Southern Border Project Translator (Virtual Opportunity)

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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 immigrants understand the myriad of legal and practical considerations when applying for asylum in the United States. To provide answers to immigrants’ questions about applying for asylum, you will translate one or more pages of English text on short scripts and record voice-over videos in a language which represents Catholic Charities’ linguistic needs.

The videos are approximately 1-5 minutes long in the language you speak. The scripts are simple for ease of translation. Catholic Charities trains you to record short videos that are recorded in 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:
  • Spanish, Chinese, and Haitian Creole
• 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 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
• No certifications are required, but Catholic Charities prefers the volunteer has experience interpreting or translating in the community

Share your linguistic abilities to provide immigrants information about how to apply for asylum in the United States 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.