The Linguist

Chartered Institute of Linguists FEATURES location, and we now have tens of thousands of participants. We're happy to share what we've learnt with organisations interested in creating similar programmes (contact info@enginprogram.org). What was the impact of the Russian invasion in February 2022? The full-scale invasion was devastating and transformative for ENGin. I spent that first day terrified for our team members in Ukraine and our thousands of students. I considered closing the programme – did English practice really matter when people were dying? But the message from our Ukrainian team was clear: when Russia was trying to extinguish our voice, our culture, our very existence, speaking English and telling our stories to the global community were even more important. We actually grew faster in 2022 than in any year before or since. We expanded to serve adult Ukrainians in addition to high-school and college students. Our little silver lining is that the invasion put Ukraine on the map, and we were able to attract thousands of volunteers. It has slowed since then, but we still onboard several thousand new volunteers each year. How is ENGin funded? I've heard many people say "I have a great idea for a programme: I have the name, the concept, the materials; the only thing I have to figure out is funding." That makes it sound like funding is a side note, but it is the central question. I used to think that if you build an incredible programme funders will come. But it doesn't work that way. A sustainable funding model is essentially a matchmaking problem: who is excited to support what you are doing? ENGin most clearly offers value to our participants, so we are primarily funded through volunteer donations. So how do volunteers benefit? They develop cross-cultural communication skills, global awareness and genuine I am based, but how to reach them is a bit of a black box for now. Why did you start the new 'Speak Ukrainian' branch of the programme? It's is an initiative I'm really proud of. Our team of professional language teachers offer 1:1 online Ukrainian classes. This helps spread the language around the globe, raises money to support our main programme for Ukrainians, and provides flexible, fairly paid jobs for Ukrainian teachers during a difficult time. It must be a lot of work – what keeps you going when you're overwhelmed? I love my job! I get fired up by the idea of building something that's never been done before – every day is different and I am always learning. I think my brain was made for entrepreneurship – I think about multiple things at once, make unusual connections and get crazy ideas. I love that I get to use my skills to make life better for others. I'm also really excited to build the kind of organisation where I always dreamed of working. The kind of workplace that treats people fairly, gives them the chance to grow, no micromanagement, lots of collaboration and encouragement. We're definitely not perfect, but every year we get better as an organisation and as a team. www.enginprogram.org MAKING CONNECTIONS (Far left) ENGin volunteers (l) meet up with a student (r) and his wife; (left) an English session; and (below) ENGin founder Katerina Manoff friendships. Many tell us the experience has changed their perspective on the world. They're making a real impact while learning about Ukrainian culture, history and current events firsthand. We don't expect any prior experience; our training covers everything volunteers need for effective conversations. We also have a huge resource library and a support team available seven days a week. And how does it support Ukrainians? 99% of our students improve their English, which opens doors to academic and professional opportunities, 89% feel more globally connected, and 76% experience a decrease in stress. During wartime, these weekly conversations provide emotional support, normalcy and hope. Students gain confidence, cross-cultural competency and a connection to the wider world. To rebuild and thrive after the war, Ukrainians need to be able to communicate confidently with international partners, academic institutions and the global community. Another of my favourite statistics: 65% of volunteers support Ukraine in other ways after volunteering with us. This means that we are building a global network of people who know and love my country. The ENGin team is predominantly female. Was that a conscious decision? No. I initially had one female and one male intern. But it's become something I'm quite proud of. The education and social impact sectors attract passionate, skilled women. We have a unique culture – one that prizes kindness, compassion and collaboration – which I think ties to our gender balance. How do you get the word out to potential learners and volunteers? Our recruitment team reaches out to schools, universities, libraries, associations, companies, clubs and nonprofits. We have a social media advertising strategy in English-speaking countries around the world and post on volunteer opportunity platforms. And a lot of our growth comes from word of mouth – students and volunteers sharing their positive experiences. One of my goals for 2026 is to reach more volunteers outside the US, where

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