What Kiva Volunteer Translators do
Kiva’s Review and Translation Program relies on over 300 volunteers to edit, translate, and thoroughly review loan profiles from around the world. Our Kiva Volunteer Translators translate loan profiles and review them to ensure that each profile is understandable to lenders and complies with Kiva’s policies. Each profile provides a brief overview of the entrepreneur's background and their microloan use. You can review examples on Kiva’s Lend page. In return for the time and effort they spend translating for Kiva, our volunteers have the chance to use their language skills to help create opportunity around the world.
Volunteers review and translate Kiva loans on their personal computers from their homes, offices, local coffee shops, the beach, etc., using Kiva’s web interface. Loans are posted by our Field Partners daily and are translated in order of priority based on when we receive them. The system gives our trained translators a great deal of flexibility, as they can self-assign loans to translate at any time of the day or night.
Kiva currently has volunteer teams for translation from French, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish into English.
Who we're looking for
We are looking for native or near-native English speakers who have extensive experience in one (or more) of Kiva’s translation languages. Kiva strongly prefers applicants who have translation experience. However, applicants who do not have translation experience but who have a high skill level in the translated language and extensive experience living or working abroad may also be considered.
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Native or near-native English speakers
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High-level proficiency in a foreign language
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Translation experience or studies strongly preferred
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Detail-oriented
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Able to commit at least 2 hours per week (i.e. about 20 loans per month) for a minimum of 6 months, though one year is preferable
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Responsive to email
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Comfortable with new technology
How to apply
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Register at http:www.kiva.org, if you are not already signed up as a Kiva user.
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Click the below "apply now" button to access our application portal and to see the list of open applications for the Review and Translation Program.
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If the application for a translation language is not currently open, you can put your name on the waitlist and we will contact you when we are ready to bring on more translators for that language.
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If we are currently recruiting for the language, applicants will be asked to fill out an application and may later be invited to take a test.
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Please note: Because of low Portuguese volume, Kiva only accepts applications from Portuguese translators who can also translate Spanish. If you are interested in translating Portuguese and Spanish, please submit a Spanish application or place yourself on the Spanish waitlist.
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Please note:
- You must be at least 18 years of age to apply.
- The online platform Kiva volunteers use is not mobile-friendly, so volunteers must have a personal computer.
Other ways to help
If you have friends who are interested in volunteering with Kiva, please help us spread the word. Send them to our Volunteer Page to check out the many volunteer opportunities at Kiva. If you'd like to work at Kiva, check out the Job Listings.