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NatSecMedia delivers independent, on-the-ground reporting from Ukraine, with a focus on the Russian war against the Ukrainian people and the wider security challenges facing the region.

Volunteer Translator Plan for Film Interviews on Captured Ukrainian Defenders

1. Objectives:

  • Speed up the process of translating interviews into English and other key languages.
  • Maintain accuracy and reliability in translations.
  • Ensure the filmmaker can focus on recording while translations happen in parallel.
  • Raise international awareness about captured Ukrainian defenders without delays.

2. Team Structure:

  • Filmmaker/Project Lead: Focuses on filming and organizing interviews.
  • Translation Coordinator: Manages volunteer translators, assigns tasks, and ensures timely delivery.
  • Volunteer Translators: Listen to interviews, transcribe and translate them into English (and other languages).
  • Proofreaders/Editors: Double-check translations for accuracy and clarity.
  • Subtitlers (Optional): Format translations for on-screen subtitles if needed.

3. Workflow Process:

Step 1: Pre-Interview Preparation

🔹 Filmmaker records interviews with families.
🔹 Audio/video files are quickly uploaded to a shared platform (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.).
🔹 Translation Coordinator assigns each file to a translator.

Step 2: Translation Process

🔹 Transcribers create a rough transcript in Ukrainian.
🔹 Translators convert the transcript into English (or other languages).
🔹 Proofreaders review the translations for clarity and accuracy.

Step 3: Finalizing & Publishing

🔹 Completed translations are formatted for subtitles or included in reports.
🔹 Filmmaker integrates translations into the final video.
🔹 Subtitled/interpreted versions are published and shared internationally.

4. Tools & Platforms:

📌 File Sharing: Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive for easy access to videos.
📌 Communication: Telegram, Slack, or WhatsApp for quick coordination.
📌 Transcription: Otter.ai or Whisper AI (for faster Ukrainian speech-to-text conversion).
📌 Translation Collaboration: Google Docs for shared editing.
📌 Subtitle Creation: Aegisub, Amara, or YouTube Subtitle Editor.

5. Volunteer Recruitment & Management:

🔹 Recruit bilingual volunteers through social media, NGOs, and universities.
🔹 Organize a training session on translation standards (consistency, key terminology).
🔹 Set up a flexible schedule so volunteers can contribute when available.
🔹 Recognize and credit volunteers for their work.

6. Urgency & Timelines:

  • Aim for a 24-48 hour turnaround per interview.
  • Use a rolling system, where translations happen as soon as footage is available.
  • If needed, prioritize key interviews for urgent translation.

7. Expansion & Sustainability:

  • Connect with journalists, advocacy groups, and human rights organizations.
  • Build partnerships with international media to distribute translated stories.
  • Explore AI-assisted translation to speed up the process, with human review.