My journey to become a Peace Corps Volunteer

Don
Links to web logs of Peace Corps Volunteers and Trainees currently in Ukraine:
  1. http://raejean.blogspot.com/
  2. http://www.aboutfog.com/index.html
  3. http://www.wendylu.com/pcUkraine/blogger.html
  4. http://peacecorps.mtu.edu/filius.htm
  5. http://www.soundchasers.com/nucleus/index.php?blogid=2
Click for Kyiv, Ukraine Forecast flag Hryvia Currency Converter. Click for Kyiv, Ukraine Forecast
Ukraine Vital Stats
Population: approx. 48,400,000
Peace Corps program dates: 1992-present
Current number of volunteers: 314 (largest number of PC volunteers in any nation)
Total Volunteers to date: 996
Languages spoken: Ukrainian; Russian

Ukraine was the first successor nation of the Soviet Union to invite the Peace Corps to establish a program on its territory. Volunteers in Ukraine work throughout the country to help Ukrainians learn new skills in communicating, interacting, and doing business with each other and with the global community.

Since achieving independence in 1991, Ukraine has taken steps toward representative democracy, political pluralism, and a free-market economy. Recently a dramatic proliferation throughout Ukraine of small business startups and new community organizations signals a country on the move and a people who increasingly are taking advantage of their new freedoms.

In response to Ukraine's expressed needs, Peace Corps Volunteers work in the areas of business education and development, English language education, and environmental protection.

Business Volunteers teach courses at business centers, universities, and high schools; serve as advisors to municipal and regional governments' economic development departments; and, offer management training and expertise to business associations and other nongovernmental organizations.

Two important aspects of business Volunteers' work are the introduction of electronic data management technology and training and the teaching of modern forms of project planning, problem solving, and management.

All Volunteers are also active in community projects that include as their themes leadership education, environmental cleanups, assistance to vulnerable groups, healthy lifestyle education, and many other topics.

The Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) project develops the English language skills of Ukrainian students and teachers. Volunteers work as English teachers and English teacher trainers, bringing new knowledge and methodologies to the Ukrainian educational system and fostering teacher-to-teacher links to promote the exchange of information on best teaching methods.

Many TEFL Volunteers provide assistance to their schools and communities in establishing or expanding English teaching resource centers and contributing to curriculum development and the production of innovative English teaching materials. During the summer, TEFL Volunteers help organize and lead language and sports camps for Ukrainian youth. When school is in session, they participate in English clubs that are popular all over Ukraine with adults and young people who want to become fluent in English. TEFL teachers in secondary schools assist with in-service teacher training, sponsor student newspapers, organize essay and debate contests, and seek ways to transmit health topics, information technology, gender issues, and many other subjects through their English lessons and extracurricular activities with their students.

Environment Volunteers work with schools, government and nongovernment organizations active in environmental initiatives. Volunteers expand the awareness of environmental threats and their impact on natural resources and educate the public about environmental protection. Some types of projects include teaching in community ecology centers, advising national parks on environmental preservation, helping city governments plan and implement green spaces, and planning and promoting environmentally friendly tourism.

The Progression

  1. Applicant
  2. Nominee
  3. Invitee
  4. Trainee
  5. Volunteer

I am now an Invitee

The Assignment

Click the image to enlarge

Andriyivska Church is situated at the top of Andriyivskyj Uzviz -- one of the most popular places in Kyiv. It was initially designed in 1754 by well known Italian architect Bartolomeo Rastrelli and built by Russian architect Ivanov. It is one of the few ancient buildings in Kyiv which survived without any serious damage or reconstruction during its long history.

CHRONOLOGY OF EVENTS UP TO BEING INVITED TO UKRAINE

More current entries in my Peace Corps Journal at My Peace Corps Journal

8 October 2003
I accepted the Peace Corps' invitation to train to serve as a volunteer in Ukraine.

Peace Corps Invitation Letter

Click the image to enlarge

29 September 2003
Peace Corps Placement Office in Washinton, DC changes my status from Applicant to Invitee and issues an invitation packet.

Click the image to enlarge

11 July 2003
I talk to my current placement officer and tell him I want to be considered for the assignment in Ukraine.
He agrees to pass my file over to the placement officer in charge of that assignment.
The invitation, if it is offered, won't be offered until some time in August.
The invitation is contingent upon Peace Corps Ukraine assuring the Placement Office that they can provide for my medical accomodation.

Map of Ukraine
Click the image to enlarge

10 July 2003
I receive my first call from a Peace Corps Placement Officer in Washington, D.C. I am ineligible for the position I was nominated to because the host country,
which was to have been Vanuatu, cannot provide the required medical accomodation, i.e., an annual cardiology exam.
He offers to consider me for an Advanced Business Development position in the Ukraine commencing in early 2004. There are virtually no other
opions.

27 June 2003
After weeks of delay, I receive a "conditional" Medical clearance.

30 April 2003
I clear Dental.

18 February 2003
After an interview with a recruiting officer, I am nominated to an Advanced Business Development position located somewhere
in the Pacific region commencing on 11 October 2003. Getting to the next step, Invitation, is contingent on securing
Medical, Dental, Legal and Placement clearances. For the next two months I undergo medical and dental exams, and
assemble a very thick medical file. I send in the file near the end of April.

13 January 2003
I mail in my application packet

25 July 2002
I attend an orientation session at the San Francisco Peace Corps office and obtain all of the application forms.
The number of forms and other documentation required is daunting, especially the Medical Questionnaire.
The application packet gathers dust for several months. Sometime in late 2002, J.T. tells me about a Peace Corps Volunteer
he met in Thailand. The guy told J.T. to tell me to go ahead and apply; that I could probably clear medical.

Email: don@donhandley.com

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