Business Details
15 Years
experience
Emergency
services
Global Humanitarian Translation Services
Translators without Borders (TWB) was founded in 1993 to bridge critical language gaps hindering humanitarian efforts. As a US nonprofit since 2011, we mobilize over 100,000 volunteers to provide translation, interpretation, and language support for crisis response, health, education, and development initiatives. Our work focuses on three pillars: delivering urgent translations during disasters, building local language capacity through training, and advocating for equitable access to information. We collaborate with humanitarian agencies, NGOs, and global partners to ensure vital messages reach vulnerable communities in their preferred languages.Our reorganization under CLEAR Global in 2021 expanded our technical capabilities while maintaining our core mission of empowering people through language. With decades of experience in conflict zones, pandemics, and natural disasters, we specialize in rapid response, cultural adaptation, and sustainable language solutions. Our volunteer community includes professional linguists, technologists, and advocates who contribute expertise to projects ranging from medical translations to crisis mapping. We measure success through the 80+ million words translated and the strengthened communication systems we help establish worldwide.
Services
Translation Services
Crisis Response
Language Training
Capacity Building
Advocacy Programs
Details
- Year established: 2011
Highlights and features
- We mobilize 100,000+ professional linguists for rapid humanitarian response
- Our crisis translation network supports 150+ languages and dialects
- We've trained 480+ interpreters for humanitarian operations
- Our TWB Platform streamlines multilingual communication for NGOs
- We've translated 80 million+ words for global health and safety initiatives
What people say
Vital information access
Amazing work in crises
Professional volunteer linguists
Critical humanitarian support
Effective language solutions
Services
Translation Services
Our professional translation services convert critical content between 150+ languages for humanitarian organizations. Volunteers with subject-matter expertise ensure accuracy in health, safety, and crisis communications. This service enables NGOs to deliver life-saving information to communities affected by disasters, conflicts, and public health emergencies.
Crisis Response
Rapid-response translation teams deploy within hours to support disaster relief efforts. We prioritize urgent materials like evacuation instructions, medical guidelines, and safety alerts during hurricanes, pandemics, and refugee crises. Our network enables real-time communication between responders and affected populations speaking diverse languages.
Language Training
We train local linguists in underserved regions to build sustainable translation capacity. Programs focus on technical skills for humanitarian contexts, including medical terminology, crisis communication protocols, and cultural adaptation techniques. Graduates strengthen local response capabilities and improve information access in their communities.
Capacity Building
Our initiatives create lasting language solutions for global organizations. This includes developing specialized glossaries, training interpreter networks, and implementing translation technology platforms. These systems enhance communication effectiveness during both emergency operations and long-term development projects across multiple sectors.
Advocacy Programs
We promote language inclusion in humanitarian standards through research, policy recommendations, and awareness campaigns. Our advocacy highlights communication barriers faced by marginalized communities and develops best practices for multilingual engagement in crisis response and development programs worldwide.
Questions
What languages does Translators without Borders support?
We provide translation services in 150+ languages through our global volunteer network.
How can I become a volunteer translator?
Apply through our website to join 100,000+ linguists supporting humanitarian projects worldwide.
What humanitarian crises do you respond to?
We assist in natural disasters, refugee crises, pandemics, and conflict zones globally.
How do you ensure translation accuracy?
Professional linguists with subject-matter expertise review all critical humanitarian content.
Can organizations request translation services?
NGOs can apply for support through our Partner Program for humanitarian projects.
How is your organization funded?
We rely on donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants from humanitarian funders.
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Reviews (6)
Puja Verma
Mar 14, 2020
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I volunteer for them and love it ! It helps break language as a barrier !! I can do it from home, at my convenience and it’s a great way of giving back to the community that educated me !!!
Joseph Barhaziga
Jan 23, 2020
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I recommend it to people I know are able to translate from a language to another to join the community so that there can be more and more translators and fill in the gaps related to language barriers in humanitarian work
Christie Crowder Suarez
Jan 09, 2020
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Without communication nothing can be achieved. Just like their counterparts at Doctors Without Borders do very important work.
Cat Graham
Nov 13, 2019
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Their team is skilled, professional and quick to respond. Their services are invaluable in the field of humanitarian response. Great job to leadership and the volunteers.
Mohamed Abdi Kadiye
Jul 19, 2019
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I liked the new system your TWB was about to help with the easiest way created to communicate in different languages
Adrian Boyle
Jan 24, 2019
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Simply the opportunity to contribute to the efforts of some great organisations, working for many valuable causes, and with project managers who are dedicated to the cause 🙂