Anastasiia Klonova is a Project Lead at Skill Shift Initiative, a non-profit organization that mobilizes resources to assist society during crises and major events. Skill Shift Initiative has recently matched 520 Ukrainian refugees with jobs in Sweden. Anastasiia is an expert in cross-sector collaboration, assisting youth and refugee women with integrating into the education and workforce sectors in Sweden.  

Anastasiia uses her expertise in social innovation to promote mission-oriented management and she is passionate about closing gaps between government, private sector, and citizens.  

IVLP Impact Award Project: Spark - Empowering Youth in Underserved Communities through STEAM Workshops

The project bridges the educational gap by providing accessible and interactive learning experiences that foster creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Comprised of a series of newsletter fact sheets and after-school workshops, this project will introduce and engage underprivileged youth in STEAM education within low-income and segregated communities around Stockholm. Anastasiia hopes that her project will empower students, promote lifelong learning, and lay a strong foundation for their future STEAM exploration. 

Anastasiia began the project by designing an engaging leaflet to spark interest in STEAM professions amongst children and their teachers. Despite initial challenges with partner dialogues and the creation of STEAM boxes, the project has made significant progress. Outreach sessions have reached 100 beneficiaries, including a test lecture in a school for 25 students unfamiliar with STEAM. Anastasiia will continue spreading information through leaflets and a website, and library readings and STEAM box workshops are scheduled for November and December. In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy, Anastasiia has planned a final roundtable discussion for January 2025.

“I hope to empower hundreds of young people with the knowledge, creativity, and critical thinking skills they need to thrive in the 21st century.” – Anastasiia Klonova 

IVLP Exchange Experience   

Anastasiia participated in the IVLP Project Promoting Inclusivity in STEAM organized by the U.S. Department of State and Mississippi Consortium for International Development, in partnership with Global Ties Sacramento, WorldDenver, WorldBoston, and World Affairs Council – Cincinnati & Northern Kentucky.  

Anastasiia’s exchange experience led to the development of her project: “My participation in the IVLP was truly eye-opening. Meeting inspiring people and organizations like the All-Girls Robotic Team in Washington, D.C. and Girls Inc in Denver solidified the importance of providing hands-on learning opportunities, especially for girls, in underprivileged communities. These experiences directly inspired the development of Spark.” 

U.S. Communities Visited   

Sacramento, CA; Denver, CO; Washington DC, Boston, MA; Cincinnati, OH 

“By incorporating…valuable insights and connections from [my] IVLP experience, [my project] will not only empower underprivileged youth with engaging workshops but also foster collaboration and contribute to the foundation for a more unified and inclusive strategy for STEAM education in Sweden.” – Anastasiia Klonova 

Country: Sweden 

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