February 2024 is a month I’ll never forget. That was when I first stumbled across the non-profit ENGin on VolunteerMatch. Never having volunteered before and hoping to make a difference, my optimism led me on the path to weekly sessions where I converse with one of the most amazing friends I’ve ever met.
ENGin is a Ukrainian non-profit that connects English-speaking volunteers with English-learning Ukrainians as “buddies” through video chat. The experience encourages an authentic learning experience through casual conversation centered around the participants’ interests.
To reiterate, I didn’t have any prior volunteering experience—sure, I did small service projects with LASA clubs and participated in donation drives, but I’d never dedicated my service to a specific organization before. Given this, and the fact that I would be responsible for the learning of my prospective student, I was inevitably anxious.
The minute before 9 a.m. had me sitting on the edge of my seat, eyeing the clock above the Google Meet screen, anticipating the ding! that would alert me that my student, Marina, was in the waiting room. At the same time, mixed with my nervous energy, I was eagerly anticipating meeting my new friend, and so was she.
“Before we talked for the first time, I felt so nervous, to be honest!” Marina said. “I kept wondering if my English would be good enough, but it went really fine, and you were very supportive!”
It turned out we were worried for nothing. By the end of the one hour session, we’d learned that we had so much more in common than just our age. We both loved pop culture and franchises like The Hunger Games and Pirates of the Caribbean. That’s the amazing part about ENGin: session topics can be centered around anything, and you can give it as little or as much structure as you want.
If you’re the type of person that absolutely needs a weekly lesson plan, ENGin provides session materials for you. ! In the beginning, I used a few of these pre-planned sessions, but Marina and I found it more fruitful to each bring our own topics to discuss. We most frequently discussed movies, sharing our favorite clips and characters from our favorite films, as well as our countries’ unique cultures.
“It was probably the best part [of] our meetings! I really loved how we could talk about our favorite movies and actors” Marina said. “It felt so easy and fun, and I learned so many cool new words. “And sharing our cultures was such an enriching experience. It was amazing to tell you about Ukraine and also learn about your traditions and national dishes.”
The opportunities and perspectives that ENGin opens up are endless, and you only need to volunteer an hour of your time a week to contribute to this meaningful cause. Not only are you making a positive impact on your potential Ukrainian student’s life and future, but it’s also reflected in your own life. After nearly a year of volunteering, I have gained a broader multicultural perspective and understanding of the world and have practiced and honed my responsibility and communication.
ENGin is the most welcoming and community I know, offering training resources, tips, and a support team of passionate leaders who truly care about their volunteers and students. Today, there are hundreds of students on the waitlist, seeking their very own conversation buddy. ENGin is in constant search of volunteers, and you can become one by going through a short process, outlined on ENGin’s website. In just a few days, you’ll get the same exciting email I did in your inbox—”Meet your match!”
