The Multilingual Outreach Volunteer Effort (MOVE)
Find more information, sign up as a volunteer translator, or request translations for community organizations at www.moveatuva.org.
We believe that...
Everyone has the right to important information in the language they best understand. The Center for American English Language is working with hundreds of multilingual volunteers at UVA to provide this free service to community partners while at the same time encouraging multilingualism at UVA.
Who are we?
When COVID-19 hit our community, many speakers of other languages at UVA and in Charlottesville struggled to access critical relief services like health, unemployment, childcare, and shelter. Tapping into the abundant language resources in our community, MOVE bridges this communication gap and promotes multilingualism at the University and beyond.
MOVE volunteers are UVA language students and language faculty, heritage speakers, and immigrants, representing 30+ languages.
What do we do?
- Translate information on community services, such as housing, health care, jobs, and unemployment funds in the UVA and Charlottesville community.
- Interpret for local non-profit and university organizations in our community via hotlines, community events, and online videos.
- Some of our recent work:
- Assisted multilingual families of elementary school students at Charlottesville City Schools.
- Helped small business owners who speak other languages by creating support videos.
- Extended mental health resources to speakers of other languages.
- Communicated new and important pandemic-related information about food benefits.
- Provided bilingual volunteers for local Latinx-led church food pantry.
- Monthly "StreetSheets" in multiple languages with comprehensive information on COVID-relief services in the local community.
What DON’T we do?
As a volunteer organization:
- We do not translate medical documents or interpret medical procedures (We leave this to the professionals!).
- We do not do work outside of the UVA/Greater Charlottesville Community
- We do not translate excessively long documents!
- We do not do professional, paid translating and interpreting. All of our partners understand that we are volunteers and we cannot guarantee error-free translations.
- Though we will do our very best, we cannot promise to meet a particular deadline
How do I submit a translation or interpreting request?
Please follow this link if you would like to ask for our help with a document to be translated or an event that needs interpreters.
You can also copy and past the following link into your browser: https://virginia.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3soG8iZwMm1XUIm.
How do I volunteer to translate for MOVE?
If you are interested in joining us, please visit this link.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Do you have a question? Take a look at our FAQs below for more information about MOVE.
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What kind of organizations can request translating and interpreting services from MOVE?
MOVE was created to help organizations that need to get information out to multilingual members of our community, but who may not have access to professional interpreters. Therefore, we focus on non-profit agencies, community service, and school-based organizations. We also provide some translation services for UVA employees, as well as teachers and program administrators in surrounding public schools.
If you are uncertain about whether your request qualifies, please contact us at visas@virginia.edu for assistance.
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How much do translation services cost?
There is no cost for translation or interpreting services. Our work is done on a volunteer basis. Your projects provide a way for The MOVE program to promote community engagement, connections with our neighbors, and multilingualism at UVa.
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What kind of documents can be submitted?
We translate and interpret for non-profit efforts, and help to inform our multilingual neighbors about community resources, events, and services that might impact their health, safety, and well-being.
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Are there any kinds of documents that you will NOT translate?
Since we are entirely a volunteer organization, we do not translate official or binding legal documents, medical records, or any other high-risk documents, nor can we provide certified translations.
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Can MOVE guarantee a quick turnaround time for my project?
We will do our best to complete work in as timely a manner as possible. However, as a volunteer organization composed primarily of students, staff, and faculty at UVA, we are often tied to an academic calendar and cannot promise to meet your deadline. During certain periods, such as midterms, exams, and summer vacation, it can be difficult for volunteers to take on additional responsibilities. Therefore, it is best to submit your document with some time to spare. We will let you know if we do not think we can complete a project before the deadline.
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What languages does MOVE offer?
At present, our volunteers represent over 40 languages. Some of our language teams are composed of many speakers, while others may only have one or two speakers.
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How do I submit a request?
To have a document translated, or to request interpreting services, your organization will need to fill out a request using this form. If you have a document for translating, we ask that you submit it in an editable Word or Google Doc, as we do not do any formatting.
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How does the process work?
Once we receive a request, MOVE administrators send out a description of the project to all of our volunteers for the language(s) requested.
Those who are interested and available will begin working collaboratively on the document. We give the translators the master document in English and they begin to create a new document in the target language. We will give you the link to the Google Folder they are working on so that you can check progress and we will give them your contact information so that if they have content questions, they can ask you directly.
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What are the expectations for your participation in MOVE translations?
Participating organizations should expect to communicate with volunteer translators to clarify the expectations and requirements of a project. MOVE staff will provide support as possible, but at times, translators will need more information and context as they translate documents.
In addition, we welcome your feedback once you receive completed translations. Many of our translators are gaining experience in putting their language skills to work, so your comments can help them grow as translators and language students. In addition, it is very helpful to hear about how their work is being used and what kind of an impact it is having on the community at large.
We would like to credit the University of Michigan’s Language Bank for inspiration for this document.
https://lsa.umich.edu/lrc/translation/languagebank.html
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