Capturing Connection: Highlights from the 2025 ENGin Photo Contest

At ENGin, we believe the most powerful stories often begin with a simple conversation and sometimes, a photo captures that story better than words ever could.

That’s why we launched the ENGin Photo Contest 2025: to give our students a space to show what ENGin looks like through their own eyes. From screenshots and selfies to creative collages and interactive posters, each submission reflected real connection, joy, and learning.

But this contest was more than just a showcase of creativity. It was a chance to hear more stories from our amazing participants and let their voices illustrate the incredible impact of ENGin, not only on individuals but also on communities and, ultimately, the future of Ukraine.

We received dozens of heartfelt entries and selected seven prize winners, including one chosen by audience vote. Meet the winners below and dive into the stories that touched our team and the ENGin community.

1st Place: ENGin student Iryna Filenko

This photo, a warm and witty moment, shows the lasting impact ENGin relationships have, not only on learners but also on entire families.

“1.5-year-old Margot from Ukraine is checking whether she, her twin sister Sofia, dad and mom were really invited to a wedding by her mother's friend Hannah McMahan from Florida 😁 When we were born, my mother Iryna was halfway through her journey with Hannah and ENGin. And she still continued to study English while caring for us. We’re proud to be a part of the story of our mother and volunteer Hannah.”

2nd Place (tie): ENGin student Valeriia Fabianska

Valeriia’s collage is a beautiful mosaic of authenticity, humor, and deep friendship.

“ENGin brought me more than just language practice — it gave me a friend, Sloane! This collage’s a little time capsule: from cake masks on Google Meet to stories from Massachusetts and Mykolaiv. Every photo holds a real laugh, a real bond. I didn’t want it to look perfect, but to feel real. Because it is.”

2nd Place (tie): ENGin student Polina Prokopiuk

Polina’s story is a perfect example of how ENGin doesn’t just connect people, it sparks waves of connection in entire communities.

“ENGin unites people from all over the world with such strength that we don’t care about a 10-hour time difference. In less than a year, we’ve become best friends. My dad always wonders how we can be so similar, despite living on opposite sides of the world. Thanks to Joyce, we were featured on FOX10 News and in the Santan Sun News. After that, even more people from her state wanted to volunteer.”

2nd Place (tie): ENGin student Kate Olehash

Kate turned her ENGin experience into a fully interactive digital poster, proof that learning, creativity, and tech-savviness can all go hand in hand.

“This is an interactive poster that shows what ENGin means to us and how we spend our meetings. Clickable sections open descriptions and some of the images we’ve used. Thank you and have a nice day :)”

3rd Place: ENGin student Yalovets Ivan

A snapshot of hospitality and heritage, Ivan’s photo is both hilarious and heartfelt.

“That’s me with my buddy and his friend sharing a joyful moment over a traditional Ukrainian meal. Two of them wear embroidered shirts and smile with salo in their mouths. This photo captures what ENGin is really about: cross-cultural friendships, shared laughter, and meaningful human connections. It’s not just language exchange — it’s people coming together and creating lasting memories.”

3rd Place: ENGin student Daryna Hordych

ENGin isn’t just about English; it's about growing up together, even across continents.

“My English buddy and I started communicating 2 years ago. We built a strong relationship and followed each other’s high school journeys. Graduating the same year made it even more special — so we dedicated our photos to that milestone!”

Audience Choice Award: ENGin student Olena Palii

Olena’s story wowed our community, reminding us just how deep ENGin friendships can go.

“It was the third time my volunteer visited me. She’s a woman from Scotland, and she came to Kyiv for one purpose: to get a tattoo of the Ukrainian trident. She wanted it so much, and I was the lucky one to share that moment with her.”

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These powerful images and stories are just a few examples of the thousands of connections ENGin fosters every day. Through projects like this, we not only hear more voices from our community, but we also give those voices a platform to inspire, represent, and lead.

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