Why do we support Translators without Borders?

Why do we support Translators without Borders?

Over the past couple of years we’ve been involved with a few fundraisers for Translators without Borders. Some have been more successful than others. Some have been more fun than others. Some have been better at drumming up attention and money.

A few people have asked, “why are you helping TWB”? Whether I get this question from friends or family outside of the Localization industry, or colleagues and peers within the industry, the answer is pretty easy:  Translators without Borders offers language and translation support for humanitarian and development agencies, and other non-profit organizations on a global scale. Basically, they make it possible for Doctors without Borders, or Make A Wish, or Oxfam, to name but a few, to do their work in locations all over the world without language becoming a barrier between their amazing volunteers and staff, and the people who need their assistance.

In this day and age the assumption that all companies in the localization industry would naturally want to support TWP is na?ve. I’ve made this assumption myself on numerous occasions, but, not everyone in the localization industry feels the need to support TWB. So I thought it was best if, rather than explain why I think you should, I should explain why we do.

1.     Corporate Social Responsibility

I have to be brutally honest here, the term “Corporate Social Responsibility” makes my skin crawl. It feels like a term which has been spat out by the “Corporate B.S. Generator”: (https://www.atrixnet.com/bs-generator.html if you want to check it out for yourself). The Business Directory defines CSR as “a company's sense of responsibility towards the community and environment (both ecological and social) in which it operates. Companies express this citizenship;

•        through their waste and pollution reduction processes,
•        by contributing educational and social programs and
•        by earning adequate returns on the employed resources.

Corporate social responsibility is a broad concept that can take many forms depending on the company and industry. Through CSR programs, philanthropy, and volunteer efforts, businesses can benefit society while boosting their own brands.

For the purposes of this discussion on Ludejo’s support of TWB I’m going to focus on the second point above, Philanthropy: “Businesses can also practice social responsibility by donating money, products or services to social causes. Larger companies tend to have a lot of resources that can benefit charities and local community programs.” Or as Investopedia put it: “…CSR is primarily a strategy of large corporations. Also, the more visible and successful a corporation is, the more responsibility it has to set standards of ethical behaviour for its peers, competition, and industry.”

This, in my opinion, is clearly, B.S. Waiting to become a “larger company” before you start to implement elements of a CSR strategy is like waiting until your kids are about to go to college before trying to explain the importance of learning how to cook for themselves. If it’s implemented as an afterthought, it’ll always feel like an afterthought. I’m not saying it’s impossible to learn how to cook once you are living alone for the first time, but isn’t it advantageous to be able to do this before you’re in a situation where it becomes a must? Beans on toast can only get you so far.

Ludejo is a little over a year old, and yes, it is fair to say that we are not in a position to make significant financial donations. What we do have are people who are willing to invest time, creativity and energy into these enterprises. I know we are not unique in this regard. There are so many creative people in the localization industry!

2.     Mission and Vision

Our mission statement here at Ludejo, overlaps with TWB’s Vision statement:

       (Mission Statement Ludejo) The transfer of information and knowledge so that it can be available to, and understood by, everyone regardless of location, language field, educational level and culture.

       (Vision Statement TWB) A world where knowledge knows no language barriers.

The vision statement for TWB is incredibly closely aligned to Ludejo’s Mission Statement. We believe, on a corporate level, in the vision that TWB are trying to achieve. On an individual level, we have all bought into this concept. The fact that it overlaps so closely with TWB is a happy coincidence.

3.     Visibility

Now that I’ve trotted out Corporate Social Responsibility and our Mission/Vision Statements, it’s time to get a little more …basic? …real?! Being the company to organize the fundraiser for TWB at the last 2 GALA conferences has given us huge visibility. It’s incredibly easy to talk to any/every-one on behalf of TWB at a conference. No matter who you are, or how shy/quiet/small (as a company, not a person!) you are, as the organizer of the fundraiser for TWB, you have an easy starter for a conversation with anyone at the conference. How many people start conversations at a conference with their 30 second commercial? I’m not sure everyone agrees with me, but, isn’t it better to take that sales pitch out of the conversation, at least initially anyway?! Organizing the fundraiser for TWB allows you to talk to everyone without them putting up their guard to a sales pitch.

4.     It’s amazing craic

It’s not possible to state how much fun we’ve had at the last 2 GALA’s (and EUATC). As anyone who attended GALA in Boston knows, “craic” is the Irish word for fun. Boston and Amsterdam GALA conferences will forever be tied to the TWB fundraisers for us. We have been able to establish ourselves as a somewhat more known entity (as vaguely as I could muster) in the industry, and speaking for myself, I have developed friendships with people here that I would put on the same footing with people I’ve known all my life. There is something incredibly bonding, almost intimate,  about waxing a mans legs in front of a crowd.  

Everyone Should Do It

Before I get into the meat of this final paragraph, I want to preface it by saying there are a lot of companies, and individuals who do a hell of a lot for TWB already. I’ve only been involved for a few years, but companies like Zelenka, Text Partner, and Kantan have organized fantastic fundraisers recently. There are many others of course.

I think everyone should want to do this! Beyond the listed reasons above, it’s just an incredible honour to be able to be the company to organize the fundraiser for TWB. I think every conference should have 2-3 companies vying to be the ONE to organize the fundraiser. We can drive each other on to bigger and better fundraisers, with more participants, more money raised, and in the long term far great name recognition for Translators without Borders.

If you have an idea for a fundraiser, don’t hesitate to reach out to me, or go directly to anyone at TWB. I would be more than happy to help brainstorm!

As Allison Ferch from GALA pointed out to me;

•        Keep it simple
•        Make it fun
•        Low barrier to entry

Episode 1 of TCHG Better is out now on all major podcast streaming sites; including, but not limited to; Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, and CastBox.  

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(That Could Have Gone) Better

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TCHG Better takes a serious look at embarrassment in the world of international business, and throws a little light on the more humanising stories of the people who work in Localization.