Mary Alice Reporting –

Driven to volunteer on an international level, Ben Ward’s quest to serve resulted in cross-cultural connections with young people in Ukraine who have a desire to be proficient in the English language—a skill needed for many job opportunities.

Ward, a Fall 2023 Associate of Arts degree graduate from Kent State University at Tuscarawas who is continuing his studies towards a Bachelor of Arts in Computer Science at Kent State Stark, found his ideal volunteer opportunity with ENGin, a nonprofit organization that pairs Ukrainians aged nine to thirty-five with English-speakers for free online conversation practice and international connections.

In a release from the local university, Ward said that “volunteering for ENGin has changed my life enormously. As a shy person and having limited opportunities to meet people, this has pushed me to get out of my comfort zone and strengthen my interpersonal skills.”

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