In the medical field, the term “social determinants of health” is used to describe the many aspects of a person’s life that affect their overall health and well-being. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, there are five such determinants, and at ENGin we talk a lot about one in particular: the social and community context, or essentially, the quality of positive relationships a person has at home, at work, and in their community.
We hear regularly from our students that in addition to improving their English through ENGin, they derive a great deal of social and emotional support from weekly conversation sessions. Recently, we got to hear from five volunteers all over the United States about the positive impact the program has had on their lives.
Together, Brigitte Issel, Jonathan Issel, Bill Leech, Andrés López and Ann Perlmutter have supported more than a dozen students in their journeys with ENGin. We invited them to take part in a live panel presentation “How the ENGin Program Changed my Life” in July (full recording available here), the first event of its kind exclusively featuring ENGin volunteers. Here are some key moments when panelists described the special bond they have with their students:
“My experience with each of the women that I talk to on a regular basis is that it's an hour in which they can express themselves in a way that they can't really or don't really want to express themselves to other people, their colleagues or their parents, for instance.”
“Outside of the [people] that I live with, I speak to [my student] the most. Every day, every couple days, I'll get a text from her. We both love nature. She loves fishing so she will send me pictures of fish she’s caught…of the sunrise. This isn't just a program…this is a friendship.”
“I invited my buddy to come from Ukraine to visit. I would like to play a game of golf with him.”
“Every time any of us go on a trip, any kind of excursion, we take pictures and send them to each other and have a little dialogue of what's going on… it’s taken me to many places in Ukraine, to Valencia, to lots of places where they've gone.”
“I want to keep these people in my life forever, and I want them to feel…that they have the ability to stay connected as much as they want.”
It’s clear that the positive interactions volunteers share with their students are enriching their lives, within and beyond their weekly conversations. Are you a volunteer or student with a similar story? Reach out to us at info@enginprogram.org to share how the ENGin program has changed your life.
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