efsli Special Attendance Fund

Supporting Interpreters to attend the efsli AGM and Conference

Reports 2010

Igor Bondarenko from Ukraine

Dear friends,

I already know what 'efsli' is because I attended the efsli 2009 Conference in Estonia. Back then everything seemed new, unusual, and sometimes even frightening. Indeed, many Conference participants already knew each other and were constantly communicating with each other in their free time. I was confronted by the language barrier at first... However, in a little while I realized that efsli was like a big family where everyone was looking forward to newcomers. Therefore I set a goal, by all means, to attend the next Conference in 2010, which was scheduled to take place in Scotland.

Unfortunately, I ran into financial trouble - no one wanted to respond to my requests for support for attendance of the efsli Conference in Glasgow. So I decided to contact the efsli Special Attendance Fund. I was looking forward to their answer and finally found an understanding on the part of efsli SAF.

Yes, I’m going to the efsli Conference in Glasgow!

It’s an incredible feeling to find everyone again in an atmosphere of goodwill, friendship and collegiality. This is what I wish to everyone to have, especially when you see your friends and colleagues who understand your problems, answer your questions, enjoy your success and provide clear and useful advice.

Sign Language Interpreters' movement in Ukraine is just beginning to gain momentum after long decades of stagnation. Therefore sharing experiences is a priority in our work now. Undoubtedly, the experience of adjacent countries who have taken this way of development is important for effective reform of Sign Language Interpreters' work in our country. The efsli Conference is a great opportunity for such exchanges, as well as an ability to obtain new, innovative and relevant knowledge and skills. It promotes research in providing interpreting services, Sign Language Interpreters' rights and effective cooperation with the Deaf Community.

The subject of efsli 2010 Conference "Synergy - moving forward together" was just in time for the development of interpretation activity in Ukraine in close collaboration of interpreters between one another and with interpreters of the Deaf Community. Interesting presentations and educational workshops only fanned the flames of the desire to improve my work and interpreters' work in Ukraine.

Once again, let me thank efsli SAF for the support!

I wish you all kindness and welfare, fruitful cooperation, and excellent results in your work.

Sincerely yours,
Igor Bondarenko,
efsli SAF 2010 applicant

Evgenia Mavrogianni and Stelios Ioannidis from Cyprus

First of all, no words can describe our feelings fully after the AGM and EFSLI event in Scotland!

EFSLI event was discovered many months ago from a sign language related page over the internet.

At first we were not familiar with the whole organisation at all but as soon as we figure out some information about EFSLI and the event in Scotland we truly wanted to join this experience. We were very new in the field and we were not quite sure about our suitability or appropriate experience to join the EFSLI conference. SAF made this aspiration able to become reality and we took advantage of this opportunity. We feel blessed for having this chance.  We have to say that as soon as we got in Scotland the friendliness and welcome from all the members and committee was incredible and the level of their hospitality was unexpected.  Our experience in AGM and EFSLI was not just like any event. A Maya said –which was absolutely true- the EFSLI bug will get into us and follow us in whatever we do.

Meeting people from several European countries sharing the same concerns as we do was an enlightening and appealing experience. We discovered so many new opinions and situations for each country. Surprisingly we learnt conditions from big countries that have similar difficulties as we do. Cyprus has not so many interpreters, the needs are endless and we do not have a formal association. Therefore, is good to know that fellows from other countries are there for us and we have someone to turn to if we need to.   Moreover, we received useful information on quite a few subject areas regarding interpreting that we are going to use in becoming more aware of challenges and changing situations regarding interpreting. What is more of the amazing of this event is that you continuously learn during seminars, coffee and meal time.

“Synergy” is definitely the way to move forward. Needless to say that we wish more people in the field were more conscious of the significance that this term entails in working conditions. We are preparing a report for our country in order to share our incredible experience.

We are looking forward to the next event in Italy which we are certain that is going to be superb.

Thank you very much for everything!!
Best wishes,
EFSLI Bug1: Evgenia Mavrogianni
EFSLI Bug2: Stelios Ioannidis
Sign Language Interpreters-Cyprus
 

Ana Lukic from Serbia

I got the opportunity once again to participate in the AGM and the conference as an SAF recipient. First time it was in Copenhagen now is in Glasgow.

I was slightly nervous before coming, especially when I came and saw that you people already all know each other and I was not in contact with you for five years. Every sign of anxiety disappeared immediately- everyone was so friendly, so warm and so nice that I felt very welcome.

The whole event – from the registration, meals, AGM, the conference, lectures, workshops, opening and closing, entertaining part of the conference dinner- was so perfectly organized that it was just delightful and enjoyable to be a part of it all. I especially happy because organization grown. Everything went so smoothly, and there were many months of hard work behind it.

The conference theme – Synergy – Moving forward together – was very interesting. There are lots of difficulties in being an interpreter.

What is helpful for us is the fact that  I’ve learnt, examples I heard and compared and advices from colleagues, while the overall experience, new acquaintances, new friends… are invaluable.

I will do my best to promote everything I experienced past weekend in Glasgow among my colleagues and new interpreters. We already had a meeting with in newly established association and I shared my experience with my colleagues from Serbia. If we consider our every next step carefully, we can avoid numerous traps that wait somewhere in front of us, and we can learn from the mistakes of others. This is the greatest benefit of participating in this conference. In short- it was great; great people, great conference.

I would like to use this opportunity to thank once again the Efsli board for giving me the chance to join you all.

Danguole Draguniene from Lithuania                                           

First of all, apologies for mistakes and for a brief report.

Secondly, thank you sincerely for giving me the opportunity EFSLI attend a conference in Glasgow, David Wolfenden correspondence for your patience with me by e-mail, as well as the organizers of this conference. I admit, a good command of English, but how great these days that is highly advanced information technology and can use Google's translation service ..:) It does not matter that makes errors, to understand as possible. Thank you also for the gift.

How did you hear about support? I had to attend the conference in Tallinn, and I learned there. Unabashed, I decided to ask for help and now I share experiences with you and with your country's sign language interpreters. By the way, I urge my colleagues to work EFSLI interest because it is useful.

Conferences organized by the excellent work. The strategic location of the hotel where I lived, it is good. The most well-organized conference. Cool, that this conference was held in translation from English into Russian. Overall, the conference did not want to leave because the atmosphere is warm, smiling all the participants. Speak English, can communicate by hand and understand everything. Afraid that it may show an irregular gesture ...:) Fantastic!

Participation in this conference was justified by my expectations. It was a great opportunity to interact with all of the interpreters to deal with problems, share experiences, make contacts. I can not forget the president EFSLI Maya de Wit's remarks about the fact that the conference is a "virus" that is contagious. I think that this "virus" really bring back to their country and are difficult to treat ..:)

Once again, thank you for everything. You 're great!

Daniela Miler from Croatia

Last year I wanted to keep this report short and simple. This year I won’t even try. There is so much more to efsli conference to be able to describe it in a few words. 
SAF enabled me to join the efsli conference once again. Thanks to SAF, I participated in efsli 2009 conference in Tallinn, Estonia, from where I took home only good impressions and beautiful memories.

After this year’s conference in Glasgow, it has been proved that an impeccable organization is not an exception, but a rule. Everything was going smoothly; mind-capturing sessions were interchanging with idea-releasing workshops, all timely intersected with coffee-breaks during which we could share experience and knowledge with one another, and yellow T-shirts were all around, assisting the participants and adorning the entire event.

I was happy to see familiar faces again, unhappy for some of them did not come this year, but happy again for having a chance to meet many new colleagues from allover Europe.  

The conference theme Synergy- moving forward together comprised various topics essential for nowadays interpreting, development, team-work, and things we can all do to positively affect our surroundings- colleagues, public, policies, clients- in order to achieve synergies along with all its benefits. Once again there were plenty of interesting workshops, making it hard to decide which ones to attend. I was satisfied with my choices, and I believe everyone was with theirs as well.

The structure of the AGM was a bit changed from the previous years (no topical reports), but it seemed that it gained more dynamics; members discussed various issues, explained and argued their positions and viewpoints. The sad moment of the AGM was saying goodbye to Elke and Zane as Board members. Regardless of that, I do hope to see them around again. New board members were elected, whom I wish good luck, especially to Liivi, who has shown her capability and competence in organizing Estonian conference, and Marinella who was reelected (yay!). This was the last efsli conference as a SAF coordinator for David as well, which affects me as a SAF recipient the most- he was patient, understanding, cooperative and prompt in answering all our questions prior to the conference. I will miss them all.

But the good news was that the group of SAF recipients is getting bigger every year- last year there were only two of us; this year it took some time to find myself on the SAF photo? (11 SAF recipients this year). This fact makes me happy because it means the word about SAF and efsli conferences is spreading around quickly and effectively…

The accompanying programme of the conference exceeded my best expectations (and, by the way, they were not low- thanks to the level that was set up by EVKTÜ in Tallinn). Friday’s Whisky tasting & presentation was fun and instructive, while the best indicator for the success of the Saturday’s evening entertainment program is the fact the hotel staff had to re-fix the dance floor several times during that unforgettable night.

Unfortunately, I had an early flight on Sunday so I could not attend plenary sessions and workshops on that day but there’s a good side to it- I did not attend the Closing Ceremony either, so for me it did not happen, every day I am reviving the thoughts, ideas and memories from the conference and it will not end until the new one opens!

In the end, I thank efsli, SASLI, volunteers, Hotel staff and all participants for feeding all my senses and making me feel so good and inspired.

Zorana Uzelac afrom Zagreb, Croatia

Dear colleagues, dear friends,

When I saw that the EFSLI Special Attendance Fund had announced an invitation for SAF applications, I thought: There is no chance that they could choose me ......... BUT! I have decided to send my application anyway.

After some time, I have recieved an e-mail with a really happy news – SAF choosed me for participation at Glasgow conference! I was so excited! But I was also so worried. I have realised that I have to justify  this honour that SAF gave to me.

Participating to the efsli conference was not for the first time for me. I have participated at Tallin conference in 2009. and I knew that the efsli conferences are organized well.

But, this year conferece was really interesting and active! That is why I have decided to set off very brave.

  The conference provided very wide spectrum of activties. From plenary session, workshops and debating the conference theme Synergy –Moving Forward Together all the way to unformal discussions with the conference participants and party time. All of this things have made this conference as it should be – for remembering.

For sure, I will always remember and impress to my coleagues in Croatia what have the world experiences came toin sign language profession. That deservingly experinece for sure will serve as a base for our work in Croatia for developmet of sign language profession.  
 
At the same time, I wont forget the professionalism of the organizer who had time for my questions and suggestions. Your professionalism and devotion to your work should be a good example for everyone.

And at the end, I want to point out that without your support I wouldnt be able to participate to the Glasgow conference. That is why, my dear colleagues, I want to thank you very much for your help!

And there is one lesson for all of you that are thinking wheather you will apply for the SAF fund or not?

TRY – maybe You will have luck as I did this year!

Aleksandra Kalata-Zawlocka and Malgorzata Czajkowska-Kisil from Poland

Double luck, double joy, double benefit. This year everything was double with regard to the efsli AGM&Conference in Glasgow – for the first time ever Poland has had two representatives at the conference. Two STPJM delegates  had been awarded support from the Special Attendance Fund. Obviously, our happiness also doubled, and not only because “the more, the merrier”. This time, two people could benefit from participating in the unique event of the efsli conference. And the benefits from listening to mind-opening and thought-provoking presentations, meeting wonderful people, getting involved in inspiring discussions are priceless, it goes without saying. The use of new knowledge, ideas and the feeling of support will be double and the news of efsli and SASLI will be spread twice as much fervently.

The idea of synergy that was this year’s conference theme was doomed to success from the very start. The reason is that  both in the narrow sense, that is on the level of interpreting process, and in the wider sense, namely within the whole field of sign language interpreting, the idea of cooperation and mutual support is very comforting to and very much needed by everyone  involved. Beginning with the latter perspective, for many of us – efsli conference goers – one of the reasons to attend efsli conferences is their inevitable effect of bonding. As Margaret Kinsman aptly said in her opening speech, numerous threads that are weak when separate, make strong tartan when joined together. At efsli conferences we feel very tight bonds with other attendees and it makes us stronger for the struggle to change our realities. All of us: interpreters, interpreter users, interpreter trainers, interpreter employers etc. We develop professionally, make progress in all possible directions, true, but what we need on our way forward is the feeling that we are not alone in what we do.

In the narrow sense, within the frames of interpreting process, synergy ensures mutual understanding and cooperation. And so again, at efsli conferences we learn each other’s perspectives – the Deaf and the hearing, customers and service providers. Exchange of experience among participants of interpreting process is highly precious due to its developing effect it has on them as individuals. Not only as practitioners, professionals, but also as human beings. Everyone brings their own background and expectations to interpreting assignments – at efsli conferences gathering people from “all walks of life” we learn how to work side by side in order to achieve the common goal, which is successful communication. Synergy is the key.

Doubly happy with participating in the conference, doubly filled with positive concepts, we will not be doubling the length of our text and so just a short summary. It was, as always, excellent conference, excellent theme, venue and organisation. We could really experience the synergy with other efsli members. Enormous thanks to the efsli Special Attendance Fund committee for giving us this opportunity!

We are proud we are a part of efsli.
All the best, everyone, and see you next year in Italy!

Aleksandra Kalata-Zawlocka okalata@poczta.onet.pl
Malgorzata Czajkowska-Kisil maczajkis@wp.pl

Association of Polish Sign Language Interpreters (STPJM)
www.stpjm.org.pl
biuro@stpjm.org.pl