Interpretation Support (Senegalese Wolof to English and English to Senegalese Wolof)

Opportunity Title: Interpretation Support (Senegalese Wolof to English and English to Senegalese Wolof)

Opportunity Description: We are looking for a fully bilingual English & Senegalese Wolof speaker with fluency in both languages to accompany one of our clients and attorneys to an upcoming ICE appointment in Baltimore, MD, where would support with in-person interpretation. The volunteer would be assisting one of our staff attorneys during their client’s ICE appointment to streamline communication during the meetings. Interpretation would be needed from both English to Senegalese Wolof and Senegalese Wolof to English. Volunteers are not required to be certified interpreters but should be completely comfortable interpreting between the two languages, and preferably having interpretation experience, whether through a formal position or volunteering.

Individuals assisting will need to join at the ICE office in Baltimore, Maryland for the single day appointment in mid-May. They will also need to review, sign, and return our Volunteer Personnel Manual, our Confidentiality Agreement, as well as authorizing and completing a background check with us.

Department/Individuals Assisting Ayuda Legal - Immigration Team, MD Office

Responsible to: Linden Wait, one of our MD – IMM team Supervising Attorneys, and Connor Paul, our Volunteer Manager

# of Volunteers Requesting: We are looking for a 1 volunteer to assist with this opportunity

Responsibilities:

• Joining on site at ICE location in Baltimore, Maryland through own transportation
• Assistance with facilitation conversation between attorney, client, and ICE officials in relation to matters discussed during the appointment
• Interpretation of information shared by attorney and ICE official from English to Senegalese Wolof
• Interpretation of information shared by client from Senegalese Wolof to English

Opportunity Qualifications:

• Required:
  • Aged 18+ or older
  • Bilingual abilities, English – Senegalese Wolof native/heritage fluency
  • Ability to join in person at the Baltimore, MD ICE location through own transportation
  • Comfortability joining on site at an ICE building and interacting with ICE officials
  • Polite, courteous, and a positive disposition
  • Ability to communicate well with others
  • Ability to work independently with minimal supervision
  • Organized, timely, and able to meet deadlines
  • Successful completion of a background check

• Preferred:
  • Some experience in interpretation, specifically between English and Senegalese Wolof
  • Previous experience working to assist low-income individuals, immigrants, refugees, or survivors of domestic abuse/sexual assault/trauma
  • Passionate about serving the immigrant community

Commitment: Individuals assisting with this opportunity will need to meet the following commitments needed:

• Joining in person at the appointment location in downtown Baltimore in mid-May (estimated date of May 20th, will be informed of any updates upon sign up and vetting)
• Ability to assist for approximately three hours (expectation of 9 AM – 12 PM but again, will be informed of any updates upon sign up and vetting)

Technology Needed: No technology will be needed to assist with this opportunity

Sign Up/Application: To help with this opportunity and provide interpretation in support of our clients, please sign up for our opportunity here! Our Volunteer Manager will and reach out to confirm your assistance as well as our informal vetting process to confirm ability to assist. The following questions will be asked of all sign ups:

• Are you fluent in English/ Senegalese Wolof?
• Have you provided in person interpretation for these two languages before?
  • If a prospective volunteer has some sort of proof of fluency (degrees, certifications, test results, etc.) that would be sufficient with additional questions not needed to answer)

Once informally vetted, our Volunteer Manager will follow up to provide documentation (Volunteer Personnel Manual, Confidentiality Agreement) individuals will need to sign and return before they can assist as well as sharing the form to authorize the completion of background check.

If you have any questions about this opportunity, please don’t hesitate to reach out to them at volunteers@ayuda.com.