Interview with Anna Orlovska, June 14, 2021

Partial Transcript: Um, hello. Uh, today I'll be interviewing, uh, Anna. Uh, she is, uh, one of the counterparts, uh, in Peace Corps Ukraine. Uh, my name is Violet Esipila. I also served in Ukraine, uh, from 20, 2017 to 2020.

Segment Synopsis: Orlovska is from a small town in central Ukraine. Orlovska learned about the Peace Corps through the internet. Following research, Orlovska learned that a Volunteer was serving in her community. The Volunteer was very active and had an English club. Orlovska's association with the Volunteer occurred during the last 8 months of the Volunteer's service. Orlovska was new in the community and was still organizing a team at her organization. However, the Volunteer helped Orlovska's organization with translation, management, and working with staff.

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Keywords: Activities; Challenges; Counterparts; Research; Secondary projects; Support; Teaching English as a foreign language; Translation

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Small business--Developing countries; Small business--Management; Volunteer workers in community development

Partial Transcript: Can you, uh, tell us a little bit about your organization?

Segment Synopsis: Orlovska is involved with two organizations. One has a training course for entrepreneurs which is sold to others. One component of the course is the use of English. The second organization is to form a group for economically independent, educated women.

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Keywords: Education programs; English (Language); Role of women

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Small business--Developing countries; Small business--Management; Volunteer workers in community development

Partial Transcript: Uh, can you tell us, uh, post-, uh, COVID, how--what, what are some of the challenges now, uh, uh, with Volunteers out of the, uh, field?

Segment Synopsis: Even though the Volunteer left in March 2020 due to COVID-19, he continued to assist Orlovska's organization remotely until October with translation, paperwork, management structure, and directing them to webinars. Orlovska's organization has applied to have another Volunteer assigned to it. From the webinars, Orlovska realized that the mission statement of her organization needed to be revised to make it unique.

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Keywords: Advice; Applications; Applying; Awareness; Changes; Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19); Influences; Leaving; Paperwork; Plans; Remote work; Resources; Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; Translation

Subjects: COVID-19 (Disease); Non-governmental organizations; Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Small business--Developing countries; Small business--Management; Volunteer workers in community development

Partial Transcript: Now, can you tell us, uh, a bit about, um, some, some of the experiences of a Peace Corps Volunteer transitioning into the community?

Segment Synopsis: Orlovska reports that the Volunteer helped the local organizations to communicate better with each other. The Volunteer was involved in a successful fundraiser to convert an empty factory into an art gallery.

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Keywords: Activities; Communication; Cooperation; Funding

Subjects: Finance; Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Small business--Developing countries; Small business--Management; Volunteer workers in community development

Partial Transcript: And, let's say, um, a, a second Volunteer comes to the organization. What would be some of the experiences, or what would be some of the, uh, adjustment, uh, for the Volunteer, uh, to better, uh, adjust to the community?

Segment Synopsis: Should another Volunteer come, Orlovska would like to see the Volunteer familiarized with the local organizations and community. Besides the data on the application for a Volunteer, an informational interview would be helpful. Through these steps, the Volunteer would be motivated to work with Orlovska's organization. The Volunteer should work with all key members of the organization team. The Volunteer should have an appreciation of the local culture.

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Keywords: Applications; Attitudes; Interests; Interviews; Motivation; Orientation; Preparation

Subjects: Acculturation; Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Small business--Developing countries; Small business--Management; Volunteer workers in community development

Partial Transcript: Can you tell us a bit about, uh, training for you, with Peace Corps?

Segment Synopsis: Orlovska feels it's important to have a dialogue between the Peace Corps staff and the counterparts of the Volunteers.

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Keywords: Communication; Counterparts; Improvements; Peace Corps staff; Quarantines

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Small business--Developing countries; Small business--Management; Volunteer workers in community development

Partial Transcript: Do you have any, um, any, um, suggestions or, uh, any statement that you want to make about Peace Corps Ukraine and, uh, the experiences?

Segment Synopsis: Orlovska has found the Peace Corps to be helpful and has recommended it to her friends. Orlovska hopes that working with Peace Corps can spread English fluency, increase gender equality, promote cultural understanding, and have a global impact.

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Keywords: Advice; Applications; Applying; English (Language); Friends; Gender roles; Impact; International development; Second Goal; Third Goal

Subjects: Peace Corps (U.S.)--2010-2020; Peace Corps (U.S.)--Ukraine; Small business--Developing countries; Small business--Management; Volunteer workers in community development