THE ENGIN BLOG

On October 1, 2023, Alex sent his first message to Maria. It was a simple introduction, the kind that every ENGin volunteer sends at the start of a new conversation partnership. Neither of them could have predicted that two and a half years later, they would be standing together in the shadow of Wawel Castle in Kraków, unfolding a Ukrainian flag and attempting to sing a Ukrainian song that Alex had mentioned somewhere along the way in one of their calls.

Almost two years ago, Dmytro Kniaziuk made a quiet, slightly terrifying decision: he wanted to try teaching someone English. He had no training, no formal experience, and, by his own honest admission, very little confidence. What he did have was curiosity, a willingness to try, and a classmate who mentioned a program called ENGin. That small beginning would grow into something far larger than he ever expected.

In 2025, ENGin served more people, launched new programs, and deepened its impact in ways that go far beyond English fluency. Today, we're proud to share our 2025 Annual Report — a full look at the year's achievements, the people behind them, and what they reveal about the power of volunteer online connection.

At ENGin, we believe that connection is one of the most powerful things one person can offer another. Our volunteers come from all walks of life — and many of them bring far more than their English skills to the table. Kylie Webb, an Australian ENGin volunteer, brought something we didn't expect: a playlist. Below, she shares her personal message to Ukraine — and the Australian songs that carry it.