Freelance Kibembe (Bembe) Interpreter and Translator

About the role

Kibembe is the language of the Bembe people of South Kivu in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, around Fizi and Uvira. Many Bembe families spent years in refugee camps in Tanzania and Burundi before resettlement, so clients often also speak Swahili, Kirundi or some French, but older relatives may be comfortable only in Kibembe.

Assignments include GP and hospital care, school meetings, housing and benefits appointments, children's services and legal advice. Kibembe is mostly spoken, so written translation is less common than interpreting and transcription.

What you will do

• Interpret between English and Kibembe for Congolese families, switching to Swahili only where the client agrees.
• Transcribe and translate recorded Kibembe speech and voice messages into English.
• Keep everything you hear and read on assignments strictly confidential, and remain impartial throughout.
• Build and maintain your own glossaries for the sectors you work in.
• Attend video and telephone assignments from a quiet, private space with a reliable connection.

What we are looking for

• Native or near-native fluency in Kibembe and English.
• The DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting), DPI (Diploma in Police Interpreting) or an equivalent qualification is an advantage; CIOL or ITI membership is welcome.
• Swahili, Kirundi or French is an advantage.
• Willingness to complete a DBS check for assignments in healthcare, education or with vulnerable people.
• Right to work in the UK if you will take on-site assignments in the UK.
• A reliable internet connection, headset and quiet, private workspace for remote assignments.

What we offer

• Remote work by video and telephone, plus on-site bookings.
• Fair compensation for your skills and time.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Help from our operations team before and after assignments.
• Varied assignments across healthcare, legal, government, finance and more.
• Flexible working: choose the assignments that suit your availability.

Kibembe work with SILA Linguists®

SILA Linguists® is a language services company providing interpreting, translation and transcription across the UK, North America, Australia, New Zealand and beyond, in more than 350 languages and dialects. As a Kibembe linguist with us, you can take on the full range of work we offer in Kibembe:

• Kibembe interpreting of every type: face-to-face, telephone (OPI) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, video (VRI) through the SILA Linguists® app or the client's platform, consecutive, simultaneous, conference and remote simultaneous (RSI), community and escort interpreting.
• Kibembe translation of documents into and out of English, from letters, medical reports and school records to contracts, research and websites.
• Certified Kibembe translation with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as courts, the Home Office, universities and employers.
• Kibembe transcription of audio and video recordings, with time stamps, translation of the transcript and subtitling.

Our vetted, trained and qualified linguists work in legal, police and court settings, immigration and asylum matters, NHS and private healthcare, social care, schools and universities, charities and business. Every assignment is covered by confidentiality agreements and UK GDPR.

Questions

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