From the UK to Ukraine: My Journey as an ENGin English Volunteer
- Aaliyah
- 3 days ago
- 2 min read
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. I found the website and immediately signed up.
Why? Because I’d seen various images and videos of Ukrainians facing truly horrific things since the 2022 invasion - attacks, disruption and chaos. Their lives have been turned upside down by war and I wanted to do something meaningful to help.
First Steps at ENGin: Training, Teaching, and Building Confidence
I passed my interview and was given extensive training. However, I was nervous. I had never taught English before, and I didn’t know much about Ukraine. I was quickly assigned my first conversation partner. During our first session, my nerves melted away as I got to know my buddy. We talked about a variety of things, like our studies, our hobbies, and life in our respective countries. I started looking forward to meeting every week, and the allotted hour went by quickly. We would regularly talk for longer than an hour.
From 1-on-1 ENGin Sessions to Mini-Group Learning
My confidence grew and I began meeting with a second buddy a few months later. Fast forward to now, I have been matched with a number of Ukrainians who live in various countries. Recently, I decided to try something new and I now teach a mini-group. We have interesting group discussions on a variety of topics like travel, studies and TV shows.
Meaningful Connections and Learning About Ukraine
The ENGin matching process is very good. I’ve had something in common with all of my buddies which has allowed for more meaningful conversations and connections. I’ve now learned so much about Ukraine and its culture, history, cuisine, and its resilience.
I haven’t yet met my buddies in person, but one of my closest friends went on vacation to a city that my one of my buddies lives in. They were able to meet up and my friend passed on some gifts from me. This was a truly touching moment for all of us.
Community Beyond Sessions: Volunteers, Culture, and Global Exchange
I’ve also made connections with fellow volunteers. ENGin hosts monthly virtual meetings where volunteers and students can get together and chat. In one of these meetings, I met a fellow volunteer from the US and we became friends.
And that’s not all. ENGin has various Telegram communities where you can connect with other participants. Through the Language Learning group, I have virtually met several people around the world who have been practising French with me. Moreover, I help to run a World Culture group where people from different countries share information about their cultures, cuisine and more. I am grateful to ENGin, because without it, I would not have met so many amazing people.
2026 will mark three years since I started volunteering for ENGin, and it has truly transformed my life. I urge others to do the same, go to https://www.enginprogram.org/volunteer to sign up today.