As discussed in my first blog post, one of my goals during my internship is to examine the many ways that language, with all of its nuances and all of its layers, impacts the people who work at MSRI and the refugees who access essential services. My hope is that this information will help to shine some light on one of the most prominent invisible barriers that refugees and service providers face, both in facilitating integration into host countries, and during the re-settlement process.

At MSRI, interpreters are a necessary part of almost all aspects of service provision. From legal services, to case management, to emergency assistance, and mental health services, interpreters act as the bridge between refugees/asylum seekers and MSRI staff. In this podcast, I sit down with Naghme, an interpreter from the Malaysian Social Research Institute, to discuss how language impacts refugees when it comes to counselling, doctor’s visits, and appointments with the United Nations Refugee Agency.