ACTFL joins the language education community in extending our deepest sympathies to all those affected by this natural disaster in Haiti.

In addition to donating money, volunteer translators are needed; especially in Haitian Creole and French to assist in the relief efforts. The American Red Cross is soliciting interpreters for two types of assignments – either at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington DC (immediate need) or on the hospital ship USNS Comfort off the coast of Haiti (anticipated future need). To find out how to help, please visit the American Red Cross at www.redcross.org.

Interpreters are needed for two types of assignments – either at the American Red Cross Headquarters in Washington DC (immediate need) or on the hospital ship USNS Comfort off the coast of Haiti (anticipated future need). Please see below for the Volunteer Position Description.

Additionally, Translators Without Borders (http://www.tsf-twb.org), currently has an urgent need for professional quality volunteer translators. Please contact Yuliana Hernandez-Anfray, coordinator of Translators Without Borders, at TSF@lexcelera.com for more information.

Immediate Need    
The American Red Cross wishes to identify and recruit a Haitian Creole and French interpreter and translator to work at its National Headquarters Office in Washington for periods of between one to three weeks. The volunteer will support the International Services Department (ISD) in response to the earthquake in Haiti by sharing information with Haitian Creole speakers in the United States, translating documents from various ISD offices and/or American Red Cross chapters around the country, may be called upon to record messages in Haitian Creole or respond to inquiries from Haitian Creole speakers by telephone or in writing.  The qualifications for this assignment are below:

VOLUNTEER POSITION DESCRIPTION
International Services Department/ International Humanitarian Law and Chapter Support

Location:	2025 E Street NW; 3rd Floor; Washington, DC 20006
Position Title:	Haitian Creole Translator/Interpreter Purpose: Support International Services Department (ISD) in response to the earthquake in Haiti by sharing information with Haitian Creole speakers in the United States. The writer will translate documents from various ISD offices and/or American Red Cross chapters across the country. May be called upon to record messages in Haitian Creole or to respond to inquiries from Haitian Creole speakers by telephone or in writing.
Key Responsibilities:	Respond to inquiries from Haitian Creole speakers Willingness to support Red Cross Mission Translate written information into Haitian Creole
Qualifications:	§       At least three (3) years of demonstrated experience as a professional translator and/or interpreter §       Excellent writing, good interpersonal and some cross-cultural communication skills and experience.  Advanced use of Microsoft Office for word processing.
Training:	Orientation to American Red Cross
Reports to or Partners with:	ISD/ International Communications Department
Length of Appointment:	Open
Time Commitment:	20 - 40 hours a week -- flexible

Anticipated Future Need
Last week a request was sent out for the recruitment for interpreters for the USNS Comfort, a hospital ship that is scheduled to arrive in Haiti Tuesday night January 20 and will remain docked off the coast.  Thanks to the American Red Cross chapter network, that need was filled quickly.  It is anticipated there will be a continued need for interpreters for the USNS Comfort over the weeks and months to come.  Currently, the projection is that USNS Comfort will be deployed on this mission for 6-12 months.

The American Red Cross is seeking to identify available volunteers for the next possible 30 day rotations.  Volunteers will remain on the ship throughout the duration of the assignment and will not deploy to the mainland of Haiti. Both assignments are on a volunteer basis and the American Red Cross will cover all travel expenses.
 

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