Translators without Borders: Words of Relief
Project overview
‘Words of Relief’ aimed to enable local communities to better communicate with relief workers, so they can provide and receive information on the challenges they face. They were awarded our 'Journey to Scale' grant in 2016.
Project solution
This project offers [specific solution or intervention] to tackle [challenge]. By implementing [strategies, tools, or innovations], the project aims to achieve [desired outcomes]. The approach is designed to [specific actions or methods] to bring about meaningful change in [community, region, or issue area].
Expected outcomes
This project aims to achieve [specific outcomes], such as [measurable results, improvements, or changes]. The expected impact includes [benefits to the target community, advancements in research or innovation, or long-term effects]. By the end of the project, we anticipate [specific changes or milestones] that will contribute to [broader goals or objectives].
WHAT IS THE HUMANITARIAN NEED?
Linguistic barriers are a longstanding problem in humanitarian operations. A 2011 report from the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative, Disaster Relief 2.0, cited lack of translation support as a “perennial hidden issue…delaying critical communications and disenfranchising affected populations.”
In addition to ensuring that vital information is both accessible and comprehensible, linguistically appropriate communications can reassure affected communities, increase trust in aid workers, and effectively promote behavior change. However, the majority of international aid nonprofits are equipped only in major world languages that often do not match those of the affected population. Similarly, official government languages may be spoken or understood by only a minority of a country’s citizens.
WHAT WAS THE INNOVATIVE SOLUTION?
The only service of its kind, Words of Relief (WoR) bridges existing language gaps to:
- Facilitate two-way communication between humanitarian aid providers and crisis-affected populations.
- Improve access to life-saving information.
- Increase the effectiveness of humanitarian response. Using a combination of human and technological resources, WoR makes vital linguistic support available immediately after sudden onset crises and throughout protracted responses.
WoR was first deployed in 2014 in Kenya and later during the Ebola crisis where WoR translators produced more than 100 posters, social mobilization messages, Ebola videos, and maps translated into 30 languages.
WHAT WERE THE EXPECTED OUTCOMES?
Words of Relief package was created for potential partners and funders. Fully defining the Words of Relief tools for organizations who are looking for better language solutions during crisis, and we will package it professionally.
In 2016 TWB were awarded our 'Journey to Scale' grant in 2016. Their pathway to scale involves developing the platform to meet emergent needs (such as on-the-ground interpretation and voice capabilities), developing new and more effective outlets for disseminating vital information directly to affected populations, promoting increased use of the platform across a broader spectrum of humanitarian NGOs, and implementing a new business model to ensure the long-term sustainability of its services.
See the whole Journey to Scale
All our Journey to Scale projects have been keeping video diaries of their progress. Watch them to see how the different projects have grown.
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Project delivery & updates
Stay up to date with the latest developments from this project. Here, you will find details on what has been delivered, resources created, and regular updates as the project progresses. Access key documents, reports, and other materials to see how the project is making an impact.
Resources
Case study
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