Like you, Milengo staff worldwide heard the news about the earthquake in Haiti. As the reports and photographs poured in, the extent of the devastation became clear: full neighborhoods have been destroyed, government offices and services have crumbled, and basic access to food and potable water has degraded.
We have also witnessed an amazing public rally for support, including reports of initiatives from leading technology companies to mobilize their customers and employees in the efforts.
These reports started a conversation between Milengo CEO Renato Beninatto and Lexcelera CEO Lori Thicke about just what translators and localization service providers could provide to the effort.
We don’t have to look too far for ideas.
Pledge the efforts of your company
The folks at One Hour Translation put out a press release earlier today offering a simple, free translation of up to 250 words per each organization and individual affected by the earthquake. One document may not seem like much, but in an industry of over 40,000 companies, the potential impact on medical aid documentation and charity websites is enormous.
Offer your services as an individual translator
The French-based Translators Without Borders (founded by Lori) take it a step farther by offering translators the chance to answer the call of the humanitarian groups that need their time and effort. Their largest partner, Medecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders is already on the ground in Haiti, with over 1,000 patients already in their care and an inflatable hospital on its way. Whether the need is for training materials for volunteers or media announcements in multiple languages, your talents are welcome.
Spread the word one SMS and Tweet at a time
Messages on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter have made a considerable impact on Haitian relief efforts. @RenatoBeninatto sent out a message on Twitter regarding the efforts of Haitian-born singer Wyclef Jean to get donations for the work of his nonprofit, Yele.org, from U.S. residents. And CNet News reported that a similar SMS donation campaign driven by Verizon and the Red Cross raised $4 million USD within days, with each SMS a donation of just $10. The effort to both make a donation and spread the news virally is too simple to ignore.
We hope to hear more on Twitter and on this blog more about what you, our colleagues in the translation industry, are doing to help. Add your comments, ideas, feedback and more below.
Photo credit: United Nations Development Programme
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by localization, Renato Beninatto, Jenn Sooley-Peralta, Chris Fitzsimons, Tradução via Val and others. Tradução via Val said: RT: @renatobeninatto: RT @milengo: What the translation industry can do for #Haiti http://bit.ly/7pnLEL [...]
Thanks, Fabiano, for making this information available. In Miami, the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital has 3 flights to Haiti daily. Stephanie Guernsey is coordinating the activities and her number is 917-334-2939. IMIA has shared information about their efforts and those of other organizations they are associated with (check here http://atifonline.wordpress.com). Public schools in Miami are collecting staples and clothing either in their main offices or in their Social Studies wing. Haitian restaurants in Miami are also collecting donations. The opportunities for helping are many. Thanks for helping motivate the people.
Thanks for making this information available. Translators Without Borders ( http://tsf.eurotexte.fr/index-en.shtml ) has an urgent call out for French to English and English to French translators and are working with Doctors Without Borders and other humanitarian organizations to assist in Haiti.
Asia Online is pleased to offer our support. While Asia Online today does not support Haitian Creole as a language, we do support French into 22 European languages and also the reverse back into French and have offered these to Lori and the team at Translators Without Borders. We also want to encourage the LSP industry to help Translators Without Borders and NGOs. Asia Online will offer the creation of a free custom SMT engine to any LSP that helps. We also put out a call to other MT companies and LSPs help wherever possible.
Thank you for this excellent post.
There is in a fact a group of nearly 500 interpreters and translators who are eager to volunteer their services. The group was featured on CNN (http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-394983) and can be found on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=245649094887
New members are joining every hour, and many agencies and organizations have already posted requests for language assistance on the group wall.