At Multilingual Connections, we talk a lot about numbers: words translated, minutes transcribed, hours of research moderation, number of files. We use these quantities to calculate pricing and turnaround, to determine which projects go to which project managers, and to decide what to assign to which linguist or researcher. Last year, we translated over 13 million words, transcribed over 200,000 minutes of audio, and delivered over 5,500 projects (in over 75 languages!). We’re proud of our numbers – but they only tell a small part of the story.

What’s the impact behind those numbers? Whose voices do we share? Who do we help  – and what do we help get done?

We periodically ask our team to share highlights of recent projects that were particularly meaningful to them. Here’s a sampling of the impact of our work through translation, transcription, and qualitative research projects:

• Humanitarian Support: We translated critical identification documents for an Afghan family at risk after assisting U.S. officials, enabling them to secure asylum and reunite safely in the U.S. We also translated medical documents that allowed a family to bring a relative from Mexico to Chicago for a kidney donation under Humanitarian Parole.
• Human Rights Advocacy: Our team translated evidence for a human rights report on current events in Guinea, shedding light on significant issues. We also transcribed interviews highlighting Afghan refugees’ challenges in the U.S., from language barriers to mental health struggles, offering insights for improving future resettlement experiences.
• Healthcare and Patient Experience: We supported an initiative aimed at improving communication between hospital medical teams and non-English speaking families. Our role included translating study materials into 13 languages, including rare ones like Quiché and Karen, and participating as expert panelists to ensure culturally appropriate translations. This study builds on previous research that reduced hospital errors and improved patient experiences, with the goal of achieving similar outcomes for multilingual patients.
• Mental Health and Child Welfare: We transcribed 40 research interviews and supported projects focused on enhancing mental health services for Black and Latinx caregivers of children who experienced sexual abuse. Our work contributed to developing culturally relevant tools to improve engagement and care outcomes.
• Foster Care Training: We collaborated with the Illinois Department of Children & Family Services to provide translations, voiceovers, and multimedia services for foster parent training modules. Topics ranged from supporting LGBTQ+ children and managing trauma to building resilience and preparing for adulthood.
• Global Refugee Assistance: Through our partnership with HIAS, we translated materials informing refugees in crisis areas about their rights and available services, ensuring they receive crucial support in their native languages.
• Healthcare and Science: We translated and subtitled International AIDS Society conference videos into multiple languages, including French, Portuguese, and Arabic, making vital AIDS and HIV research accessible to global audiences.

Sometimes we get so focused on the details of a project that we forget to look up from our screens and reflect on the larger impact of what we’re doing. Whether we’re providing translation, transcription, voiceover, subtitling, or bilingual research support, each project underscores the power of language to drive change, foster understanding, and provide meaningful support in times of need. And we’re proud to contribute to meaningful work that makes a difference in our communities and across the world. 

We love helping our clients create connections across the world. 

Talk to us about how we can help tell your stories and make an impact where it matters to you!