Languages and Migration: exchange and methodology workshop

Objective of the round table:

The objective of the round table is to facilitate exchange between the ICV offices that are working on the Migration and Language Project. The first part of the session will allow everyone to present their projects, process made from a hands-on perspective linked to best practices. Several presenters will share their experience around migration and translation/interpretation and participate in the elaboration of a tool kit tailored to the specific needs of volunteers.

Expected results:

Elaboration of guidelines related to the recruitment of interpreters.

10:00-11:00: Presentation of projects and discussion

10:00-10:20: Presentation of Project Voices in the Chapter: Study on free linguistic accompanying services provided to non-French speaking migrants in Geneva

Speaker: Thomas Gaudé, ICVolontaires, Geneva, collaborator and field officer

Description of a systematic field enquiry focusing on the linguistic accompanying of non-French speaking migrants in Geneva. The aim is to determine the needs and means that exist already and to what extent these services are freely accessible to migrants.

10:20- 10:40: Presentation of project "Parla amb mi, parla aqui"

Speaker: Maria Vila, Coordinator, ICVoluntari(o)s-Barcelona

Overview regarding the situation of linguistic accompanying for non-Spanish / Catalan speaking immigrants in Barcelona. The state of the art of the project and description of methodology of recruitment of translators / interpreters.

10:40-11:00: Presentation of the language and health projects

Speaker: Rabah Tounsi, Project Coordinator, ICVolontaires-France

Portrait of the situation in Ferney-Voltaire and the region of Rhône-Alpes. Presentation of a project focusing on multicultural accompanying which is underway.

11:00-11:15: Discussion and questions

Moderator: Viola Krebs, Executive Director, ICVolunteers

11:15-11:45: Presentation of the language and migration project in the United States of America: Models for community language services in the US.

Speaker: Julia Puebla Fortier

In the United States of America, charitable organizations and volunteers have many years of experience with interpretation and translation services in the field of health and social work. This presentation will outline how theses institutions are organized and how they are dealing with human resources, how they interact with their partners and client agencies, and how they are ensuring appropriate quality and evaluation of their work and training. Part of the discussion will be focusing on the conditions of interpreters in the health field.

11:45-12:00: Conclusion of the presentations and discussion

Moderator: Viola Krebs, Executive Director, ICVolunteers

-- Lunch --

13:30-17:00: Workshop

An informal working group will continue to brainstorm in the afternoon to define working tools and guidelines for best practices. The exchange will be enriched thanks to the participation of professionals working as community interpreters.

13:30 - 15:00 Workshop I: community interpretation: challenges and opportunities

Guest: Maguèye Thiam, President of the association Migraf and an interpreter of the Genevan Red Cross

Mr. Thiam will present to us the situation of the African community in Geneva and will share with us his experience and an interpreter with several services.

With him, we will discuss the socio-cultural challenges and will seek for a clear set of human competences indispensables for the work as a community interpreter.

-- Break --

15:15- 16:30 Workshop II: Training of interpreters

Guest: Olga Markovic Wagnières, certified community interpreter and architect, Appartenance Lausanne
Short presentation of interventions in different sectors of the organization. Presentation of the training program for community interpreters of Appartenances Lausanne and the label of Interpret.
With her, we will broaden our thinking about the topic of training and linguistic and cultural knowledge.

16:30-17:00 Conclusion: overall conclusions of the day
Moderator: Viola Krebs, Executive Director, ICVolunteers

Support:

This round table has been made possible thanks to the support of Loterie Romande and City of Geneva.

Organizer:

ICVolunteers (www.icvolunteers.org,) is an international non-profit organization specialized in the field of communications, in particular languages, conference support and cybervolunteerism (www.cybervolunteers.info). Development, exchange of information and service to the society are the key elements shared by the communities or organizations involved and by the individuals volunteering though the ICV Network.