The following article was originally posted on this blog last year and was cross-posted on my language learning blog, Aspiring Polyglot, a few months ago.
I’ve decided to post a slightly modified version of the original article on this blog for the benefit of those of you who are interested in volunteering your translation skills for a worthy cause.
Translating documents or web pages on a pro bono basis is something that some professional translators enjoy doing and something that other translators feel can be detrimental to the profession and their career. Charities, education organizations and NGOs often recruit volunteer translators to help them promote their cause and increase public awareness of the various health and social issues which plague modern society.
There are numerous reasons for and against pro bono translation. Aspiring translators and those who are hoping to re-enter the translation market will find that volunteer work will help them build up a portfolio, allow them to gain valuable work experience without the pressures of strict deadlines, and even build up expertise in a certain area (e.g. environmental issues, medical care in the developing world, rural education). Others see it in a different light. Some argue that the time spent translating documents for free could be better spent on assignments which they will be paid for or on marketing their services, while others feel that offering translation services for free would prompt companies to offer work to the lowest bidders, thus jeopardizing the translation market.
As someone who has had to take on job which is unrelated to translation in order to make ends meet, pro bono translation work is a good way for me to hone my translation skills and gain experience in my speciality fields. I intend to re-enter the translation market in the not-too-distant future so it is important for me to keep my skills sharp and prove to my future clients that I can offer a high quality product. Volunteer work gives me the chance to grow professionally and allows me the flexibility to fit translation work into my busy schedule.
On a more personal level, volunteer work allows me to combine my translation skills with my hobbies and interests, which makes the experience both fun and educational. I am currently helping the staff at the Institute of Archaeology (China Academy of Social Sciences) translate staff biographies and news articles in order to flesh out their English-language website. I have a personal interest in Chinese archaeology so this work allows me to learn more about the subject area as well as gain a deeper understanding of the terminology used in this field of research.
Volunteer translation work isn’t for everyone but I would certainly recommend it as a way for junior translators to learn more about their chosen profession, develop the skills that they will need to succeed as professional translators, and contribute to a good cause. Volunteer opportunities can be found at any of the sites listed below :
If you would like to learn more about my experiences of working as a volunteer translation or know of another website which offers volunteer opportunities for translators, please feel free to leave a comment or send me an email.
