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Poll: Have you ever "donated" your translation/interpreting services pro bono for a good cause? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever "donated" your translation/interpreting services pro bono for a good cause?".
This poll was originally submitted by Anne-Sophie Cardinal. View the poll results »
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Mary Worby 
United Kingdom
Local time: 13:19
German to English
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Once again I've been forced to vote other as there is no simple 'no' answer. I have no views about whether I plan to or not ...
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neilmac
Spain
Local time: 14:19
Spanish to English
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| Yes, once or twice | Nov 30, 2012 |
I don't suppose correcting dodgy menu translations in restaurants I'm eating in counts?
But seriously, although I can't really afford to do it often, last year I translated the website for a research group working on a breakthrough treatment suffering from severe lack of funding for the final step of applying the treatment in humans. I was quite miffed when I read last week that an Oxford, UK research body was claiming to be pioneers in this same treatment and getting all the recog... See more I don't suppose correcting dodgy menu translations in restaurants I'm eating in counts?
But seriously, although I can't really afford to do it often, last year I translated the website for a research group working on a breakthrough treatment suffering from severe lack of funding for the final step of applying the treatment in humans. I was quite miffed when I read last week that an Oxford, UK research body was claiming to be pioneers in this same treatment and getting all the recognition and publicity, because the Spanish group I worked for had been a couple of years ahead of them and was only held back in the end by lack of funds.
Apart from that, for example I've translated a medical report for the parents of a girl who'd gone to the USA for cancer treatment without charging for it. I don't usually look for pro-bono work but if approached - and if I have the time - I'm usually willing to add my grain of sand (maybe that's a back translation from Spanish BTW, I don't know) to any cause I perceive as deserving. ▲ Collapse
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Heidi Fayolle (X)
France
Local time: 14:19
French to German
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Allison Wright (X)
Portugal
Local time: 13:19
I donate time (voluntary work) and money to other good causes.
This more or less equates to donating my translation services pro bono, since time spent volunteering could be spent translating, and any money I donate is earned by translating.
One local restaurant gets extremely preferential rates on menu translation.
Apart from that, I think it is important for the general public to realise that translation *is* real work, which needs to be paid for at a dec... See more I donate time (voluntary work) and money to other good causes.
This more or less equates to donating my translation services pro bono, since time spent volunteering could be spent translating, and any money I donate is earned by translating.
One local restaurant gets extremely preferential rates on menu translation.
Apart from that, I think it is important for the general public to realise that translation *is* real work, which needs to be paid for at a decent rate.
I am trying to run a business and earn a living. I "donate" an enormous amount of money to social security every month (from which I am unlikely ever to derive any benefit the way the economy is going) and to the tax man every year for the privilege of being proactive and employing myself in an environment where unemployment figures just keep rising. This amount of money is, apart from my rent, the biggest single item in my budget. Surprisingly, I still have blood in my bloodstream! ▲ Collapse
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David_M (X)
Local time: 14:19
Thai to German
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| Twice, but ... | Nov 30, 2012 |
... it was really annoying. I did two jobs for a cultural foundation around a year ago (I will not disclose their name). It took them several weeks to reply to the first job which I had completed for them. They seemed really happy about what I had done and they asked me if I wanted to do another job, so I agreed. It's been months now and I never got any acknowledgement from them, no "Thank you!" - just nothing. I'm not saying that I am not willing to volunteer again in the future, but my experie... See more ... it was really annoying. I did two jobs for a cultural foundation around a year ago (I will not disclose their name). It took them several weeks to reply to the first job which I had completed for them. They seemed really happy about what I had done and they asked me if I wanted to do another job, so I agreed. It's been months now and I never got any acknowledgement from them, no "Thank you!" - just nothing. I'm not saying that I am not willing to volunteer again in the future, but my experience with that one specific foundation was very negative and I would not like to do anything for them again in the future. Has anyone else had such experiences, too? ▲ Collapse
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Translators Without Borders
Médecins sans Frontières
Online Volunteer Service/UN Volontaires
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| Translators without borders | Nov 30, 2012 |
Teresa Borges wrote:
Translators Without Borders
Médecins sans Frontières
Online Volunteer Service/UN Volontaires
Me too!
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UN Online Volunteers as well!
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Alice Bootman
United States
Local time: 07:19
Spanish to English
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I do simultaneous interpretation over the radio at my church 4 months of the year (the message is in English and part of the audience is Spanish-speaking). It keeps me on my toes! I also help out translating ministry-related things for other church members, so long as they are not abusive in quantity and deadline.
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I did some work for an international aid agency, and more recently, helped translate a website for a literary event and a website for a residence for troubled youth.
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Robert Forstag
United States
Local time: 08:19
Spanish to English
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| Putting the cart before the horse | Nov 30, 2012 |
If most translators earned the income of most doctors and lawyers who live in developed countries, then I would probably see regular pro bono work as obligatory. But given the dramatic disparities in earnings between these groups of professionals, I tend to view it as a luxury that many translators simply can't afford.
Rather than discuss how or whether we should donate our services, I'd prefer to see more time devoted to conversations as to what could be done to bolster the... See more If most translators earned the income of most doctors and lawyers who live in developed countries, then I would probably see regular pro bono work as obligatory. But given the dramatic disparities in earnings between these groups of professionals, I tend to view it as a luxury that many translators simply can't afford.
Rather than discuss how or whether we should donate our services, I'd prefer to see more time devoted to conversations as to what could be done to bolster the profession so that more of us might be able to realistically consider doing pro bono work.
[Edited at 2012-11-30 15:06 GMT] ▲ Collapse
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Tina Vonhof (X)
Canada
Local time: 06:19
Dutch to English
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Through Translators without borders - sometimes translation, sometimes editing. Always interesting material.
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Jessica Noyes
United States
Local time: 08:19
Member
Spanish to English
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[Edited at 2012-11-30 15:24 GMT]
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Yes, I have donated translation services (through Translators Without Borders) and will do it again for a good cause.
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