Published: 2/23/2023 5:52:17 PM
The one-year anniversary of Russia’s war on Ukraine is this week, Feb. 24. Pioneer Valley residents can help by volunteering to help Ukrainians learn English to widen their employment opportunities while their economy suffers from the invasion. I am a local volunteer with ENGin (www.enginprogram.org/) and meet weekly via Zoom with SerhiyBurov (www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZvBoXqQ9iI), the director of Educational Human Rights House Chernihiv, a humanitarian organization based in Chernihiv which investigates Russian war crimes (humanrightshouse.org/human-rights-houses/chernihiv). Our work together allows him an opportunity to improve his English skills for discourse among the international community. ENGin has served more than 14,000 young Ukrainians since its launch in March 2020 and aims to reach 100,000 people. The program is open to all Ukrainians, those remaining in Ukraine and war refugees. After a year of war devastating their homeland, these young people face numerous challenges: interruptions in education, loss of jobs, forced displacement, navigating temporary homes in foreign countries, and grief. ENGin offers them a widely accessible educational opportunity, a path to a better job, and a lifeline for emotional support. For Amherst residents of all ages, ENGin is a unique chance to make a tangible difference in a Ukrainian’s life from the comfort of home. ENGin’s volunteers range in age from 14 to 80-plus years and hail from the U.S., Canada and more than 80 countries worldwide. SlavaUkraini!
Jo Ellen Warner
Amherst