KYIV This year's Top 30 Under 30 Ukrainian Leaders includes politicians, entrepreneurs, athletes, and two Future Leaders Exchange Program alumni.
The Kyiv Post announced their second annual 30 under 30 list this week, recognizing the brightest, young leaders in the country. The inaugural winners selected this year's honorees, a group which included Rimma El Joueidi, FLEX class of 2007, and Roman Tychkivsky, FLEX class of 2005.
Last year, El Joueidi co-founded Teach for Ukraine, which recruits and trains motivated, young professionals to become teachers. Following the training period, the teachers work in a rural school for a two-year term.
"I want to be someone useful and do something important for the future generations," she said. "If you don't take care of yourself and your country, then the neighbor's grass may really seem greener."
In its first year, Teach for Ukraine received more than 300 applications from potential teachers.
Tychkivsky is the CEO of Ukrainian Leadership Academy, which he helped found in 2015. His work was partially inspired by his FLEX year.
"I wanted to bring back everything I saw there, and put it into practice at home," he said of his FLEX year.
The academy, which has campuses in five cities, has had more than 200 graduates in the last two years. The 10-month program includes a focus on personal and social development.
You can read more about the accomplishments of these alumni and the rest of Ukraine's Top 30 Under 30 here and here.
About the Future Leaders Exchange Program
The Future Leaders Exchange Program (FLEX) is a competitive, merit-based scholarship program funded by the US Department of State. FLEX students who pass multiple rounds of testing earn a scholarship to spend an academic year in the United States living with a volunteer host family and attending a US high school.
FLEX students gain leadership skills, learn about American society and values, and teach Americans about FLEX countries and cultures. FLEX is a highly competitive program with over 25,000 alumni who have contributed over one million hours of community service in cities and towns across America. The students return home to active alumni networks that carry out inspiring activities. Learn more at discoverflex.org.