Volunteer translators in Lisbon
A large number of migrants in Lisbon do not speak Portuguese and have struggled to access key COVID-19 messages from the government. In response the Aga Khan Foundation Portugal has worked with the government and volunteer translators to help ensure that migrant communities in Lisbon have better access to healthcare.
Lisbon is home to a large number of migrant Asian communities from Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Pakistan and other countries, who often live in cramped conditions and are particularly vulnerable to the spread of COVID-19. This vulnerability is exacerbated by a lack of access to COVID-19 alerts and messaging in languages other than Portuguese. The Aga Khan Foundation Portugal worked with volunteers to translated key documents into English and, after validation by health professionals, into other languages.