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.

Like many of my peers, I have felt upset and powerless in the shadow of world events, especially as medical school consumes much of our time and energy. Volunteering has always been a rewarding escape from these emotions, reminding me that I can positively impact the world and improve others’ lives. Throughout the past seven months, I have found a unique volunteering opportunity with ENGin.

Every Wednesday morning, I get my jolt of optimism from a perhaps unexpected source. It comes from a Ukrainian woman based outside Kyiv. At 9:00 a.m. EST for me and 4:00 p.m. EEST for her, we speak for an hour. Ostensibly, we are working. Several months ago, we each signed on with ENGin to do that very thing: talk.

When Ethan Hill signed up for his first ENGin conversation in June 2023, he never imagined that within a year, he would be teaching English to children in a small Ukrainian village, meeting his students across three countries, and becoming one of ENGin’s most dedicated “supervolunteers.”

Post-retirement often brings a search for connection. ENGin offers exactly that: shared experiences with purpose and a chance to make an impact from the comfort of home.

When Meg signed up to volunteer with ENGin in 2022, she never imagined it would change the course of her life. What began as a weekly English conversation session over Zoom blossomed into a deep, transformative friendship and ultimately led her across the world to a country at war.

When Jim Storbeck joined ENGin as a volunteer in August 2024, he didn’t expect to become a mentor to two Ukrainian public officials.

What started as a language exchange became something much more enduring: a friendship built on respect, shared learning, and a sense of mutual purpose.

Matthew joined ENGin to teach English and connect with Ukrainians. His journey has been filled with friendship and cultural exchange

Discover Linda Witt's inspiring journey as an ENGin volunteer, embracing the mini-group format to double impact and foster global connection

Discover how ENGin's international community of volunteers supports Ukraine through cultural exchange, advocacy, and humanitarian aid.

ENGin volunteers share how the program enriched their lives through deep connections with students.

Explore how Carrie Kempner Getz combines yoga, volunteering, and cultural connections with ENGin, forging meaningful bonds.

Barbara Warner reflects on the impact of volunteering with ENGin, building a deep connection with Tania amidst war in Ukraine.

Discover the heart of ENGin: the crucial role of fundraising in sustaining life-changing student-volunteer connections.

Дізнайтеся, як ENGin бореться із самотністю, об’єднуючи людей через віртуальне волонтерство.

Discover the inspiring stories of three dedicated ENGin Members, who go above and beyond to support our program and Ukrainian students.

In light of the ongoing power outages in Ukraine affecting students, ENGin volunteers play a crucial role in supporting their buddy’s...

ENGin volunteer Marissa shares her unique cross-cultural journey, forming strong bonds and exchanging lessons between Ukraine and the USA.

Our recent updates about volunteer recruitment at ENGin sparked dozens of comments and questions from our wonderful volunteer community....