The Language Access Project

The Language Access Project (LAP) is Global Wordsmiths' flagship Social Impact Initiative. Here's how it works:

First, we choose talented bilingual university students and put them through our month-long, professional interpreter/ translator training program.
Next, we choose 3 - 5 local nonprofit Partner Organizations that work directly with immigrants and refugees in Western Pennsylvania.
Then, we supervise and mentor the interns for a period of 1 - 2 semesters while they provide written translation and oral interpretation to the Partner Organizations at no cost.

During the 1 - 2 semester Cycle, Global Wordsmiths also works closely with the Partner Organizations to provide:

help prioritizing documents for translation (for example, brochures, intake forms, etc. which can be used after The Language Access Project has ended),
training, to teach Partner Organization staff how to work with interpreters and how to provide meaningful access, and
guidance and consulting to help Partner Organizations form long-term language access plans and procedures.