THE ENGIN BLOG

Storytelling is the thing that makes English click. Once a student gets caught up in what actually happened, they stop fussing over verb tenses and start reaching for words because they want to be understood. That shift, from worrying about the language to wanting to use it, is the whole point of the lesson.

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.

Ask any experienced English teacher what their go-to conversation starters are and you'll hear the same list. 20 questions. Hangman. Would you rather. Those activities aren't bad. They just expire. After a few months with the same group, your students know exactly what's coming the moment you get that particular look on your face. You're about to announce a game. They'll smile politely. Someone will ask how it works even though they've played it four times...

Osama Raii, an 18-year-old student from the coastal region of Syria, knows that feeling intimately. And it was from within that restlessness that he discovered something that would change the course of his life: a small nonprofit connecting Ukrainian students with English-speaking volunteers for weekly conversation practice, called ENGin. This is his story.

If there were one thing I would tell my younger self when starting my career as a CELTA-certified English teacher, I would emphasize the importance of cross-cultural awareness. And volunteering with ENGin has reminded me that teaching English is not only about grammar and vocabulary, but also about understanding the people behind the language.

When Vita first stumbled across ENGin online, she wasn't even looking for it. She was searching for something else entirely when the program appeared on her screen. She almost scrolled past it until she realized her friend was already part of it.

When I first joined ENGin Communities, I was looking for more than just a place to practise English — I was searching for kindred spirits within an English-speaking community. What I found exceeded my expectations: a warm, vibrant space where genuine connections are formed around shared passions and values. The Women Empowerment Community was where that journey truly began.