Give Directly: an excellent new pro bono client 스레드 게시자: Andrew Morris
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I have some major news today. Got 5 minutes? This will take a little explaining.
Finding clients for pro bono is only just a little easier than finding clients full stop. You have to get past people's affective filters, assuming they have any attention to give in the first place, and then their spam filters. But with a little determination, you get there.
Now maybe you're familiar with the world of International Development. Essentially it means money donated by gove... See more I have some major news today. Got 5 minutes? This will take a little explaining.
Finding clients for pro bono is only just a little easier than finding clients full stop. You have to get past people's affective filters, assuming they have any attention to give in the first place, and then their spam filters. But with a little determination, you get there.
Now maybe you're familiar with the world of International Development. Essentially it means money donated by governments to other governments for aid purposes (health, education etc). However, it's not delivered in plastic bags. It comes in the form of "projects", which are then managed by consultancy companies. I know all this because it was once my career, which saw me, for example, spend seven years in Bangladesh.
Let's say that the UK government in this case pledged €40 million to the Bangladesh government for a project to upgrade secondary education (train teachers, provide resources etc). But then the consultancy company recruits 20 people just like me, all on high salaries (back then I earned €10,000 a month, tax-free). So that's €2.4 million that comes straight back, per year, in a three-year project. Add in a 4x4 vehicle for every consultant, plus accommodation paid for all 20 foreign workers, and you can substantially increase that figure, leaving a mere €30 million or so, and that's before you deduct a plethora of other expenses.
Much of the original money pledged therefore returns to sender. Now don't get me wrong: much good work went on – I myself was involved in training rural teachers for example. But even so, there's no doubt that aspects of international development are a little murky in terms of finance and the poorest and most disadvantaged of the world do not always benefit as much as you might think.
Now imagine an experiment whereby, instead of all these expats, vehicles and the like, you give money directly into the hands of the poor. That's the idea behind Give Directly (https://www.givedirectly.org/), which gives $1000 to impoverished families. And what do they find in study after study? That the recipients know exactly what to do with the money. They've budgeted in pennies all their lives, and are very careful. They buy a well, send their daughter to school, or start a small business selling whatever. Check out the quite wonderful film focusing on Malawi at the top of the page: www.linkedin.com/company/givedirectly/videos/
With my experience in that field, I immediately fell in love with the idea. I wrote to the NGO's president and guess what? We're now going to work with them to offer our pro bono translations.
I can think of few better causes and can't wait to bring you news of their first translation requests... To be part of this as it develops, visit https://go.proz.com/probono ▲ Collapse
| | | | | New pro bono client | Nov 11, 2022 |
What about getting some clients for translators who must work for money to pay the rent and put food on the table for their families?
| | | | | Heard that one before... | Nov 11, 2022 |
Sorry Michael, but do you just have the one comment you post on every single thing we write here? If this project doesn't appeal to you, perhaps a better use of your time would be in looking for those clients yourself?
Incidentally, I've been a freelancer for many years, in quite a "crowded" combination (FR>EN), and I see it as nobody's responsibility but my own to find clients. You're working in two rare-ish combinations, so should have a natural advantage.
I... See more Sorry Michael, but do you just have the one comment you post on every single thing we write here? If this project doesn't appeal to you, perhaps a better use of your time would be in looking for those clients yourself?
Incidentally, I've been a freelancer for many years, in quite a "crowded" combination (FR>EN), and I see it as nobody's responsibility but my own to find clients. You're working in two rare-ish combinations, so should have a natural advantage.
If you're looking for tips on freelancing, I'm happy to engage.
But not here in this thread. ▲ Collapse
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Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion...
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| Let me guess | Nov 11, 2022 |
The translations are "pro bono", but you yourself charge a hefty sum for project management?
| | | | Dan Lucas 
영국
Local time: 00:42
회원(2014)
일본어에서 영어
| Andrew's comments... | Nov 11, 2022 |
Andrew Morris wrote:
(omitted)
If this project doesn't appeal to you, perhaps a better use of your time would be in looking for those clients yourself?
(omitted)
You're working in two rare-ish combinations, so should have a natural advantage.
(omitted)
But not here in this thread.
...are eminently reasonable, Michael. I have my own beefs with ProZ and have disagreed with some of Andrew's statements in the past, but both of them are trying to do some good here and you're throwing it in their face. Please take it to another thread.
Andrew - I note two threads in Getting Established over the past 24 hours from translators just starting in the business. While this would not immediately result in income for those two individuals, perhaps this is the kind of project that would benefit them (over the medium term) as well as this hard-won client?
Dan
PS Just in case anybody is wondering, not all freelancers in the JP-EN pair have Eeyore-ish tendencies
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Dan Lucas wrote:
Andrew - I note two threads in Getting Established over the past 24 hours from translators just starting in the business. While this would not immediately result in income for those two individuals, perhaps this is the kind of project that would benefit them (over the medium term) as well as this hard-won client?
Most definitely. All are welcome to visit https://go.proz.com/probono and decide for themselves whether they want to get involved.
Love the Eeyore comment! And thanks for your support, Dan. I fully accept that in the past, particularly when making my first forays into this esteemed Forum, I may have overstated my case (mixture of new-boy enthusiasm, defensiveness, hyper-sensitivity?) But now this is not about me, but a new fledgling project, and I'm delighted to promote/defend/justify it till the cows come home, all the while accepting that pro bono isn't for everyone and never will be...
| | | | | Adieu, Adieu | Nov 11, 2022 |
Adieu wrote:
The translations are "pro bono", but you yourself charge a hefty sum for project management?
You entitled your post "Let me guess". Well, we did let you, and you guessed wrong. 100% wrong.
Let me make one thing very clear: this project involves ZERO cash from clients. Not a penny. However, via my salary and the time and support of colleagues, from Henry to the various programme developers, ProZ.com is investing significantly in this initiative.
Hope that assuages any doubts.
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Thanks, Dan. You're a real diplomat. I bet you'll go far. Nothing like an ad hominem attack, eh? It's really difficult to keep these threads civil.
| | | | | Please stick to the topic as introduced | Nov 11, 2022 |
Hello everyone,
You are kindly asked to please stick to the topic posted, namely a new client for the ProZ.com pro bono project. Further posts in violation of forum rule #4 will be removed. Thanks!
Lucia
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member because it was not in line with site rule |
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By the way, the President of Give Directly is none other than the very impressive Rory Stewart, once British Secretary of State for International Development, no less. Now a highly successful podcaster as well as his main role (no. 1 podcast in the UK in fact: The Rest is Politics).
And last and quite definitely least, a fellow Oxford alumnus (the last detail rather useful for me in p... See more By the way, the President of Give Directly is none other than the very impressive Rory Stewart, once British Secretary of State for International Development, no less. Now a highly successful podcaster as well as his main role (no. 1 podcast in the UK in fact: The Rest is Politics).
And last and quite definitely least, a fellow Oxford alumnus (the last detail rather useful for me in pulling strings!)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rory_Stewart ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Congrats, Andrew! | Nov 11, 2022 |
I'm thankful that you have secured for us (by which I mean ProZ.com and interested members of our community) the opportunity to contribute to a cause like this.
Have a nice weekend!
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