What it is and why it matters
The Internship Program is a new stage for Teach For Ukraine alumni. It helps them develop leadership skills and apply their classroom experience in a broader context — within government institutions, civil society organizations, and educational initiatives.
This way, alumni contribute to education reform and recovery during wartime, expand their professional networks, and strengthen their impact within the education community.
For partners, the program becomes a tool for renewal and growth. It’s an opportunity to engage motivated professionals who understand educational realities from the inside and can quickly step into the work.
Teach For Ukraine fellows undergo a rigorous selection process, receive mentorship, and participate in regular professional training. By the time they complete the fellowship and become interns, they already have verified skills, leadership potential, and adaptability.
The internship creates mutual benefit: alumni grow professionally, while partner institutions gain specialists capable of strengthening teams and driving change.
In 2025, we launched the pilot of this program.
Opportunities for interns
In 2025, internships focused on three key areas directly connected to ongoing education reforms and today’s challenges:
✔️ Supporting partnerships at the Partnerships Support Office of the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine
Interns contribute to coordinating educational projects and initiatives, cooperate with national and international partners, and assist in preparing analytical and presentation materials.
Their practical tasks include supporting preparations for the Summit of First Ladies and Gentlemen, developing a partner map, and assisting in projects with the UNITED24 platform and the World Bank.
✔️ Supporting access to education in temporarily occupied territories and building a teacher reserve at the New Ukrainian School Implementation Office
Interns participate in projects aimed at ensuring access to education in temporarily occupied and de-occupied territories and developing a teacher reserve for schools in these regions.
Their responsibilities include analytical support, cooperation with local communities, participation in policy proposals and initiatives, preparing materials for educators, and assisting in organizing online meetings, events, and communication campaigns.
✔️ Supporting the reform of the “Defense of Ukraine” subject at the New Ukrainian School Implementation Office
Interns assist in coordinating and implementing updated subject content, participate in developing roadmaps, analyzing data, and working with regional administrations and educational institutions. They also help organize trainings and meetings, including those involving international partners.
Each intern is supported by an experienced supervisor who provides guidance and professional mentoring.
Meet the first interns
The pilot involves three Teach For Ukraine alumni, each bringing unique teaching experience and motivation to drive lasting change:
Sofia Myshelova — taught mathematics at Velykodymerskyi Lyceum; currently interning at the Partnerships Support Office, Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine .
Nataliia Filonova — a Ukrainian language and literature teacher, now engaged in projects focused on access to education in temporarily occupied territories.
Tetiana Burynyk — taught informatics at Radushne Lyceum and Pyadyky Lyceum named after Stepan Melnychuk; now contributing to the reform of the “Defense of Ukraine” subject.
“The internship program by Teach For Ukraine is an opportunity to strengthen our team, do more, and create space for reflection on our work.
Engaging an intern in such a complex, sensitive, and important topic as access to education in temporarily occupied territories allows us to look at our activities from a new angle — to assess progress and challenges. For both us and the interns, it’s a unique learning experience.
This program is about trust in people who genuinely want to make education better and co-create change by bringing the real experience of schools, empathy for students, and belief in progress.”
— Kateryna Tymchenko, Project Manager for Content Development, New Ukrainian School Implementation Office
Intern’s voice
“The Teach For Ukraine program has completely changed my life, opening opportunities I never dreamed of. Education has become my mission. After completing the program, I wanted to stay in the system — but in a role where I could influence change. The internship at the Ministry of Education and Science became that chance. It’s not just a professional step, but a point of deep personal growth — I’ve learned to see education from a national perspective and understand the effort behind every decision.”
— Nataliia Filonova
Future perspectives
The pilot has already proven its relevance. Going forward, we aim to establish long-term partnerships with government, civil society, and business institutions to make the internship program a regular initiative (once or twice a year).
This will become a step toward systemic professional development for Teach For Ukraine alumni and tangible transformation within Ukraine’s education system.
