Several months ago LinguaSpirit launched FreeSpirit, an international network of volunteer translators. FreeSpirit brings together translators who are willing to contribute their knowledge and particular language pair(s) in support of organizations and associations promoting equitable and principled causes.
We were overwhelmed by the enthusiasm that our initiative generated. Applications poured in from people with a variety of qualifications and professional experiences: young translators seeking practical experience early in their careers; established translators supportive of the ideals behind the idea; bilingual professionals outside of translation offering their language skills to help the organisations we support.
Why Join a Network of Volunteer Translators?
As a member of a translation network, working on a project is much easier when there are others to help and rely on when necessary. If paid work comes along in the middle of a volunteer project, you need not worry (or feel guilty) about handing the translation over to someone else to finish. As professionals working alone, there will always be that moral obligation to finish the work we’ve already started.
Why Network Through a Translation Agency?
Because we are a professional translation agency, we have the resources and the practical skills to manage urgent projects in numerous language combinations. Just because a translation is free doesn’t mean that it should be rushed or published without being edited or polished. We organize 2 translators and 2 editors into teams of 4 for every project we work on, so that if a translator or an editor is interrupted due to other work, the other members of the team are there to take over.
In order to ensure translation quality, all of the documents we work on are edited as thoroughly as possible, time permitting, and we try to ensure that translators work only into their dominant language.
Our Goal
We’re already working with large groups like ACT UP-Paris, an organization committed to ending the AIDS crisis. More than this though, our goal is to encourage the international self-promotion of small groups and organizations unknown to a large public by translating their information and communiqués into relevant languages on the Internet.
Languages and Subject Fields
Within the framework of FreeSpirit, we can effectively handle translations in 20 languages in any combination; this includes English, French, Spanish (Iberian and Latin-American), Portuguese, Italian, Polish, Romanian, Arabic, Russian, Hebrew etc.
Organizations
Any not-for-profit NGO (non-governmental organization) is welcome to join FreeSpirit, to request and to benefit from free translation and editing services. FreeSpirit prioritizes organizations committed to fighting poverty, malnutrition and disease (AIDS, malaria etc.); promoting Human Rights, access to health care and literacy; free trade products; and cultural associations.
Other Volunteer Networks
We encourage you to read this article (in French) on the Another Word translation blog; it can give you a good indication of organizations that are looking for volunteer translators.
If you know of other groups, associations or organizations that might be in need FreeSpirit’s services, or if you want to join our network, please don’t hesitate to contact us at freespirit@linguaspirit.com
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