Support Resilient Ukrainians

Global Service Corps (GSC) is a 501(c)(3) international service-learning organization that has been serving disadvantaged people since 1993 and is now serving Ukrainians through the GSC Ukraine Project.

Like probably you, we were appalled during the early days of the Russian invasion and decided to help Ukrainians and especially refugees deal with their war-induced trauma. Reaching out to Ukrainian NGOs, we learned refugees want help finding employment by improving their English to plan for the future, which would also benefit their mental health.

In April 2022, GSC launched an eight-week English-speaking club program with the assistance of our partner NGO TESOL-Ukraine, an international English training association. This program was very popular with US and Ukrainian facilitators and participants and was instrumental in building support, warmhearted friendships, and expanded community. We were greatly impressed with the friendliness, resilience and brave resistance of Ukrainians during these trying times.

We recognized that many more Ukrainians want to improve their English and need to know they are being supported. The English-speaking club program has expanded to include Conversation Clubs and Drop-in Cafes during various times and days of the week. Here is an interview of one of our outstanding Ukrainian student participants: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hFwQ5kd9VtFWmCCq3OM2WUzLOvLfOIOV/view?usp=drive_link

Your assistance has been greatly appreciated and has allowed us to accomplish the following:

• An eight-week conversational English pilot project in 2022

o In collaboration with TESOL-Ukraine

o Six separate weekly sessions of facilitators and participants

• The launch of the Drop-in Café Conversation Club program in 2023 https://www.globalservicecorps.org/3847-2/

o Three to five weekly sessions of facilitators and other participants from January to present

o Teams of two Ukrainian and US English speakers co-facilitators for each session

o Sessions now averaging 12 total participants

o November launch of a club specifically for students

• Production of Ukraine-US virtual concerts

o January 1, 2023 Holiday Concert

o February 25, 2023 “Together Invincible” Concert

o December 30. 2023 planned “Together Invincible” Holiday Concert

• Creation of Drop-in Café Conversation Club Telegram channels

o Main Telegram channel for interested Ukrainians, now including 221 members https://t.me/dropincafeclub

o Three additional program administration Telegram channels

• Production of several promotional videos

o One example: Introduction to the Drop-in Café Conversation Club program https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g-bHZDC8rvM

• Hiring a Ukrainian Social Media and Administration Contractor

o Fourth-year pre-law student

o Ten hours/week

• Supporting over 100 Ukrainians to receive semester long one-on-one English training

We look forward to expanding what has become a very popular program, especially to include more Ukrainian and US students. Your ongoing interest and support is much appreciated.