Beyond Certificates and Statistics

This blog entry is written by an American Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) currently living and working in Ukraine. To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps, an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, the U.S. Embassy hosted a competition among all Ukraine-based PCVs and will be posting the top three over the next week, beginning with the overall winner, followed by the two runners up. Today U.S. Ambassador John F. Tefft swore in the latest group of PCVs at a ceremony at the historic Teacher’s House.

The Peace Corps traces its roots and mission to 1960, when then Senator John F. Kennedy challenged students at the University of Michigan to serve their country in the cause of peace by living and working in developing countries. In 1961, President John F. Kennedy established the Peace Corps to promote world peace and friendship.

The Peace Corps’ mission has three simple goals:

• Helping the people of interested countries in meeting their need for trained men and women.
• Helping promote a better understanding of Americans on the part of the peoples served.
• Helping promote a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans

Peace Corps volunteers work at the request of other countries to help develop better opportunities for their people, living and working with people in remote villages and burgeoning cities in the developing world. Since 1961, more than 200,000 Americans have served as volunteers in 139 countries, teaching English, helping people improve their families’ health and nutrition, working on HIV/AIDS issues, encouraging entrepreneurs to build their own businesses, introducing new farming techniques to bolster crop yields and protect the environment, and providing leadership to the young.

To learn more about 50th anniversary of the Peace Corps please read E-journal.

To learn more about Peace Corps in Ukraine please visit official website. 

 

International Education Week — Americans in Action

Posted by: Parvina Shamsieva-Cohen, Professional Associate, U.S. Consulate

As the snow falls and Ukrainian school children are in the midst of their holiday vacation, I warmly recall my recent visit to a Ukrainian high school.  The visit was in commemoration of International Education Week, a combined initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education.   Every year, this particular week gives Americans working at embassies abroad the opportunity to highlight the  importance of increasing student knowledge of the world’s cultures, peoples, and languages, and affirms the critical role that international education and exchange programs play in fostering people to people contacts throughout the world.  Being a former graduate student myself from Tajikistan to the U.S. under the auspices of the Open World-Soros Foundation, I jumped at the chance to visit Kyiv public school #168 and talk about educational opportunities and share my own experience.   Iryna Tymchenko, my Ukrainian colleague, was also eager to participate.

Students of Kyiv public school #168

This was not just any typical school, mind you.  The school is unique in that it is the only school in the area (Kyiv Oblast) where physically disabled children are integrated into regular class rooms.  Children with disabilities and non-disabled kids both benefit from this approach. Some of the disabled kids have even started walking on their own since the integration began! The teachers’ dedication and enthusiasm are particularly amazing to me.

I chose to speak to the children on the topics of Renewable Sources of Energy and Intellectual Property Rights. These are topics of particular interest to me, and I tried my best to transmit a fraction of my passion for them to the audience.   The children seemed genuinely interested in these subjects and asked me many pertinent questions afterwards. 

In our attempt to reach out to the students, my colleague, Alison Hannah, talked with students via web chat about Studying Abroad and specifically about the Summer Work and Travel Program. This program typically generates tremendous interest among Ukrainian students and the number of program participants increases every year.  In 2009 alone, the Consular Section in Kyiv reviewed over 11,000 applications for the program. 

The main participants of the web chat were students from Kremenchuk National M. Ostrogradskyi University and Education USA “Osvita” from Dnipropetrovsk, but it was also open to the general public as well.  During the chat, Alison covered issues related to the exchange program, program administration, possible placements in the U.S., visa types and application procedures.  Alison also provided tips on ensuring personal student safety in the US. 

The presentation, which incorporated the most frequently asked questions, was based on Alison’s experience dealing with the variety of exchange programs. The audience evaluated the presentation as extremely informative, and among the best they have ever experienced.  Web chat participants particularly noted Alison’s openness and the transparency of the program.

 

Congratulations to Exchange Alumni and American Councils!

Amb. Tefft presents photo book to an exchange alumna

Posted by: U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine John F. Tefft

I love this part of my job. Spending time talking  with some of Ukraine’s brightest young students is such a positive affirmation of the country’s amazing potential and that the work we are doing really matters. As an ambassador, most of my days are filled with meetings with ministers and government officials, visits to technical assistance projects, reading and writing diplomatic cables, and hosting receptions.  To be sure, these are all serious and important things.

Honestly though, one of my favorite parts of the job – and no less important – is meeting the very impressive Ukrainian students, scholars, and professionals who have participated in our many exchange programs.  Having spent anywhere from a few weeks to two years in very diverse parts of the United States, they return home brimming with interesting insights into American society, fond memories of newfound friends, and ideas for how to improve their communities. Exchange program participants see all sides of my country, as the famous Clint Eastwood movie title puts it:  The Good, the Bad and the Ugly.  We are not perfect, but I always hope they have discovered some part of “The Good” that they will use in some way when they return home.