How to help with translation or interpreting

Read the whole post and its public comments before you reply. Find out the language pair, whether the person needs written translation or spoken interpreting, where it will be used, and whether a certified translation is required. You can ask a question in the public comments without donating. Use plain wording: 'I can help with [language] to [language]. Is this for a medical appointment, a government office, or personal records? Does the office require a certified translation?' Do not ask for documents or ID in the comments.

Then say what you can actually do. A clear offer sounds like: 'I speak [language] and [language]. I can translate [type of document] or interpret for [type of appointment]. I am not a certified translator or interpreter.' Be honest about fluency. Say whether you read and write the language as well as you speak it. If the subject is medical or legal, say whether you are comfortable with it before you take the task.

Offer on the post, not in a private message. The owner chooses which offers to accept. Contact details are shared only after an offer is accepted, and a safety checklist is emailed to both of you. Today, read the safety center, decide what you can take on this week, and write your offer in plain words. Do not promise more than you can finish.

Check the job before you commit. Ask what the document or appointment is for and who will receive it. If a certified translation is required, and you are not certified, say so now. Do not imply your work is certified. If the person needs a certified translation, they may need to use a qualified provider. Your role can be to help them understand the request, not to sign off on it.

For a hospital or government office, the office may be required to provide an interpreter. Many hospitals and US government offices must provide one. Volunteer help fills the gaps around that, such as understanding paperwork before or after an appointment. Tell the person to ask the office for an interpreter when they schedule. Do not take the place of an interpreter the office is required to provide.

For legal or immigration matters, keep the circle small. Do not ask the person to post documents, case numbers, or personal history in public comments. Discuss only what is needed, and only after the owner accepts your offer. If you are not comfortable with the subject, say no. That is better than guessing. For refugee, asylee, or newcomer situations in the US, the Office of Refugee Resettlement runs federal programs for refugees, asylees, and other newcomers. Point the person there for official help.

Translate faithfully. Do not add advice, opinions, or explanations that change the meaning. If a word is unclear, say it is unclear instead of guessing. For written work, keep the layout and note anything you cannot read. For spoken work, ask the speaker to pause so you can keep up. Say at the start: 'I am interpreting, not advising. I will translate what is said as closely as I can.'

Do not give legal or medical advice while interpreting. If the person asks what a document means for their case or health, repeat the question to the office or say you cannot advise. If the office offers an interpreter, let them use that service. Your job is to carry meaning between languages, not to decide what is best.

Keep documents private. Do not post images of documents, IDs, medical records, or immigration papers. Do not forward them to anyone else. Delete copies when the work is done, including photos on your phone and files in your email. If you need to keep a copy for a short time, tell the person why and when you will delete it. Then do it.

Treat documents and personal details as private. Keep full names, addresses, ID numbers, medical details, immigration papers, and children's details out of public comments and posts. Posts that involve a child must be posted by a parent or legal guardian, with first names only. If you are interpreting for a family, do not repeat a child's information to others.

If you meet in person, meet in a public place first. Tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back. Do not go alone to a private home on a first meeting. If your help would involve entering someone's home, giving a ride, or providing care in the home, HelpBLESS requires a verified photo, ID, or background check badge first. Translation alone does not require a badge, but a badge can help.

Never pay outside HelpBLESS. Do not send money by wire, gift card, crypto, or another app, even if someone says it is faster. Report anyone who asks. Block and report anyone who pressures you or asks for money. Every post has a Report button. Staff follow up and may remove posts, hold unpaid funds, or close accounts. Reporting does not create a right to a refund.

Tell the owner early if you cannot finish. Use the public comments before contact, or the contact details you were given after your offer was accepted. Do not disappear. A short message works: 'I am not able to finish this accurately. Please ask the office for a qualified interpreter. I will delete the copies I have.' Then delete the copies and confirm that you did.

If an appointment moves or the document changes, recheck the job. A new subject may need a certified translator or a different kind of help. If you are uncomfortable or out of your depth, stop. You are allowed to say no at any point. If you made a translation mistake, tell the person promptly and correct it. Do not hide it.

If someone asks you to pay money, stop and report it. If you feel pressured, block and report. If the owner stops answering, do not keep pushing. You can leave one clear note in the comments and move on. If the post changes in a way that feels wrong, use the Report button.

If you cannot take the job, you can still help. Answer in the public comments with the language pair you know and what you can do. Keep it short. Someone else may see it and fit better. You can also point the person to the Office of Refugee Resettlement if they are a refugee, asylee, or newcomer in the US.

You can help the person prepare for an appointment without giving advice. Offer to help them write a short list of questions for the office. Offer to read a form aloud in their language and explain what each section asks, then let the office answer questions about what to write. Do not tell them what they are entitled to or what the outcome will be.

If you want to give money as well, use only the Donate button on a Money or Bills post. The gift goes to the person who posted, less a platform fee of 15% and the card processor's fee. Donors can add an optional tip to HelpBLESS that starts at 0%. Donations are gifts and are final. Only give what you are comfortable not getting back.