2011 is 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteers (IYV), proclaimed by the United Nations and the year of the 25th anniversary of Chornobyl accident. 

When: 22 August – 10 September

Where: Ukraine, Kyiv and northern region of Ukraine (Polissia)

Who: Postgraduate Students

Deadline for applications: 30 June 2011

2011 is 10th anniversary of the International Year of the Volunteers (IYV), proclaimed by the United Nations and the year of the 25th anniversary of Chornobyl accident.

The UN “International Chornobyl Research and Information Network”(ICRIN), the Oxford University Ukrainian Society, and the National University of “Kyiv-Mohyla Academy” with the support of the UN Volunteers programme and the UNDP Kyiv, are happy to announce opening of the applications call for the Volunteers for Chornobyl Internship scheme.

This is the sixth year of successful running of the volunteers program. Students will work closely with UNDP experts, local academics and graduate students as well as local villagers on several (bellow outlined) projects in affected villages.

The villages ARE NOT in the most affected zones but in the areas located in the concentric circles of zones surrounding the Chornobyl plant and city Prypiat.

Students will visit Chornobyl, the location of the nuclear power plant, and the city Prypiat, on supervised excursions. Most of the intensive grassroots development community work, will be completed in smaller towns and villages, with the cooperation (and even in some cases directed by) local residents. This is an exceptional kind of personal, practical, intellectual, and cultural exchange that is very hard to come by. You will be living with the local residents, you will have a chance to get to know true Ukrainian life in rural areas. You will not only gain outstanding practical experience but also develop a personal understanding of the local culture and society.

Eligibility criteria for students from Ukraine:

1. To be a Master programme student at Ukrainian University (full-time student)
2. Very good level of English;
3. High academic performance
4. Motivation to volunteer and to be involved in development

TOPICS FOR VOLUNTEERS PROJECTS

• Prospectives for Community-based or Green Tourism □ Preserving Polissia culture and opportunities for cultural tourism
• Health and Healthy life style
• Regional marketing strategy
• Development of international partnership between local authorities in Ukraine and abroad □ Infrastructure profile – challenges for development
• Youth Development and Information and Communication Technologies
• Dissemination of information on the consequences of Chornobyl to local population
• Biodiversity conservation in the region

How to apply? Fill out on-line Application Form

Financial and other arrangements All travel costs as well as living expenses should be covered by volunteers themselves. Volunteers are responsible for their medical insurance.

Scholarships and Bursaries Participants from Ukraine have an opportunity to receive scholarship to cover their travel expenses to community organisations and the cost of accommodation and food during their stay in communities.

!Attention! The cost of accommodation and living expenses in Kyiv for Ukrainian participants will not be covered by the scholarship.

To apply for these scholarships please state so in your application. During their stay volunteers will work at the territories that are safe for living but are recognised as Chornobyl-affected: the fourth and third zone of radioactive contamination, as well as territories where resettled people from the first zone (exclusion zone) live.

Volunteers are not expected to work within the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone or on the territory of the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station.