THE ENGIN BLOG

In September last year, I joined the ENGin programme, in which I assist Ukrainians seeking to expand their English vocabulary by simply talking to them. One such person I have the pleasure of speaking with is Natalia.

Kelley Peel remembers the moment clearly when she was sitting at home in West Michigan, scrolling through the news and seeing another headline about Ukraine, another image of a family saying goodbye at a train station, another story of a life interrupted and a home destroyed. She couldn't look away, but she also couldn't sit still. So she asked herself: "What can a normal person do for Ukraine?"

Picture this: you find a YouTube video you know your ENGin students will love. You show up to your session excited, press play, and five minutes later... silence. You ask what they thought. "It was good," they say. "Interesting." And that's it. The conversation dies, and you're left wondering how to fill the next 45 minutes. Sound familiar?

In 2023, I had just completed my studies and suddenly found myself with a lot of spare time on my hands. I started searching for volunteer opportunities online, and I saw someone mention that they taught English to Ukrainians online through ENGin.

It’s Saturday morning. I turn off my alarm and momentarily turn back around, allowing myself the luxury of another half hour. But then I remember why my alarm went off. It’s Saturday morning.

Recently, our volunteer Ava found herself at an unforgettable meeting with Iryna Pletnova, the Mayor of Uman, Ukraine. Standing beside her friend Kimberly, they presented important information for the Mayor in person, to expand trauma informed care to Ukraine. This was all made possible through the ENGin program.

After years of connecting through screens, messages, and video calls, the ENGin team finally met in “3D”.

At ENGin, learning English often becomes more than just improving language skills — it turns into a journey of self-discovery. In this story, Daryna shares how joining our Psychology Community helped her connect her curiosity about the human mind with meaningful conversations in English.

In the world of business and innovation, complexity is often seen as a sign of progress. Entrepreneurs and creators feel pressure to develop products with cutting-edge technology, revolutionary models, or unprecedented solutions. The logic seems straightforward: if the market is crowded, your idea must be bigger, more complex, and “smarter” to survive. But what if that’s not always true? What if sometimes the real breakthrough lies in simplicity?

How many Ukrainians are starting to work in international environments or with global clients where English is a must? This audience is growing every day. If you’re among them, you’ve likely realized the importance of using specific language and adopting new behaviors when communicating with foreign stakeholders, clients, and colleagues.