Learning Across Borders: Working Together, Even Miles Apart
How online participants collaborated to support Ukrainian NGOs
ImpactUA proved that meaningful collaboration doesn’t depend on geography. Throughout the summer, online participants from abroad worked alongside the Ukrainian host organization — the National Network of Local Philanthropy Development — contributing to projects that support Ukraine’s recovery.
Despite being thousands of kilometers away, online interns became a genuine part of the team: joining meetings, developing communications materials, conducting research, and collaborating on real projects. Working with Ukrainian peers gave them a deeper understanding of the country’s realities, while allowing them to contribute their own perspectives and skills.
Voices from the participants
How was the internship for you, and what will you take from it into the future?
“The internship was an incredibly valuable experience for me, as it was the first time I worked so deeply with analyzing the social impact of charitable projects. I learned how to work with large volumes of data, analyze grant reports, systematize information, and turn it into clear analytical conclusions. These skills will be useful to me both in my studies and in my future professional work, especially in analytics, research, and project management.” – Solomia Svidrak
“The internship became much more than just practical training for me. It gave me the chance to see how social entrepreneurship works in practice and to understand that business can not only be successful but also create real positive change for society. I gained valuable experience in research, analysis, materials preparation, and teamwork. Most importantly, I realized how important it is to work on projects that carry social value. These skills and this knowledge will definitely help me in my future career.” – Kira Chausova
What would you say to those who are just considering applying for the internship?
“I would definitely recommend this internship. It gives you the chance to work on real projects, gain practical experience, develop analytical thinking, and better understand how civil society and philanthropic organizations operate. It’s a wonderful opportunity to gain knowledge that will truly serve you in your future career.” – Solomia Svidrak
“What I loved most was the atmosphere of openness, support, and trust. I always felt that my opinion mattered, and that every task helped me grow. It was especially valuable to work on real projects and see how my results could actually be useful. This internship strengthened my desire to keep working on socially meaningful initiatives, and gave me confidence in my own abilities and a clearer understanding of how to apply my knowledge in practice.” – Kira Chausova
Impact without borders
Impact isn’t limited by borders. Whether in Lviv, Kyiv, or joining from abroad, participants became part of the same international community, working toward one goal — supporting Ukraine and building lasting connections that continue beyond the program.
