The online language learning platform translated thousands of
messages in 84 languages from people in 115 countries worldwide
NEW YORK, NY — March 28, 2022 — Global language tutoring platform, Preply, has launched “Messages for Ukraine,” a microsite that encourages people from all over the world to contribute messages of support to the people of Ukraine. More than 5,000 messages from 115 countries have been submitted in 84 different languages, all of which have been translated into Ukrainian. Preply curated the most powerful contributions to display on digital billboards in Warsaw’s central station in Poland this week, as well as displaying this message of solidarity on Warsaw’s iconic Spire Tower. Preply chose Poland since the country has welcomed more than two million* displaced Ukrainians since the start of the Russian invasion.
“Connecting with other human beings is arguably the greatest motivation to learn a foreign language. At Preply, we take pride in connecting language learners with tutors from every corner of the world,” said Kirill Bigai, co-founder and CEO of Preply who was born and raised in Kyiv. “This has been a truly devastating moment in history for the people of Ukraine and for the world. We are deeply committed to supporting Ukrainians — through both words and actions. With ‘Messages for Ukraine,’ we harnessed the power of language, community, and hope from around the globe.”
In addition to “Messages for Ukraine,” Preply has enacted several measures to support Ukrainians. First, Preply has waived the commission for Ukrainian tutors, in case they are able to keep earning money through Preply. The company is also playing its part in the economic isolation of Russia and has suspended Russia-based tutors from teaching on the platform. Finally, Preply published a glossary with Ukrainian words and phrases to support those who have been displaced, as well as an article about how the Ukrainian and Russian languages differ.
Preply was founded in 2013 by a trio of Ukrainian friends: Kirill Bigai (CEO), Serge Lukyanov (Head of Product Design), and Dmytro Voloshyn (CTO). Preply began developing a detailed contingency plan for employees living in Ukraine based on a number of different emergency scenarios. To date, Preply has helped relocate more than 140 employees and their family members to safer locations, including Western Ukraine and abroad to neighboring countries. Preply has provided these employees with advance salary payments, provision of additional emergency funds as well as assistance with housing accommodations.
*Source: BBC
About Preply
The online learning platform Preply brings thousands of learners and private teachers together digitally. The platform is based on 40,000 verified private teachers in over 50 languages and other subjects and an intelligent algorithm that matches learners with the most suitable teacher. Teachers then create individual lesson plans to fit each learner’s budget, schedule, and skill level. In this way, students from 150 countries have taken over two million lessons from teachers from 110 countries. Preply was founded in Ukraine in 2013 by Kirill Bigai, Dmytro Voloshyn, and Serge Lukyanov. The company has since raised more than $51 million in investments and has more than 430 employees of over 53 nationalities across Spain, the U.S., and beyond.
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