has come true” 

Janna Solovyova, Board Chairman in Youth NGO "Modern Format",
and Casey Magi, Peace Corps volunteer in Ukraine, speak about volunteer work in organization

Please see the full video playlist here: youtube.com/playlist?p=PL20BEBECC925D143A

Author: Mariana Pietsuh, GURT Resource Centre volunteer

On 17th June on GURT web-portal  the web-conference with Marat Kurchevskiy, Community Development Project Lead Specialist at US Peace Corps, and Emily Watson, volunteer at Peace Corps, was held. Marat and Emily told about Peace Corps performance in Ukraine, explained the role of corporate volunteering and some tips of local community successful development.

Please see the full video of web-conference here: youtube.com/playlist?p=PLF2D206974F71D2D2

If you would like to invite a volunteer to you organization, please contact US Peace Corps in Ukraine: http://ukraine.peacecorps.gov/