From India to Kenya, rural communities are ravaged by preventable diseases, while having very limited or no access to information in a language they understand can only compound the situation.

Earlier this year we reported that Translators Without Borders, the U.S.- based charitable organization that facilitates the transfer of knowledge to those in need, had announced the opening of its first Healthcare Translation Center to improve access to knowledge for millions of people.

Then last month we learned that Translators Without Borders had announced the appointment of Rebecca Petras to be its first Program Director and the organization’s first full-time employee.

More recently the organization’s co-founder Lori Thicke spoke to Rising Voices about her commitment to bridging information gaps through (language) translation, and how the organization is amplifying digital content in order to reach those who need that information.

“Imagine if all our health information was available only in Dutch!” suggests Thicke. Far from being from a plot to a science fiction movie, millions of people around the world are faced with such a situation every day. It’s a reality that primarily impacts those who may only speak minority or indigenous languages.

Common Sense Advisory recently conducted a study with translators in Africa revealing that 63 percent of respondents believed greater access to translated information could have saved the life of a friend or family member.

Thicke makes the following appeal to the global blogging community:

“Access to the Internet is not much good if it's not in your language! We can change that. We need the global blogging community to make sure language access to information is on the global agenda. Bloggers and activists can make people aware that not everyone speaks a major European language.

Translators Without Borders envisions a world where knowledge knows no language barriers. That is the most important message we can tell people. Knowledge is power. It saves lives, lifts people out of poverty, ensures better health and nutrition, creates and maintains economies. Access to information is critical, and language barriers cost lives.”

If you would like to learn more or get involved you can connect with Translators Without Borders on Twitter, Facebook or YouTube.

Translators Without Borders urgently needs the help of more professional translators. To volunteer as a translator, please fill out the online registration form.

By Alex Dupont
Marketing Communications Specialist
Language Translation Inc.

See Also

• More about language translation
  An accurate professional translation can save a patient's life, win a bid, or persuade a shopper to buy your product.
• Languages: Translating Health Content Without Borders by Marie-Laure Le Guen
  From India to Kenya, rural communities are ravaged by preventable diseases, such as AIDS, malaria, or cholera, while having very limited or no access to information in a language they understand can only compound the situation.
• More about Translators Without Borders
  Our mission is to increase access to knowledge through humanitarian translations. Join us.
• More about Rising Voices
  Rising Voices aims to help bring new voices from new communities and speaking new languages to the global conversation by providing resources and funding to local groups reaching out to underrepresented communities.