The war deprives children of their sense of confidence and predictability. We are bringing it back, proving to every single student: opportunities exist, and they are waiting just for you. This is how the GoTeach program works.
Companies that join the program open much more than just their office doors to teenagers. They reveal the real world of professions, role models, inspiration, and practical experience. Most importantly, they help students realize that large corporations are driven by real people who were once school students themselves, facing their own fears and uncertainties.
Therefore, Teach for Ukraine, in partnership with DHL Group, is developing a career guidance program for teenagers from small communities. Together, we are testing and scaling a model of school-business cooperation where students get to know the real world of professions, and company employees engage as volunteers.
What is GoTeach?
It is a program for school students that helps them:
✔️ explore various professions;
✔️ better understand the purpose of studying and how to connect education with a future career;
✔️ develop essential career skills: communication, responsibility, initiative, and teamwork.
Teach for Ukraine and DHL initiated the implementation of this program in Ukraine in 2023 by developing a dedicated cooperation model.
During the full-scale war, many teenagers experience heightened uncertainty about their future. The transition from school to adulthood is challenging even in peacetime, but now it can feel overwhelming. GoTeach helps break this journey down into clear, manageable steps: experiencing professions firsthand, trying out new roles, and receiving guidance from mentors.
The Business Cooperation Model for Career Guidance
The GoTeach model is built upon the Career Readiness Education Framework, which was developed by the global Teach For All network (of which Teach for Ukraine is a partner) in collaboration with DHL Group.
Together with the Ukrainian office of DHL Express, we adapted this model to Ukrainian realities. It combines online and offline formats and consists of three consecutive steps:
01 / Awareness
– learning about different roles within the company;
– taking guided tours of the facility or office.
02 / Exploration
– employability skills training led by company volunteer experts (e.g., how to write a resume, navigate interviews, present oneself, and work in teams);
– mock interviews or opportunities to get involved in minor real-world company workflows.
03 / Practice
– mentorship support from employee volunteers;
– participating in joint mini-projects aligned with the actual work of the company or the needs of the community;
– elements of internships or job shadowing — a chance to observe up close how teams work and how decisions are made.
GoTeach places a special emphasis on recorded career talks and online meetings. This allows students to revisit the materials, share them with other classes, and include those who cannot always attend offline.
Program Impact and Student Feedback
As of November 2025, we have successfully implemented four waves of career guidance activities for 123 students from schools in small communities.
87% of students became interested in career opportunities in the logistics sector after participating in the program.
Here is what they have to say:
“Incredible impressions! It was the best trip of my life.”
“The tour of the DHL office made me rethink a lot of things.”
“It was atmospheric, warm, and highly professional.”
“SO AWESOME! So many new emotions and impressions! ❤️”
