From Virtual Conversations to the Front Lines: Meg’s Journey with ENGin and Ukraine
- ENGin Program
- Jul 24, 2025
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 30, 2025
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.
At first, Meg and her Ukrainian-speaking partner, Lera, followed a structured routine. They stuck to prepared lessons, PowerPoint slides, and formal discussions. But as the weeks passed, something shifted. Their conversations grew more relaxed and personal. They started learning together more organically, even keeping a shared Notes document to jot down vocabulary and ideas between sessions.
“Without ENGin,” Meg reflects, “I never would’ve met Lera – or built such a meaningful connection. I likely wouldn’t have come to Ukraine at all.”
A Life-Changing Friendship Through English Conversations
Lera’s English was already strong when they met, but Meg watched her become increasingly confident. Meanwhile, Lera was shaping Meg in ways she hadn’t expected. Meg, someone who once hesitated to explore even the mountains near her home, found herself booking a flight to Lviv to meet her new friend in person.
That trip would be the beginning of something much bigger.
In Lviv, Meg stayed with Lera, experiencing Ukrainian hospitality and resilience firsthand.
“She made sure I felt completely safe and welcome,” Meg recalls. “She shared not just her home, but her heart – her stories, her fears, and her strength.”
Meg arrived expecting a country heavy with grief and war fatigue. Instead, she found something else entirely: warmth, generosity, and unshakable spirit. Strangers welcomed her like family. Acts of kindness were constant – cups of tea, warm meals, genuine smiles.
“I had come to teach,” she says, “but I became the student.”
From Language Exchange to Volunteering on the Front Lines in Ukraine
Meg’s first visit left an indelible mark. Long drawn to medicine, she began to feel a deeper call to help.
“People talk about a hero complex in healthcare,” she says. “But Ukraine taught me that not everyone needs saving. Ukrainians are already strong – they inspired me to be better.”
In 2024, Meg made a bold decision: she moved to Ukraine.
She began volunteering at the Angelia Clinic, where she was embraced by staff and patients alike.
“Yuriy, Antonina, Serhiy, Valentina, Polina… they treated me like family,” Meg shares. “I was constantly offered warm coats, food, and endless tea.”
Through new friends Vlad and Robert, both committed to supporting civilians and soldiers alike, Meg was introduced to life on the front lines. She trained and served as a combat medic, completing three tours in the Donetsk region. The risks were real, but so was the solidarity. Each tour brought new lessons in courage, humility, and human connection.
How ENGin Sparked a Journey of Purpose and Connection
Behind every step of Meg’s journey stands ENGin.
It was ENGin that sparked the connection with Lera. ENGin that made her believe in cross-cultural learning and empathy. And ENGin that opened the door to a life-changing path she never could’ve planned.
“I’m endlessly grateful,” Meg says. “For Lera. For ENGin. For the people of Ukraine who let me into their lives. Volunteering was just the beginning – it became a journey of growth, friendship, and purpose.”
ENGin for Defenders: Free English Practice for Ukrainian Veterans and Military Personnel
ENGin continues to support Ukraine not only through cross-cultural friendships, but also through dedicated programs like ENGin for Defenders. This free English-speaking practice opportunity is available for Ukrainian military personnel, veterans, and combat medics, offering a chance to build language skills in a supportive, one-on-one setting.
Whether you’re defending Ukraine today or have done so in the past, ENGin is here to connect you with a trained volunteer and help you achieve your English goals.
And if you’re part of the international community looking to make a difference, you can also join ENGin as a volunteer – no teaching experience required. It’s a meaningful way to support Ukraine, one conversation at a time.
