A new ‘Community Interpreter’ initiative is to be delivered across County Galway in 2025. The School of Languages, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Galway, together with Galway Rural Development (GRD), have announced that they are collaborating on a mentoring support programme targeted at new communities.
The initiative targets existing Community Interpreters who have undertaken ‘Community Interpreter Training’; funded over the last two years by Galway Rural Development’s SICAP programme. The new initiative derived from a need for further training of volunteers, who were already interpreting in their own community.
This year, Dr Andrea Ciribuco and Dr Iryna Andrusiak, and their University of Galway team, helped develop a 'Post Beginners' and an 'Advanced' course for Community Interpreters and have since been working closely with Galway Rural Development to target and deliver the online courses to Community Interpreters in the county.
Speaking on the partnership, Dr Andrea Ciribuco said “This initiative was developed within the framework of the project VICO (Rural Villages, Migration and Intercultural Communication), funded by Research Ireland through the Laureate scheme. We’re delighted with the partnership with the GRD team and look forward to enhancing community relations.”
Donna Gleeson Ryan, the Integration and Development Officer with Galway Rural Development, emphasised that “Providing training for Community interpreters ensures quality communication is provided to our communities at a local level, as well as providing employment for trained Community Interpreters. This is a very important initiative.”
CEO of GRD Steve Dolan added “Together with the University, we are building a network for community interpreters and we are reaching out. If you are a practising or an aspiring Community Interpreter, or if you interpret in your own community in Galway – whether on a voluntary or a paid basis – then we are seeking to connect and share resources.”
Pictured at GRD headquarters in Athenry this week were Dr Iryna Andrusiak (University of Gaway), Donna Gleeson (Integration Development Officer, GRD), Oksana Borodiienko (Integration Officer, GRD), Steve Dolan (Chief Executive, GRD), and Dr Andrea Ciribuco (University of Gaway).
Contact
Info@grd.ie
