1. Does Our Work Get Lost in Translation?
Celeste Matross, Marinda Kotzé, Dominique Dix-Peek
Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation
Johannesburg, South Africa

2. Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR)
Torture Rehabilitation Clinic

3. Centre for the Study of Violence and Reconciliation (CSVR): Torture Rehabilitation Clinic
AVERAGE NUMBER OF CLIENTS SCREENED EACH YEAR – 281
AVERAGE NUMBER OF COUNSELLING SESSIONS PER MONTH - 78
NUMBER OF CLINICIANS - 5
THERAPEUTIC TECHNIQUES – INDIVIDUAL MODEL

4. CSVR Clients: Age & Gender Children (0-17) 7.0% Adults (18-38) 66.9%
Adults (39 and above)
26.1%

5. Nationality & Language
Somalia
Congo (DRC)
Ethiopia
Burundi
Rwanda
South Africa
Zimbabwe
Uganda
Eritrea
Congo (Brazzaville)
Swaziland
Zambia
Angola
Cameroon
Chad
CSVR Clients:
Nationality & Language
Common Languages:
Amharic
Somali
Swahili
French
Lingala
Kinyarwanda
Key:
20% +
10-19%
5-9%
0-4%

6. Average number of traumatic events per client: 3
CSVR Clients: Types of Traumatic Events
Average number of traumatic events per client: 3

7. Interpretation at the CSVR Trauma Clinic

8. Interpretation at the CSVR Trauma Clinic
The CSVR trauma clinic first started making use of interpreters in response to the growing number of clients from the Greater Lakes region. Interpreters to serve as cultural ambassadors.
1998 – Two interpreters
2012 – Due to the rapid increase in the number of clients who required interpretation services eight new interpreters were recruited.
2015 – Ten interpreters
The CSVR trauma clinic first started making use of interpreters in 1998, in response to the growing number of clients from the Greater Lakes region (specifically Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi). Two interpreters joined CSVR in However one interpreter left soon thereafter in By 2012, the rapidly increasing number of clients who required interpretation services compelled the organisation to employ eight new interpreters. The more experienced interpreter subsequently accepted the role of interpreter manager and was tasked with supervising the new interpreters. By 2015, the number of interpreters grew to ten.

9. Interpretation: Challenges….
[OVERVIEW OF THE CHALLENGES EXPEREINCED OF WORKING WITH INTERPRETERS AS CULTURAL AMBASADORS]
Lack of formal training /recruitment
Translation vs. Interpretation
Therapeutic boundaries
Professional conduct
Interpreter occupational health and burnout & divide between CSVR staff and interpreters

10. Interpreter Training

11. Interpreter Training: Content & Structure
Interpreter Training Programme Content:
Session 1: Understanding Trauma
Session 2: Understanding Torture
Session 3 & 4: Basic Counselling Skills
Session 5: Interpreter Styles & Methods
Session 6: Ethical Guidelines
Session 7: The CSVR Trauma Model
Session 8: Occupational Hazards
Session 9: Feedback Information Treatment
Session 10: Learning, Monitoring and Evaluation
The programme consisted of ten full-day sessions.
Each session was facilitated by two CSVR clinicians and held at the CSVR Braamfontein offices in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Sessions took place every 2-3 weeks for 5 months from May to October 2015.

12. Interpreter Training: M&E
The effectiveness of the training was evaluated based on:
the interpreter's level of knowledge of the training content after the training – Pre/Post Tests
feedback from the interpreters on how they experienced the programme – Interpreter Surveys
changes in the interpreter's skills and conduct subsequent to the training – Feedback from Clinicians

13. Results of Knowledge Pre- and Post-Tests

14. Interpreter survey results
The interpreters completed capacity building evaluation surveys after the third, fourth and tenth (final) training sessions.
I get a deeper understanding of the work that we do. Generally it was very interesting and we expect from CSVR to continue to give training in the future. I personally am very satisfied with the workshop and the trainers' method they use to make us understand very well. I appreciate them!
Would like to do it again or have a supervision after practicing what I just learned.
The workshop has helped me to understand something I did not know before. It has helped me in my work and personal life.

15. Clinician feedback Reclaiming power and status In-group and out-group
Projection of feelings of discrimination
Blaming
Poor communication
Role confusion
Personal agenda
Confusion around belonging and identity

16. Where to from here…/lessons learnt
Foundational training on interpretation and on mental health ethics
Clear role description
Regular meetings and engagement
Regular debriefings
Personal therapy
Continual reinforcing and rewarding behaviour that works towards achieving the shared goals

17. Thank you