Never Lost in Translation: Language Specialists Serve the Community
On February 19, 2019, the Faculty of Languages and Translation (clt) hosted a seminar called 'Translator's Message'. Coordinated by the Language Research Center, the seminar was conducted by Hanan Saeed Al-Shahrani and Maryam Faisal Al-Shamrani. Both presenters, currently pursuing their Master's degrees, volunteer for the program also known as 'Translator's Message'. The objective of this seminar was to familiarize the clt community with the goals and activities of this group.
'Translator's Message' is an initiative spearheaded by Master's degree students of Translation at clt's female campus. This volunteer-driven initiative aims to provide valuable translation services to the community, driven by the participants' profound passion for translation and dedication to social improvement.
Maryam Faisal Al-Shamrani explained, "Translator's Message is primarily a community service effort. We are a group of specialized translators, committed to delivering our message to non-specialists. Essentially, we are the ambassadors of translation. Our objective is to underscore the importance of translation services in everyday life while honing our own skills. Our initiative aligns with the national objectives outlined in Vision 2030." Additionally, this initiative serves as a vital link between various communities and King Khalid University, fostering collaboration on numerous other initiatives.
"Our volunteers engage with different people within diverse communities, frequently visiting secondary and high schools. In these environments, we inspire young people in their international language studies and highlight the significance and potential career opportunities in language studies," said Hanan Saeed Al-Shahrani.
The seminar also shed light on the program's achievements thus far. The presenters emphasized their group's enthusiasm for the real-world benefits of translation, revealing that practical experiences from their volunteer work have boosted their confidence. The satisfaction derived from serving the public was also a point of emphasis. Al-Shahrani and Al-Shamrani appealed for more volunteers to join the program, sharing the group's current work plan with the attendees as a call to action.
To learn more about the 'Translator's Message' initiative, volunteers are encouraged to reach out via the group's Twitter handle @translatorsKKU. Any contribution to this cause is highly appreciated. The team is eager to welcome new volunteers and continue their mission to highlight the importance of translation services in the community.
