@balakunua
We are building bridges between mentors worldwide, and Ukrainians eager to learn and practice English. Learn More: balakun.org/ For mentors: balakun.org/welcome/mentor For students: balakun.org/welcome/student Support Us: https://balakun.org/donate
So we have the totals for February
And we again want to thank @realjakebroe.bsky.social for giving us a shout out
Your followers are amazing!!
Ok here are the total successful matches for February 2026 !!! π€
Our matching team are incredible volunteers who always find us perfect matches!!
A monument to Taras Shevchenko has been installed in Botswana, the first in Africa.
βDuring the ceremony, the dean of the Faculty of Humanities read his own translation of βTestamentβ into Botswanaβs national language β Setswana,β Sybiha wrote.
Source: Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha
Happy Day of the National Anthem of #Ukaine
Such a beautiful song,
Oh nice!!
Thank you for sharing a standout hero
If we are remembering famous Ukrainians, this is one of my heroes. Born in Donetsk.
youtu.be/eWT2mWf0ULY?...
This thread β¬οΈβ¬οΈ
#writers #poets #Ukraine #literature
#culture
For us personally, we loved hearing a member of Balakun read the poem π€©
What stood out for you?
Thank you Caitlin
We appreciate you sharing π€
Thank you for sharing!!
It's important to know more about the history of today's strongest defenders of democracy.
Ukraine History Everyday
Join the conversation!
Come be a mentor or speaking partner to a Ukranian mentee!!
All languages are welcome!
Link in bio!
Congrats!! π π
I'm really happy to hear that!!
We hope you and your new mentee become like long friends!
One more successful match!
#be_apart_of_the_conversation
If you are interested in becoming a mentor or speaking partner come join us at
Balakunua.org
We are always looking for new mentors!
Additional readings
www.ukrainianlessons.com/taras-shevch...
7/7
You should read the poem "Caucasus"βit is a powerful work about peoples oppressed by empire. And his poem "Testament" (Zapovit) remains one of the most important works for Ukrainians today.
youtu.be/h96oC5yPpNc?...
6/7
Eventually arrested and sent into exile, his views made the "Kobzar" a guide for understanding national identity. It was the first book to reflect Ukrainian history and the pain the people had endured. Future writers looked to him as a model.
5/7
Imagine: a poor serf who drew with charcoal and burnt sticks as a child, lost his mother early, but was bought out of serfdom because of his talent for drawing. He became educated and rose up to call on his people to fight for their freedom.
4/7
He understood he would be punished for his position, but he remained faithful to his principles. His works helped Ukrainians realize themselves as a separate people with their own language, history, and cultureβa people with the right to freedom.
3/7
He took a bold step, using it to create highly artistic works describing the lives of ordinary Ukrainians. He wrote about their oppression and serfdom, openly criticizing the Russian Empire and the tsar, thus rebelling against the system.
2/7
He became a national symbol, and his collection of works, Kobzar, became the foundation of serious Ukrainian literature. He was the first to write profound works in Ukrainian when the language was often belittled as the "language of the countryside."
1/7
212th Birthday of Π’Π°ΡΠ°Ρ Π¨Π΅Π²ΡΠ΅Π½ΠΊΠΎ. There are many remarkable figures in Ukrainian literature, but Taras Shevchenko is one of its most important representatives. For the Ukrainian people, he became more than just a poet and writer.
Thank you for sharing
#Ukraine #Volunteer
Join the conversation!
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@balakunua.bsky.social
If you like to have conversations, that's all it takes
Most mentors are just speaking partners
And it only takes one hour a week π₯³
βοΈexplosions in Odesa , Ukraine βοΈdrone attack
1/ 4 a.m., Feb 24, 2022.
From occupied Crimea, through Kalanchak, columns of Moscowβs army rolled into Ukraine.
The full-scale invasion began.
Missiles. Armor. Fire.
But they did not break us.
RUSSIA COLLAPSE: PUTINβS BIGGEST FAILURE Vlog 1330: War in Ukraine
youtu.be/xWK3b5zJS-A
Four Years Later: Remembering the Day Russia Invaded Ukraine
The Contino Confidential - Feb 24th
open.substack.com/pub/joeycont...
Some thoughts from Balakun
Please join our Substack
open.substack.com/pub/balakun/...
At NATO headquarters, a powerful installation spelling the word βFreedomβ was unveiled. The letters were salvaged from the name of a village in Ukraineβs Kherson Oblast that had once been under Russian occupation.
Source: United24Media
Did you know some people say
"Is that war still going on"
But at #Balakun, we show our unwavering support for Ukraine.
We show our mentees that they are NOT alone & the world has NOT forgotten them
We #Stand_With_Ukraine
If you stand with #Ukraine & have an hr/wk please. Consider #volunteering
