The Refugee Translation Project

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The Refugee Translation Project

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The Refugee Translation Project provides free professional translation support to refugees seeking a

The Refugee Translation Project provides free, professional translation services for refugees seeking asylum and other immigration relief. We offer translations of asylum statements and other supporting documents in Arabic, French, German, Greek, Kurdish, Spanish, Swedish, and Turkish. As the project picks up momentum, we will add more languages to our services. For updates, join our mailing list: refugeetranslation.org/signup/

We serve refugees who have fled their countries under threat of imprisonment, torture, and even death. Those who make it to the New York area and wish to stay here must apply for asylum, which involves convincing the court that they are being persecuted in their home country and cannot be sent back for fear of further persecution. One of the most important factors for asylum seekers is that they can fully convey their stories to their lawyers and to the courts. These stories, written as statements, and the material evidence to back them up, are crucial to the refugees' success. Both the statements and the evidence, which could be anything from threatening letters, tax penalty notices, court documents, to bank statements and newspaper articles, need to be translated. Unfortunately, many of these people have lost almost everything they own and cannot afford to pay for the speedy translation of these important documents. To ease the burden, the Refugee Translation Project offers these professional translation services for free so that refugees can focus their limited resources on making a home here.

10/28/2026

This National Immigrants Day, we honor those who built and shaped our nation and continue to contribute to our communities.

10/28/2026

Meet the Refugee Translation Project!
Our Executive Director, Damian Harris-Hernandez, gives insight into what RTP is, its foundations, and the work we do with your support.
Thank you for helping grow our impact and our community.

10/26/2026

Language barriers do not only affect the courtroom. They show up in the exam room too.
Behind every diagnosis is a person, their loved ones, and a story worth supporting.

They deserve proper care, which begins with access to an interpreter.

When a patient cannot communicate with their doctor, or when a doctor cannot read a patient’s records, the consequences can be severe.
Missed diagnoses. Incorrect medications. Untreated conditions.

For immigrants and refugees navigating an unfamiliar healthcare system, interpretation is not a convenience.
It is a lifeline.

RTP, through experienced and culturally competent interpreters, fights for equitable healthcare access by providing pro-bono translation and interpretation services in medical settings.

Show your support by donating today.

10/15/2026

Hispanic Heritage Month ends today, but we continue to celebrate the rich culture, history, and incredible contributions of the Hispanic community!
Refugee Translation Project remains committed to helping asylum seekers from Latin America reach safety her in the US and continue to contribute to our communities.
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09/30/2026

Language shouldn’t be a barrier to safety and justice. Today on , we celebrate our supporters (including you!) who ensure everyone can share their true stories and seek protection. 🧡
Want to directly support our work? Grab a ticket to our Dance Party Benefit or make a gift via the link in our bio!

09/25/2026

We are excited to welcome Süeda Erdoğan as our new AmeriCorps VISTA in partnership with the New York Immigration Coalition New York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) 🎉

Hi! I’m Süeda, the new fundraising and communications VISTA for the Refugee Translation Project.
I recently graduated from college with a degree in Business Management and moved from Northern Virginia to NYC for this opportunity. Prior to this, I was a legal interpreter and a paralegal with a focus on immigration/asylum proceedings. I also held multiple leadership roles where I focused on community engagement. So, you can see how my passion lies in making resources and services more accessible for all of us 🧡
I’m excited to spend the year meeting new people, getting to know the city, and making an impact through my service!

09/23/2026

Dance for a cause! 🪩✨
Join us for our End-of-Year Dance Party Benefit on Saturday, November 14th at Rubulad!

Secure your spot for a fun night featuring live sets from:
🎧 Conrad Dirtyfinger (Freak For All)
🎧 Geko Jones (Micasa BK)
🎧 djstylus (Brooklyn Wonderland)

🎉 What to Expect:
✨ Live DJs & Dancing
🍹 Drinks & Delicious Tamales 🫔
🎟️ Raffle Prizes

🗓️ Saturday, Nov 14 | 6 PM – Midnight
📍 Rubulad | Bushwick, Brooklyn

🎃 EARLY BIRD SPECIAL:
Buy your ticket before October 31st and get 5 FREE raffle tickets included with your purchase!
Want extra chances to win? Additional raffle tickets can be purchased separately at the link in our bio. Raffle prizes will be announced in the coming days!

🧡 Why Your Support Matters:
100% of proceeds support RTP’s mission to provide free, essential document translation for individuals fleeing ethnic, political, gender-based, and anti-LGBTQ+ violence. Without translated documentation, our clients face severe risks of deportation. Every ticket bought helps someone fight deportation and win asylum. 🗽

🎟️ Get your tickets now via the link in our bio! linktr.ee/refugeetranslation
or via the following link: https://secure.givelively.org/event/refugee-translation-project/dance-party-benefit-for-rtp-5a268dec-f3bb-4337-bfab-8978f3d6f389

See you on the dance floor! 🕺

09/08/2026

Thank you to our three extraordinary CUNY Career Launch interns, Jolie Camara, Stephanie Cruz-Lopez, and Moheeb Kaied, who completed their Social Services Access Team internship at Cafewal, a resource center for asylum seekers located in NYC’s East Village. During their 6-week internship Stephanie, Moheeb, and Jolie each worked more than 114 hours, helping over 160 community members navigate immigration issues, apply for work authorization, create resumes, find employment, and obtain social services and benefits.

“One of the most rewarding parts of my time here was assisting our Arabic-speaking clients with translation. I worked directly on two translation cases, it was an incredibly meaningful experience.”
-Moheeb Kaied

“My career path led me to RTP and Cafewal because I want to help out people who are in the immigration system like I was before. I know how it feels not knowing a language, feeling like no one can understand you, like you have no way to tell your story.”
-Jolie Camara

“I especially enjoyed helping clients create resumes and apply for jobs. I felt proud to be able to help them take that next step toward finding work. My time at RTP and Cafewal has further solidified my desire to work with and advocate for immigrant and refugee communities.”
-Stephanie Cruz-Lopez

East Village Neighbors Who Care

$The world is fractured, but for five hours in Philadelphia, soccer healed the cracks. My 11-year-old son and I attended ...$

07/17/2026

The world is fractured, but for five hours in Philadelphia, soccer healed the cracks.

My 11-year-old son and I attended our first World Cup match last month: Côte d’Ivoire vs. Curaçao. Inside the stadium, the heavy realities of immigration crackdowns, visa denials, and legal uncertainty vanished.

Instead, 68,000 people filled the stands with pure joy. We saw a sea of vibrant jerseys from Mexico, Haiti, the USA, Jamaica, and Morocco. We heard fans cheering in English, French, Dutch, Spanish, and Papiamentu.

Fans of both teams danced their hearts out together in front of the DJ booth to a set of world music and summer hits. Strangers asked one another to take their pictures and took selfies together.

When the stadium lights dim and the fanfare fades, millions of asylum seekers still face perilous journeys across oceans and jungles just to find safety. The least we can do is carry this welcoming spirit outside the stadium gates.

Join me and the Refugee Translation Project to support our fundraising campaign. Let’s keep our diverse communities alive, safe, and thriving.

Click the link in our bio to support the campaign today!

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07/09/2026

Everyone Deserves a Fair Shot!
Support Asylum Seekers While Watching Morocco 🇲🇦 vs France 🇫🇷 Barzakh • Café • برزخ Thursday June 9 at 4pm! No cover! Donate via link in bio or Venmo or in-person!

As the World Cup brings the world together, asylum seekers are fighting for something even bigger than a trophy and a chance to build a new life.

Refugee Translation Project provides free translation services to people seeking asylum and other immigration relief, helping them access justice, education, healthcare, and opportunity.

Watch this exciting quarter final match while enjoying North African food and drinks from around the world! 🌎

🇫🇷🇲🇦

Address

New York, NY

Website

http://refugeetranslation.org/, https://secure.givelively.org/donate/refugee-translation-project/translating-words-trans

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