Translate Welcome Corps Refugee Sponsorship Information (Virtual Opportunity)

Save to Favorites

Position Purpose/Summary: Rebuilding your life in a new country is challenging, even without a language barrier. With over a hundred years of dedicated service to our neighbors in need, Catholic Charities with the crucial help of volunteers, bridge the language gap for refugees and immigrants.

As a volunteer, you will aid Catholic Charities make culturally and linguistically appropriate videos lending your critical language skills to help refugees navigate Welcome Corps. Welcome Corps is a new refugee sponsorship program that enables refugees to bring their friends and family to the United States. To provide answers to refugees’ questions about the new program, you will translate English text (either on PowerPoints or short scripts) and record voice-over videos in a language which represents Catholic Charities’ linguistic needs. These videos cover important topics on how to apply for Welcome Corp so refugees can be reunited with their loved ones.

Each script for translation is about 1 page of English text which you will translate into the language you speak as a 1-3-minute-long recording. We prefer audio recordings accompanied by video, but audio-only is acceptable. In addition, volunteers may choose to translate a longer PowerPoint "Information-Session" presentation which accumulates to a 30-45-minute recording. Longer recordings can be translated and recorded in real-time with an English speaker over a Zoom call (PowerPoint sent in advance), or screen-recorded separately on the volunteer’s own digital device. Catholic Charities trains you to record videos within your own home or at one of Charities’ offices to record. If needed, Catholic Charities’ Community Educator will join you via Zoom to record the first video(s) together. Catholic Charities edits and posts the recordings to YouTube and TikTok. ***Please, only United States Volunteers. Catholic Charities is unable to work with volunteers who live outside of the United States for this opportunity, as knowledge of local culture and resources are an important part of the role.

Expected Availability and Commitment:

• A minimum of 2-8 hours per month to create 1-3 videos
• Occurs any time of the day or week at home
• Volunteers who wish to work at Catholic Charities’ office for the recordings will come during working hours from Monday through Friday beginning at 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
• *Note: Catholic Charities asks for a 6-month minimum commitment

Required Qualifications:

• Must be 18 years old to volunteer
• Comfortable communicating in the language you will be translating
• Catholic Charities top language needs include the following:
  • Swahili, Karen, Hakka Chin, Ukrainian, Haitian Creole, Somali, Burmese, Arabic, and Spanish
• Comfortable communicating in English (reading, writing, and speaking)- English speakers of all levels are welcomed and encouraged to apply
• *Note: If you speak a language that is not on this list, contact Catholic Charities to determine if your language is a need or fulfills the need of a different project

Required Training: You will receive training on how to access materials before you begin. You will learn how to record voice over PowerPoint videos using Zoom, how to upload recordings to Catholic Charities’ shared Google Drive, and general best practices for recording.

Helpful Skills for the Role:

• Ability to use Google Slides and Zoom
• Have access to a computer and reliable internet if recording at home and a quiet setting
• No certifications are required, but Catholic Charities prefers the volunteer has experience interpreting or translating in the community

Share your linguistic abilities to provide refugees with clarity about Welcome Corps in their home language! Volunteering with us provides a rewarding opportunity to utilize your language skills with the satisfaction that you are making a difference in the lives of your neighbors in refugee and immigrant communities.

Join our mission to provide service to those in need, to advocate for justice and to call upon others to do the same. Partner with us to improve the lives of those we serve, to empower the most vulnerable, and to help reduce poverty through quality, compassionate, and effective human services.