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(WASLI is committed to developing the profession of sign language interpreting worldwide)
And from all the lands on earth we come’
It was 1995 and the introductory training course for sign language interpreters in Uganda; we had already had to sit in the hot sticky dark a couple of times when the torrential rain bouncing off the corrugated iron roof cut the power supply, but despite this, the students were motivated and enthusiastic, arriving to start classes at 8a.m., and not wanting to leave until 7pm at night. Then Ogwambi showed up - on the FOURTH day! I was mildly irritated at this unprofessional timekeeping, anxious that he had lost four days worth of input…….. and probably showed it. How bad do you think I felt when I realised that Ogwambi had not been paid for his job as a teacher for three months, but so desperate had he been to take part in the training programme that he had walked and hitchhiked his way from the north of the country to Kampala, taking three days to do it.
Over the many years I have worked with interpreters from other countries, I have never failed to be humbled by the thirst for knowledge from colleagues from the income poor countries of the world about the profession of signed language interpreting, and the enormous efforts made by them to take advantage of whatever opportunities might present themselves. Take Khalil from Palestine who, to make sure he was through roadblocks and curfews, had to leave home three days before the departure of his sponsored flight from next door country Jordan to the WASLI conference. And Loveness from Zambia, who having received some support to cover the costs of conference registration, sat in a government office in Lusaka, stubbornly refusing to move until the department found some money to cover her bus fare.
There are so many stories I could tell………but what underlies all of them is the sheer determination of people for whom life is a constant struggle to seek out knowledge, training and support to become the best signed language interpreters they can be. In many countries there are no trainers, poor roads and non-existent transport so interpreting students would find it difficult to travel to a training course even if they existed. There is political upheaval. Many countries are at war. Half of the population of Malawi lives on $1 a day. 15.5 million Thai people live on less than $2 a day. Australia’s GDP is almost $30,000 per person. Tanzania’s is $621. Of course, there are some good things. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, there is a regularly interpreted news bulletin – but the interpreters walk miles to get to the TV studio on time and they do not get paid.
I am often asked ‘Why should I join WASLI? What do I get out of it?’ My answer is pretty straightforward: ‘It is what you can GIVE that is important.’ The developed nations of the world are fortunate in many ways. We have food, water, education, interpreter training courses and a profession which can earn us a living – and we will most likely live beyond the average age of 37 which is the norm in many countries. What is a little to us may mean much to others. The feedback received from colleagues who have been enabled to be part of training and learning experiences speaks for itself:
‘It was my first experience to attend such a conference. I felt I am part of the family’
‘Until the conference, I didn’t realize that the certificate and training in interpreters will provide me the better understanding and skill to interpret to the deaf and hearing people.
It also gave me the opportunity to see that the organization of the interpreters for the deaf will give all the people to communicate at ease.’
‘Amazing enough l was indeed inspired by those interpreters whose incredible skills and professionalism opened a new world to me, watching them perform so tirelessly motivated the inner part of me even to work extremely hard.’
‘Every minute that counted was learning time for me within the conference and outside’
‘Allow me to appreciate the organisers and those who made it possible for me to attend the conference. The conference was indeed a great occasion of my life .I shall never forget what my sponsors did for me.’
You in Australia are known for your strong tradition of people helping others voluntarily. I have long been impressed by support given by you to colleagues in Cambodia, Kosovo, Fiji and Thailand. I was fortunate enough to be part of your Conference in Darwin last year, and experienced for myself the positive atmosphere and warmth of ASLIA members (even if – for those of you there – I cannot perform a Cambodian dance!) It comes as no surprise that ASLIA has now established a Creating Opportunities Fund which will seek to enable those from developing countries from your region to be part of the ANC09, and to share their experiences with you – for we all have much to learn as well as give. Such a fund is a model for the other income-rich parts of the globe.
I urge you to think of Ogwambi, Khalil and Loveness. Please contribute what you can. Your colleagues from the income-poor countries of the world have much to gain.
LIZ SCOTT GIBSON
WASLI PRESIDENT
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