Olha Koval, a Teach For Ukraine fellow, relocated from Kyiv to the village of Pershotravneve in Odesa region. For two years, she taught English at the local school.
Olha and her boyfriend learned about the Teach For Ukraine Fellowship program by chance, through their acquaintances.
“We just knew that such a program existed globally, and when it appeared in Ukraine, we got interested. But honestly, at first, we didn’t have a strong desire to apply. We thought about it for a long time,” Olha says.
At that time, she worked at the International British School in Kyiv.
“That experience impressed me a lot. I saw that children were excited to go to school, they had many opportunities for development, and lessons weren’t a chore. I remembered my own university teaching practice experience — it was night and day. It upset me that such quality education was only available in schools where tuition costs a fortune. Yet, to achieve that level, it doesn’t take many resources. Just motivated teachers willing to invest effort,” Olha adds.
Later, Olha recalled the Teach For Ukraine Fellowship program. Together with her boyfriend, they submitted applications at the last minute and waited for a response.
“We were lucky — both our applications were accepted. We even ended up in the same village, lived together, and taught in the same school. I remember wanting to be in Odesa region. I’m originally from Luhansk, then lived in Kyiv. I wanted to try something new — either live in Odesa or Lviv regions. It just so happened that we were assigned to a village about 20 kilometers from Odesa,” Olha shares.
Olha taught English, and her boyfriend taught history. The school often had a high turnover of teachers, sometimes every semester. Students even counted that they had eight different English teachers over time.
“Many kids had low knowledge levels. The textbooks used were Ukrainian. I was shocked when I saw those books. The first year I tried to teach with them, but eventually gave up on that idea. I started looking for materials myself for every lesson — and made sure they matched the curriculum. It took a lot of time. The next year, another teacher and I decided to switch to British textbooks recommended by the Ministry. Of course, no child could afford to buy them, and the school couldn’t either. So we searched for electronic versions, made copies for the kids, sometimes at our own expense,” Olha explains.
During her first year, Olha organized free after-school consultations and preparation sessions for external independent testing (ZNO) and state final exams (DPA) for all interested students. By the second year, the school opened a dedicated space, supported by the organization Impact Hub Odesa.
“Our hub was a separate room with a computer, projector, and beanbags. Teachers and I ran clubs and events there. I led a board games club. I had many games at home and decided to bring them to school. The kids gradually learned to play different games: starting with simple ones like UNO, then more complex ones like ‘Evolution’. Later, the children chose games themselves, explained rules to each other, and even started inventing their own games. It helped them open up,” Olha adds.
Olha notes that she worked under quite challenging conditions regarding students’ knowledge and motivation levels, as well as the broader social context.
“Participating in the program gave me a strong push as a teacher. I was constantly on my toes, learned a lot from other teachers, and the experience of interacting with them was very valuable. I also learned many new teaching methods and group work techniques that I still use and develop,” Olha says.
Teach For Ukraine NGO is part of the global Teach For All network. Similar programs exist in 59 countries, all following the same model. The program started in Ukraine in 2017. Its fellows — university graduates and selected young people — teach in villages and small towns in Kyiv, Lviv, and Odesa regions.
Recently, the program announced recruitment for the 2021–2022 academic years. Before starting in schools, selected participants undergo a six-week training on pedagogy basics, developmental psychology, and practical work with children. During two years of teaching, mentors and methodologists support them, and fellows participate in monthly trainings and share experiences with colleagues. Those without a teaching degree can study part-time at Borys Grinchenko Kyiv University.
Participants receive a salary and a stipend that covers basic living expenses.
