iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 06/10/2026

2/2 Thanks to our student Anna for the idea, and to our mentor Val for the audio recording ❤️ #ArchitectureOfUkraine #UkrainianHistory #ArchitectureLovers #ExploreUkraine

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 02/10/2026

Omg this is so cool! Thank you!

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

Today, #Ukraine marks #Defenders_Day a time to honor the courage, strength, & unwavering spirit of those who stand for freedom. One word captures this essence best: #Nezlamnist’ Незламність. It means resilience, spirit, & an unbroken will that no storm can shatter. 💙💛 #Language #StandWithUkraine

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 29/09/2026

#Volunteering with Balakun always brings so much joy... Let's test our knowledge and asking a #Ukrainian is absolutely acceptable Our new segment: #myths and #reality about #Ukraine! What stereotypes or myths about Ukraine do you know? Share them with us in the comments.

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 23/09/2026

If you have a moment, check this out This was us celebrating our third anniversary with some fun. It's on YT It was nice to see the mentors & mentees get together to have this bit of a challenge and I cannot tell you who won but if you listen you might figure it out youtu.be/8EFca7dzUWI?...

youtu.be

Battle of the minds: Balakun 3rd anniversary

YouTube video by Balakun

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

Checkout our Substack In this article, our founder talks about our three years Please, have a read, you can even listen -- enjoy balakun.substack.com/p/three-less...

balakun.substack.com

Three Lessons from Three Years

What I’ve learned from volunteering at Balakun

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 17/09/2026

balakun.substack.com/p/three-less... I wrote about 3 years of Balakun! Have a look, and please subscribe if you want to read more about our amazing community

balakun.substack.com

Three Lessons from Three Years

What I’ve learned from volunteering at Balakun

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 14/09/2026

🤩 look!! It's about us Not to toot my own horn but this is exciting Take a moment to read this interesting article or you can listen to it on your commute then checkout our website, link in bio #Ukraine #volunteer #languages daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com/p/how-you-ca...

daybreaknotesandbeans.substack.com

☕️ How You Can Join the Volunteer Project Connecting the World to Ukraine

Plus: why you crash at 3 p.m., the world’s rarest duck, a UFO house in Brazil, and Céline Dion is back

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 12/09/2026

Happy City Day to six incredible Ukrainian cities celebrating their birthdays today! 🧵 🔘 #Vinnytsia turns 663! Home to the Roshen Fountain, one of Europe's largest floating light-and-music fountains. #Ukraine #celebrate #country #freedom #unity #languages Continue for more cities

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 11/09/2026

Ive started moving some stories to substack. Follow me there if you are interested! sandidempsey.substack.com/p/flags-in-t...

sandidempsey.substack.com

Flags in the Snow

My friends in Ukraine are Exhausted; but still defiant. Most of the time.

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

Still not sure? Check out our stats. Everyday, people from around the globe volunteer 1-2 hrs/week to help a Ukrainian improve their second language. Friendships are forged between mentors, mentees, and volunteers #spanish #english #german #french #italian #dutch #i_forgot_other_languages

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Alina Sarnatska @srntska.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

My essay for The Guardian is about the humanity that keeps people going when everything around them is trying to break them. About war, fear, closeness, love, and the ways we keep living through it all. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 09/09/2026

This is such a powerful essay Alina! I’m so happy to see it in the Guardian. Congratulations 🥳

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Happy International Day of Journalists' Solidarity! 🎙️📰 Today, we stand with brave journalists, reporters, and truth-seekers worldwide who risk everything to keep us informed. #JournalismMatters #TruthInJournalism

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

3. When you combine all these things together, people who know from your screen can become really important people in your life. It’s an absolute joy and privilege

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

2. There are (only) 24 hours in the day, everyone wants to do more - let’s support each other in this and stay healthy while we build and contribute. Be kind to each other. As cheesy as it sounds, you have no idea what day a person is having.

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

1. There is a huge demand for this. Every student, mentor and volunteer has their own “why” … finding a way to “match” those is the magic of Balakun

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 08/09/2026

Thank you @arloue.bsky.social It’s amazing how far we’ve come! But it’s all because of volunteers who have their own reasons to support Ukraine. I was saying at our little celebration there are 3 important things I’ve learned in this journey:

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

Happy Birthday to Us It is incredible, this journey of ours. Every year, we are more amazed by the generous mentors, giving their time. And to the Ukrainian members who trust us. @sansan.bsky.social

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

One of the first advocates of universal human values and rights, bridging Ukrainian and world literature. Grateful for reminders like this!

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william4balakun.bsky.social @william4balakun.bsky.social · 23/07/2026

@balakunua.bsky.social @realjakebroe.bsky.social @starskyua.bsky.social To the heroes of Ukraine on social media. Jake Broe, I want you to know of the tremendous impact you have had on Balakun when you mentioned us briefly on your channel earlier this year. (1/x)

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

Another successful month with 82 matches I will say this we are always looking for new #mentors so if you are interested in another way to help #Ukraine and Ukrainians and have 1-2 hours a week and are a great listener and conversations we might be the right fit for you Link in bio

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 26/06/2026

Hello, something new I need to share with Today we had our Ukrainian Customs and Culture Speaking Club, and our great host, a mentee from #Ukraine, Pavlo, talked about the Івана Купала celebration and it was so informative and definitely interesting Thank you Pavlo 📷 Cred: Kyiv Post

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

Buried in #Ukrainian soil for 2,400 years and worth the wait. Fifty-five years ago this June, #archaeologist Borys Mozolevsky dug into the Tovsta Mohyla ("Thick Grave") mound near Pokrov and lifted out a 20th-century archaeological wonder: the Scythian Gold Pectoral. (1/3)

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

The feedback from our mentees and mentors always hits me right in the feels!! I hope you enjoy this one And you too can make a difference Link in bio #Be_part_of_the_conversation

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

1/ We invite you to discover a profoundly moving initiative by the NGO "To be," led by Kristina But, a student of our "Balakun" community. "The bloom of memory" is a traveling exhibition created by the caring hands of the families of Ukraine’s fallen Heroes. #TheBloomOfMemory #NGOToBe

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 03/05/2026

Hello all We've been really busy at Balakun Our community has grown so much New speaking clubs, new space of shared interest But most importantly new connections for the month of April we had a total of 107 successful matches That's 107 new students we are helping learn, improve, or just practice

In April, we had 107 successful mentor -mentee matches for a total of 1,897 helping Ukrainians learn, improve and practice their foreign language skills
Join the conversation if you'd like to volunteer link in bio

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

We had a really lovely webinar this weekend @balakunua.bsky.social on Ukrainian composers by one of our long time mentors. Please enjoy and share this treasure trove of musical clips with your musical friends youtu.be/qWD9YjWOclQ?...

youtu.be

Webinar #3: Ukrainian Composers

YouTube video by Balakun

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

One of the most amazing pieces I’ve discovered through Peter’s Webinar is this one by Valentin Silverstrov youtu.be/0h77e1Z_OZg?...

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 27/04/2026

youtu.be

Webinar #3: Ukrainian Composers

YouTube video by Balakun

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 18/04/2026

@srntska.bsky.social was one of my first students before @balakunua.bsky.social even started. Now she has published an essay in English with Index-Ukraine ⬇️ Have a look and share!

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Our first webinar was such a hit that we did it again!! Checkout webinar #2 by our Mentor Philip W Please enjoy. #Ukraine youtu.be/1oFDIZNgqS4?...

youtu.be

Webinar #2: All about Paddington

YouTube video by Balakun

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Webinar is Live now! Have a look⬇️

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 15/04/2026

Balakun Webinar #2: All About Paddington is coming soon… youtu.be/1oFDIZNgqS4?... Volunteer Mentor Philip shares the journey of the farm, the station and of course the beloved bear. @balakunua.bsky.social

youtu.be

Webinar #2: All about Paddington

YouTube video by Balakun

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Alina Sarnatska @srntska.bsky.social · 03/04/2026

russians are shifting tactics: more and more strikes are happening during the day

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 01/04/2026

This is crazy I have never seen numbers like this in one month!! I really would like to thank @realjakebroe.bsky.social for mentioning us So many great new #mentors If you are interested in #volunteering and meeting great people checkout our site, link in bio #Ukraine Thank you mentors 🥳

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Balakun @balakunua.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

At Balakun we are always looking for ways to help our students attend any class or speaking club we have available. We have even started to create webinars for our students The first one is hosted by Mr. Garvey You'll find a link to check it out in the comments!! Be a part of the conversation

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

ASBTE turns 30! Great meeting in Adelaide for biomaterials, and tissue engineering.

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

New story post from Nazar. Psychedelia. Friend and student of @balakunua.bsky.social, we would love to help you translate and share your written work. Get in touch with us at info@balakun.org medium.com/balakun/psyc...

Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Our community has grown so much and I hope we can continue to deliver interesting sessions. I’m always amazed at the variety of people, professions and interests from students and mentors at Balakun. What kind of topics do you think could be explored in this format?

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

And a way for people present to share their expertise and experiences and talk about things that the find interesting This session was on How Music affects health, presented by a mentor who is a musician and composer. It was very interesting and lead to a great discussion.

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

Being flexible is really important when students can’t be sure about their schedules. Especially for active military. So I hope these recordings can be something people enjoy at a time that suits them.

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

It was really awesome to facilitate our first webinar at @balakunua.bsky.social today. I’m grateful to our mentor who was willing to go first and persevered through some technical issues. I’m really looking forward to making more of these to share within the community.

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Sandi @sansan.bsky.social · 22/03/2026

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UkraineWorld @ukraineworld.bsky.social · 10/03/2026

A monument to Taras Shevchenko has been installed in Botswana, the first in Africa. “During the ceremony, the dean of the Faculty of Humanities read his own translation of ‘Testament’ into Botswana’s national language — Setswana,” Sybiha wrote. Source: Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha

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Alina Sarnatska @srntska.bsky.social · 06/03/2026

500 Ukrainian POWs came back home in just two days. 500 families can breathe again.

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