EcoWorks Youth Lab
Skill-development program for eco-aware Ukrainian youth
America House Kyiv is announcing a new skill-development program for eco-aware Ukrainian youth, developed in cooperation with Peace Corps in Ukraine. Join the EcoWorks Youth Lab to learn how to develop and implement your own eco-focused projects alongside other passionate and active emerging leaders.
Together with American program facilitator, energy and environmental policy expert and Peace Corps Virtual Service Pilot participant Kate George, participants will gain practical skills, theoretical knowledge and bring their own eco-ideas to life.
The EcoWorks Youth Lab program is made possible in cooperation with Peace Corps in Ukraine.
The deadline to apply is September 11, 11:59 PM Kyiv time.
The program will begin on September 18, 2023.
What do we offer to participants?
Acquire knowledge and join a supportive and productive environment that will enable you to develop and implement your own eco-focused project.
Gain practical skills by attending virtual workshops and lectures on ecology, project development, ecoactivism, grassroots community action, communication and advocacy from Ukrainian and American eco-experts.
Learn about best practices in ecoactivism in Ukraine and globally.
Join and take part in building a community of active, eco-focused youth in Kyiv.
Seize the opportunity to improve your English speaking and writing skills through taking part in English-language sessions.
Achieve and receive a certificate of program completion for those who implement their own eco-project.
Learn how grassroots community action can be the foundation of greater understanding and change to the environments we live in. The EcoWorks program will work to define what ‘Eco’ means for Ukrainian youth today and help develop skills to support activism and policy change on any subject. We will bring in perspectives from Ukrainian and American activists to help shape a unique community project with each participant. During this 8 session program, participants will work to identify issues, create a plan of action, implement a project and share the results, both in person and online.
This course is for those who:
Reside in Kyiv or Kyiv region, and are 16-22 years old.
Want to gain practical skills and knowledge to bring their own eco-related ideas and projects to life.
Are active and interested in learning more about the ecology and environment in Ukraine and the U.S.
Want to improve their English while learning about best practices in ecowork related to development, implementation, communication and advocacy.
Wish to join a community of passionate, eco-aware youth.
Program plan:
The Ecoworks program from America House Kyiv will launch on September 18, 2023. The program will run for 5 weeks. Meetings will take place 2 times a week, in the evenings between 6 - 7:30 PM Kyiv time.
The program will include:
Virtual English-language lectures, discussions and workshops related to ecological topics, project development and implementation, strategic planning, communications, advocacy and more.
Theoretical and practical lessons on eco-related project development and community engagement and activism.
Twice weekly meetings with an American facilitator and guest Ukrainian and American eco-experts.
Expert and peer feedback sessions.
Practical experience of implementing youth-led eco projects.
Program outline:
Introduction to EcoActivism
Identify an Issue
Decide on a Project
Communication!
Develop a Plan
Project Pitch and Feedback
Week off to Implement - Office Hours
Share Results
How the program will take run & participation guidelines:
Participation in the program is free of charge, because all opportunities from America House Kyiv are free.
Meetings and workshops will take place in English and Ukrainian.
The program will take place virtually, with some in-person meetings at America House Kyiv.
The program will include workshops, discussions, practical exercises, tasks to complete at home, as well as expert and peer feedback sessions.
Meetings will occur twice a week: Every Monday and Wednesday between 18:00 and 19:30
Participants are expected to commit: 3 hours per week for virtual sessions and 8-10 hours overall dedicated to project implementation.
The program will run for 1 month from September 18 until October 23, 2023.
Please, take into account the time commitment and schedule before submitting an application.
Selected candidates will be informed by September 14 of their participation.
About the facilitator:
Kate George has more than twelve years experience in energy and environmental policy. She has done advocacy for clean energy technologies, consulted to the U.S. Department of Energy and worked for the largest electric utility in the U.S. She holds a Masters Degree in Public Policy with a concentration in science, technology and environmental policy from American University in Washington, DC.
She was a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2005 to 2007. She lives in San Francisco, California with her husband and two children. She is currently a Peace Corps Virtual Service Pilot participant. Currently, Kate is a Youth Development (YD) Virtual Service Pilot Participant in Peace Corps Ukraine.
About America House Kyiv:
America House Kyiv (AHK) is a cultural center and your main resource for American culture, education, and information in the Kyiv region. AHK organizes a wide range of activities, including English-language programs, skill-building workshops, cultural events, art exhibitions, concerts and more. Work and think creatively, build cultural bridges and become a changemaker at our network of America Houses in Kyiv, Lviv and Odesa.
About Peace Corps in Ukraine:
Peace Corps is a non-political and non-religious organization of the American Government that seeks to promote peace and friendship among people of different nationalities and cultures. Peace Corps brings together skilled, committed Volunteers with welcoming host communities for service opportunities in more than 60 countries.
Peace Corps was established in Ukraine on May 6, 1992, when Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk and American President George Bush signed a bilateral agreement to establish a Peace Corps program in Ukraine. Over the years, the United States Peace Corps has cooperated with numerous progressive schools, organizations, and communities in Ukraine. American Volunteers worked and lived side by side with Ukrainian colleagues for two years sharing experiences and developing relationships that often last a lifetime. Currently, the Peace Corps in Ukraine collaborates with Ukrainian partners through the Virtual Service Pilot (VSP) in three sectors: Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), Youth Development and Community Development, as well as the PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) initiative.
