Editor’s note: This sponsored article was produced through a paid collaboration with SUNE Translate.
Sophomores at Gwinnett School of Mathematics, Science, and Technology in Lawrenceville, Ga., have channeled their affinity for languages into a translation company that offers translation services – including websites — free of charge for local businesses and nonprofits.
Immigrants themselves, Nela Vintrlikova and Suann Kim understand the challenges faced by non-native English speakers. So, they organized a team of bilingual and multilingual students to offer translation services for individuals, businesses and nonprofits that are struggling with language barriers but do not have budgets for translation.
The nonprofit they formed, SUNE Translate, currently offers translations of documents, websites and other written materials in 12 languages: Czech, French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Romanian, Spanish, Tamil and Vietnamese.
But the co-founders say they aim to expand their breadth of language offerings by contracting other like-minded students. Many high schools in Georgia require students to fulfill a certain number of community service hours, and working as a pro bono translator for SUNE helps them earn those hours, the young women explained.
“We realized there are a lot of native bilingual and multilingual students in our area, and they only use their language skills at home. SUNE enables us to expand the use of our languages while helping others,” said Ms. Vintrlikova, who speaks Czech, English and German. Her mother, Monika Vintrlikova, serves as the honorary consul of the Czech Republic in Georgia.
Ms. Kim added that student translators gain the opportunity to learn more about the business world and other cultures. “It’s positive for students and clients alike.”
SUNE has primarily assisted clients who need translations to English, but Ms. Vintrlikova said they are interested in helping local companies expand into international markets as well, by translating websites or other materials into foreign languages.
The Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce has signed agreements with local international business chambers for the same purpose – to help companies better access international markets, locally and abroad.
“Language barriers may seem like an intimidating factor when looking to do business with one another, but these bi-lateral chambers can facilitate as liaisons and bridge builders, as well as make introductions to their cultural communities,” said Nick Masino, president and CEO of the Gwinnett Chamber.
He underscored the importance of cultural connections, including language, for facilitating business.
Having a website that is accessible to international communities can also help to open new markets – but only if done correctly, warns the U.S. Commercial Service’s International Trade Administration (ITA) office in Atlanta.
“Through translations, connecting the entire world is possible.”
Since English is the language of business worldwide, having an English-only website is “perfectly fine” and is better than having a poorly translated one, advised the office’s director, George Tracy.
If done well, a fully translated website could imply that the company has multilingual staff who can attend to customers in their native languages, which may not always be the case, he added.
Because website translation and continual updates are expensive, Mr. Tracy’s office recommends small- and medium-sized businesses translate only their “About Us” page, as it does not tend to change much.
The Commercial Service can perform a “website globalization review” for clients and recommend ways to make their sites more appropriate for foreign visitors. This is typically done through the help of an in-country partner, who understands the language and culture of the particular target market and can devise an effective digital strategy.
Cultural considerations in translation are also top of mind for SUNE, which is why the group is accepting resumes from native-speaking student translators, with the goal of having at least two students per language group to ensure accuracy, Ms. Vintrlikova explained.
In addition to business translations, the young women at SUNE also see the need for translating COVID-19-related documents into other languages.
“We both got our vaccinations, and we realized that the forms you have to fill out at the vaccination sites are not necessarily translated, and some people were struggling,” Ms. Vintrlikova said. “This could be a real opportunity for us to help out in the future.”
Both girls’ parents are immigrant business owners, who have provided guidance in incorporating and running the nonprofit. Ms. Vintrlikova’s parents are president and vice president of ALBAForm Inc., a Flowery Branch-based supplier of specialty wire to the automotive industry that is the U.S. branch of the Czech Republic company founded by Ms. Vintrlikova’s grandfather.
Ms. Vintrlikova said she and Ms. Kim hope to continue operating SUNE throughout their high school and college careers and beyond, and they’re working on incorporating it as a 501c3 that can accept donations.
“Through translations, connecting the entire world is possible.”
Request a SUNE translator here.
Learn more about the Commercial Service’s website globalization program and other export assistance services here.
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