Translators without Borders (TWB) is a non-profit organization offering language and translation support for humanitarian and development agencies, and other non-profit organizations on a global scale. 

Creating a world where knowledge knows no language barriers

Originally founded in 1993 in France as Traducteurs sans Frontières by Lori Thicke and Ros Smith-Thomas to link the world’s translators to vetted non-profit organizations that focus on health, nutrition and education, Translators without Borders is a U.S. non-profit organization that aims to close the language gaps that hinder critical humanitarian and international development efforts worldwide.  TWB recognizes that the effectiveness of any aid program depends on delivering information in the language of the affected population. By maintaining a global network of professional translators, TWB helps non-profit organizations overcome communication barriers, increasing access to critical information and services while fostering a climate of understanding, respect, and dignity in times of great need.

Our Vision

A world where knowledge knows no language barriers.

Our Mission

To provide people access to vital knowledge in their language by:

• Providing aid in humanitarian crisis response through translation and interpreting
• Providing translation and simplification services that are culturally appropriate, accessible and open-source
• Building language translation capacity at the local level
• Raising awareness globally of language barriers

Our Capacity

TWB was formally incorporated as a 501(c)3 in the United States in 2011, and since that time, with the support a community of volunteers, has translated over 50 million words for non-profit organizations in more than 190 language pairs, as part of humanitarian crisis response, and health and education programming. TWB has also provided training to local translators in Kenya and Guinea to support civic, health, and humanitarian efforts while providing them with new economic opportunities as translation professionals.

 Our work is supported by volunteers, grant funders and generous donors and sponsors. Learn more about the work of Translators without Borders.