"The translator helped solve the language barrier between the school and family, one that could have left the family in the dark about the children’s schooling experience."
A Syrian refugee family received a report from school informing them of their children’s progress. However, they could not understand the document because it was in English. To help them understand this school communication, their aid worker reached out to a Tarjimly volunteer to translate this page-long report to Arabic. As newcomer students, it takes time to adjust to a new cultural and academic environment. It is especially important for teachers to communicate their observations to families during this adjustment so they can work together to nurture the children’s learning and growth. The translator helped solve the language barrier between the school and family; one that could have left the family in the dark about the children’s schooling experience. The report described how each of their children was faring in the classroom, socially, emotionally, and academically. Their parents got to learn how they were settling in class, the children’s interactions with other students, academic performance in various subjects, motivation to learn, and areas of improvement. With Tarjimly’s assistance, the family became aware of their children’s strengths in the classroom and were able to be more engaged in their education.
This isn't the story of one refugee camp. Thousands of vulnerable individuals and families are left without care due to language barriers. When an aid worker's lack of ability to communicate hinders their ability to accommodate and assist refugees, an organization's ability to impact real change is limited. Tarjimly is here to bridge that divide, and to provide on-demand translation services for aid workers, whenever and where ever they may be.
