Ukraine Global Scholars Foundation

Repatriation Program: includes summer internships and first-job placements in Ukraine, along with the Social Impact Internship Fund, which provides stipends and covers related expenses for students participating in unpaid internships. UGS has expanded the UGS Internship Program, which has been in place since 2017, into the UGS Repatriation program to help its students find summer internships in Ukraine and support their return to Ukraine after graduation. Over 50 students completed 60+ internships with 33 employers in 2024. These included for-profit companies like Civitta and Farmak, DIXI, EntroPi Ai, and Support Your App; nonprofits such as Ukrainer, Razom, Teach for Ukraine, and Superhumans Rehabilitation Center; and state institutions, including the Ministry of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, Verkhovna Rada, and Lviv City Council. To further strengthen the program and amplify its impact, UGS successfully piloted the UGS Social-Impact Internship Fund (SIIF), which provided financial assistance for unpaid or low-paying internships at high-impact organizations in Ukraine. The program helped students gain valuable professional experience, build local networks before graduation, and reconnect with their families. In 2024, five UGS students received monthly stipends through SIIF (up to $500/month for up to three months) and additional funding for travel expenses to and from Ukraine in 2024. This year's grantees interned at the Verkhovna Rada, Lviv City Council, Superhumans Rehabilitation Center, Nizhyn Youth Center, and Ukrainer.

Cultural and Auxiliary Support: includes mental health programs, host family arrangements, and participation in cultural and educational events in the US, UK, and Ukraine. This includes student transportation and accommodations-related expenses to host families and events. In 2024, 25 host families welcomed 38 students during holiday breaks, including Easter, Thanksgiving, and winter holidays. In May, ten students from the 2023 Cohort visited Biopharma, a leading biological R&D center in Bila Tserkva, Ukraine, where they explored biochemistry research and career opportunities. On June 21, UGS hosted its Annual Summer Event at MacPaw Space in Kyiv, bringing together over 100 participants - including finalists, alumni, mentors, and partners. In July, UGS alumni organized a Kyiv reunion to share study-abroad experiences and foster mentorship. In September, UGS students met with UGS advisers to discuss Ukraine's socio-political situation and career opportunities for returning students. In partnership with Ukrzaliznytsia, UGS participated in the Zalizna Zmina (Iron Squad) youth education project, where 13 finalists toured Western Ukraine, met with civic leaders, and veterans. In the U.S., UGS co-organized the art exhibition and the UGS Annual Event at Harvard Innovation Labs in Boston, which gathered around 120 participants and featured speakers from the Embassy of Ukraine, Harvard University, and the UGS Board.