America House Kyiv

Through the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine, IREX administers America House, a welcoming, dynamic space that fosters discussion and debate, provides opportunities for building professional and personal skills, and sparks creativity and collaboration around shared Ukrainian and U.S. values.

America House offers not only a physical space but also a virtual hub that facilitates access to balanced resources and information. Peer-to-peer cultural exchanges, discussions, and learning opportunities provide a seat in “America’s living room.”

Quick Facts

Since opening in 2015, the program has organized nearly 900 events and more than 35,000 people have visited America House.
The popular space hosts an average of 16 events per week and welcomes around 200 people every day.
Every tenth visitor establishes business partnerships, and every fifteenth visitor starts a project or initiative thanks to the opportunities that America House provides.
79% believe that the events and resources contribute to the effectiveness of civil society in Ukraine.
80% of visitors come for unique development opportunities they can’t find anywhere else.

Watch a video about America House's first anniversary »

Goals

The mission of America House is to catalyze the prosperous and democratic future of Ukraine by investing in emerging leaders and strengthening ties between Ukrainians and Americans. America House also aims to support U.S. public diplomacy in Ukraine by:

Creating a place for innovative, direct engagement with Ukrainian audiences
Promoting open dialogue
Counteracting negative preconceptions
Building cultural bridges to deepen mutual understanding

At America House… I connected with people in [the information technology field], presented my skills and ideas, and got recommendations for a job. As a result, I found a new job in the field. Oleg Bogdan, a young IT professional

Project Activities

User-friendly public space: America House is a free, comfortable, tech-forward public space that hosts a wide variety of activities to encourage citizens to learn about the U.S., including discussions on pressing policy issues, a speaker series, workshops, movie nights, discussion clubs, art exhibits, and concerts.
English language programs: English language programs offer innovative and interactive approaches to language learning.
Engaging events: Staff organize a monthly schedule of events that address arts and culture, Ukraine’s reforms and policies, and global affairs. Events aim to deepen understanding between Ukrainians and Americans, with an emphasis on reaching disadvantaged and underrepresented groups, such as youth, internally displaced persons, and minorities.
Professional development: Skills-building courses and events broaden and develop emerging leaders’ skills needed to catalyze the prosperous and democratic future of Ukraine.
Tech and innovation programs: A supportive co-working space promotes and accelerates innovation, business development, entrepreneurial and scientific potential of young Ukrainians.
Online presence: America House has a robust online presence so Ukrainians can engage with programs and their participants by livestreaming America House events, taking part in video calls, and connecting with one another via social media.