Congratulations to the 6 participants of our Interpreter Training for African Asylum Seekers program who successfully completed the program last week!

Throughout the course of the 6-week program, our 6 interpreters-in-training provided 750 hours of service. They helped asylum seekers apply for work authorization, Fair Fares discount Metrocards, IDNYC, and other services. They helped 284 people create a resume, either by working directly with clients or by assisting as interpreters for volunteer resume writers. They also helped asylum seekers who had work authorization look for employment opportunities and apply for jobs.

Our participants provided interpretation at a medical clinic hosted by East Village Neighbors Who Care (EVNC) in October, and also assisted clients to medical appointments with EVNC volunteers. In November, they worked at the New York Health and Hospitals Resource Fair connecting the majority of the 250+ attendees to representatives of the organizations tabling the fair.

In total the 6 participants in our program aided over 700 new New Yorkers.

Our Interpreter Training for African Asylum Seekers program was made possible with funding from the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Mayor’s Fund and support from Afrikana, Africa is Everywhere,East Village Neighbors Who Care, and EV Loves NYC .

We trained 6 asylum seekers, who learned the ethics and techniques of interpretation, as well as how to help people apply for benefits. Throughout the program, participants used their interpretation and language skills to provide direct services to people seeking asylum and other immigration relief and are in need of case management. Participants helped new migrant arrivals navigate the processes of critical services and benefits including work authorization, Fair Fares, health insurance, change of address, SNAP food benefits, school enrollment, and more. Interpreters also assisted volunteers in crafting resumes for clients.

The program offered professional development opportunities, featuring paid, hands-on training for multilingual asylum seekers who speak critical indigenous West African languages and dialects such as Pulaar, Wolof, Soninke, Hausa, Twi, Hassaniya Arabic, and Amazigh in addition to French and Arabic. Participants benefited from a direct employment pipeline through RTP and receive professional recommendations for external opportunities, emphasizing our commitment to workforce development and economic empowerment. The program serves a dual purpose: providing career opportunities for qualified asylum seekers while enhancing language access services for the broader community of new arrivals.