Language programme for Ukrainian refugees

A language services provider in Cork has partnered with organisations around Ireland to help Ukrainian refugees to integrate better into Irish society.

Translit, based in Cork city, is offering its community interpreting training programme to various local organisations throughout Ireland who work with Ukrainian refugees.

The initiative has already resulted in 37 newly trained community interpreters in County Clare.

CEO Alex Chernenko, who is a Ukraine national from Odessa, said that, while it is great to see so many volunteers devoting their time to assistance to people in need, the volunteers need support themselves.

He said: “We are pleased to have an opportunity to work with the local authorities and start providing our services to a bigger cohort of refugees fleeing this terrible war. Effective communication between local public services and Ukrainian refugees is very important if we want to ensure that we look after our guests well.”

Translit’s training help Ukrainians with a good command of English to learn the core principles and skills of community interpreting, so that they can provide better service to their community.

The training also includes a module on how interpreters can look after their own wellbeing when they are faced with interpreting in emotionally challenging settings.

Mr Chernenko continued: “We think this is extremely important, considering that the interpreters themselves have just gone through an awful trauma of fleeing their homes.

“The feedback from the Ukrainians who have attended Translit’s training has been overwhelmingly positive so far.”

Translit is also helping refugees to communicate with the service’s updated Translit RSI interpreting technology for meetings, conferences, events, seminars and workshops.

The interpreting platform was launched in 2021 and it has already clocked up over 1 million minutes, with new, cutting edge updates due to be implemented shortly.

With additional local partnerships on the horizon, Mr Chernenko said Translit is determined to promote peace and help those who have been displaced due to war.

He said: “I’ve heard first-hand accounts of what’s going on back home in Ukraine and it’s terrifying. But I still cannot imagine what many of these people have seen and gone through.

“At Translit, our mission was always to help people communicate and promote understanding. Aligning ourselves with local organisations in Ireland is another huge step in the right direction.”