Overview

This recipe uses the WhatsApp platform as a means of providing a translation service.

Software and tools used

WhatsApp

The free app available here: https://www.whatsapp.com/download/.

We chose this as it was very common for asylum seekers & refugees to have this on their mobile phones.

Recipe steps

1. User - Contact the WhatsApp number

To start the process the user needs to know what number to contact via WhatsApp. This can be in the form of a hyperlink using the format:

<https://wa.me/+447977486954>

2. User - Take photo of the document

The user can now take a photo of the document they want translating and send it to the WhatsApp number. Guidance on how to do this so the photo is legible is helpful.

3. Admin - Check the photo

Once received the admin checks the photo to make sure the document is legible.

4. Admin - Send to the translator

Admin can send the document to the translator.

5. Translator - Translate document and send to admin

The translator can translate the meaning of the document. What we mean by this is that they don't need to translate the document verbatim, but advise the user on what they must do. For example, if they need to pay an overdue bill, then they can state that and give guidance on how to achieve this goal.

Translation or guidance can be provided in text format, but out users and translators also found audio format to be a useful and efficient alternative.

6. Admin - forward translation onto user