Community Interpreting
Lending a voice to those who need it
Greek French-English
I embarked on this course in the context of the refugee crisis, motivated mainly by a sense of empathy and a willingness to help people in need.
I serve asylum seekers and refugees in their conciliation process with public services and other governmental and non-governmental organizations. To become someone else’s voice is not an easy task, especially if that someone is in the vulnerable position to negotiate their future and the chance to pursue a better life. I am fully aware of this responsibility, thus interpret for both adults and minors with absolute respect to their individual needs, treating each case with top professionalism and full confidentiality.
I have extensive experience in working with asylum seekers within the Asylum Service to consider their application for international protection. I am also familiar with working with multiple nationalities, beneficiaries coming from French-speaking and English-speaking African countries as well as nationals of Asian countries.
I am trained in working under stressful conditions (Refugee camps, emotional overwhelm) and have helped people with significant vulnerabilities and problems, such as chronic diseases, homelessness, human trafficking, domestic violence, single parenthood, alcoholism, and substance abuse, to communicate and express their needs. On many occasions, I had to participate in relay interpreting or offer over-the-phone interpreting services.
To deliver this kind of work one has to be precise, reliable and discreet. As a community interpreter I listen carefully, understand, empathize, but at the end of the day, do exactly what I am expected to do, nothing more, nothing less. I become another person’s voice. And speak out their truth.
Organizations and public services I have worked with:
- Greek Asylum Service
- United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)
- Hellenic Police
- Public Hospitals and Healthcare Facilities
- Migrants' Integration Centre of Thessaloniki, Greece
- Samos and Lesvos Reception and Identification Centres, Greece
Non-Governmental Organizations:
- DIOTIMA
- Thess Checkpoint
- Doctors of the World
- International Rescue Committee
- Red Cross
