Conference Speakers

Session Title: Project Management Essentials

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 2:50 PM – 3:50 PM (GMT)

Ady Namaran Coulibaly

Ady Namaran Coulibaly leads the operations of Bolingo Consult, a language services company based in Ghana and Rwanda. In this role, she oversees and ensures proper coordination and execution of projects. Ady considers herself an advocate for African languages and is the co-founder of the African Languages Conference (AFLC). She has been featured in the Nimdzi 2021 Localization Influencers Watchlist and was featured in Multilingual Media’s list of 52 Women Driving the Language Services Industry in 2022.

Mary Mawuena Nanafi

Mary Mawuena Nanafi is a skilled Project Manager at Bolingo Consult. With expertise in planning, execution, team coordination, change management and process improvement, she effectively collaborates with stakeholders and team members to deliver projects on time and within budget. She also holds several professional certifications, including Google Project Management and AI Career Essentials

Project Management is a core function of language services companies and is crucial for achieving success, maintaining a competitive edge and ensuring client satisfaction and retention. This workshop is designed to provide aspiring Project Managers within the language services industry with a foundational understanding of project management principles and practices.

The facilitators will address key concepts such as project planning, managing workflows and uncertainties, resource allocation, effective communication and risk management, tailored to the unique needs of the sector. The workshop will make use of interactive discussions, practical exercises, and real-world examples from tackling project complexities at Bolingo Consult. At the end of the workshop, it is expected that attendees will feel empowered to manage projects successfully.

Key takeaways:

– Project Management within the language services sector requires efficient planning, adequate handling of workflows and uncertainties, effective resource allocation, communication and risk management skills.

Session Title: Building Community through Volunteering

Date: August 28,2024

Time: 11:10 AM – 11:50 AM (GMT)

Carrie Fischer is the Globalization Services Manager at Subway, headquartered in Shelton, CT. She is responsible for all globalization-related strategies for the company. She has over 30 years of localization experience and has held previous localization positions at Bodybuilding.com, Hyperion/Oracle and Transparent Language. She is also on the Board of two non-profits: Women in Localization and Language Connects Foundation.

This panel discussion session will cover how non-profit Women in Localization came to be, their mission, vision and how they’re continuing to grow through global outreach and diversity. Women in Localization is committed to creating a community for women to come together to lift each other up, network, learn new skill sets, offer mentoring/be mentored and to move the localization industry forward. Through global outreach, they now have 30 Chapters in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Latin America. They would love to start a Chapter in South Africa.

The panel will consist of the following individuals from Women in Localization: Carrie Fischer, the Board Sponsor of Global Growth & Diversity, Edith Bendermacher, the Chapter Manager of the Silicon Valley Chapter who is also the Program Director of Global Growth & Diversity and Helga Walker, who volunteers for both the Global Community and Global Growth & Diversity program.

Key takeaways:

• Learn about how Women in Localization helps build a sense of community and provides growth opportunities for women and the localization industry.

Session Title: Building Communities of Practices in the African language industry: Lessons learned from Kabod

Date: August 29, 2024

Time: 9:30AM – 10:00AM (GMT)

Christian Elongué is the managing director of Kabod Group, a leading language service provider in West Africa. He has 11 years professional experience as a translator in the publishing, education, and humanitarian sector. He founded the network of African Languages Translators and Teachers (ALATT), the Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA), the Marketplace for African Translators and Interpreters (MATI) and is the host of Kabod Language Talk and the podcast on African Language technologies and tools. He is a project manager with the Institute of Translation and Interpreting and a member of Chartered Institute of Linguists, the American Library Association, ATSA etc.

In an era marked by globalisation, the role of language service providers (LSPs) in facilitating effective communication across linguistic boundaries is paramount. Kabod Language Services, an African-based industry influencer, stands at the forefront of this transformative movement. Through the establishment of pivotal communities of practice (CoP), including the Network of African Languages Translators (ALATT with over 2000 members) and the Marketplace for African Translators and Interpreters (MATI with about 300 members), Kabod has not only identified and nurtured emerging talent but has also played a pivotal role in shaping the broader language industry landscape. This presentation delves into Kabod’s multifaceted approach to network building, training, and advocacy. Today, Kabod Language Services (KLS) catalyses the growth and professionalisation of language services in Africa and globally. Through strategic initiatives such as ALATT and MATI, Kabod has created dynamic platforms that identify, nurture, and empower a diverse pool of freelancers in translation, localisation and interpreting), ensuring a wealthy and skilled workforce for the language industry.

Key takeaways: The main points attendees will learn from your session.

Strategic Network Building

Understand how Kabod Language Services effectively built and managed large communities of practice like ALATT and MATI, fostering collaboration among African language professionals.

Explore strategies for scaling similar networks in other regions or industries.

Talent Identification and Nurturing:

Learn how Kabod has successfully identified, nurtured, and empowered emerging talent within the African language industry.

Gain insights into the processes and frameworks that can be applied to build a sustainable talent pipeline in the language services sector.

Professionalisation of Language Services:

Examine Kabod’s role in advocating for the professionalisation of language services across Africa.

Discover the impact of professionalisation on the quality and consistency of translation, localisation, and interpreting services.

Leveraging Communities for Advocacy and Growth

Understand the role of communities of practice in driving industry-wide change, from policy advocacy to setting standards.

Learn how Kabod’s initiatives have influenced the broader global language industry and what lessons can be applied to other sectors.

Sustaining a Diverse Workforce:

Explore Kabod’s approach to maintaining a diverse and skilled workforce in the language services industry.

Understand the importance of inclusivity and diversity in creating a robust language services ecosystem.

Challenges and Opportunities in the African Language Industry

Identify the unique challenges faced by language service providers in Africa and how Kabod has navigated these obstacles.

Discuss the emerging opportunities in the African language industry and how to leverage them for growth.

Session Title: Reshaping Collaboration in the Language Services Industry

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 11:50 AM – 12:20 PM (GMT)

Emmanuel Clifford Gyetuah is the Growth Manager at Bolingo Consult. He leads Bolingo Consult’s growth strategies and drives the continuous improvement of the company’s end-to-end business practices. He’s also responsible for managing finances as well as client acquisition and retention.

The language services industry stands at a pivotal juncture. The winds of change, fueled by advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Translation (MT), are reshaping the landscape, generating a complex mix of optimism and apprehension. While the potential for growth in efficiency and volume is undeniable, concerns regarding the impact on livelihoods and the erosion of human expertise cast a shadow. This presentation delves into this dynamic, exploring the current structure of the language services industry, the critical roles of Language Service companies and language professionals, and the transformative power of collaboration in navigating this new era.

Speech Title: The Real AI: Using African Intelligence for Global Innovation

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 9:30AM – 10:00AM (GMT)

Explore how African Intelligence is redefining AI to drive innovation across key sectors like ICT, Healthcare and Commerce. Discuss the vital role of culturally sensitive AI systems, how Africa’s unique perspectives are shaping the future of technology on the continent, and the importance of leveraging AI to overcome challenges while preserving Africa’s rich cultural heritage.

About Johan:

For nearly two decades, Johan Botha has been at the forefront of transforming the landscape of language services and driving innovation in Africa. As the Director of Folio Online, a prominent language service provider in Cape Town, he has cultivated enduring partnerships with some of the world’s most prominent brands. With a deep understanding of the unique challenges faced by language service providers on the African continent and the global stage, he, together with the rest of the Folio team, is passionate about developing and deploying cutting-edge solutions that would work for Africa. As an active member and organizer within various industry associations and initiatives, of which the Association of Language Companies in Africa (ALCA) is the most recent, Johan is committed to contributing towards the global and local language service communities by sharing invaluable insights and promoting best practices.

Session Title: Life Sciences in African Languages: Creating Access to Healthcare

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 10:30 AM – 11:00 AM (GMT)

Kristine Peltz is a Sierra Leone Krio linguist offering translation, interpreting, localization, and terminology creation in Life Sciences.

Kristine has a degree in Education and localizes e-learning curriculum into Krio. She manages a team of five linguists and voice-overs in four languages of Sierra Leone. She is also one of the only Krio linguists who translates clinical trial and vaccine information into Sierra Leone Krio.

Key Takeaways: Creating Partnerships

• Why? Access to better healthcare, establish credibility, gain direct clients
• Who? Regulatory Bodies, CROs, Mental health institutions, CHOs, doctors
• Where? Locally and abroad
• How? Resources, languages without a writing system, training linguists
• What? GAVI, CDC, CEPI, CTC Africa

Session Title: Saving Lives with South African Sign Language: The Necessity of Sign Language Interpreting within the South African Public Healthcare Sector

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 12:20 PM – 12:50 PM (GMT)

Lize Spies is a Senior Project Manager at Folio Online. She obtained a BA in Humanities and a Postgraduate Diploma in Translation from Stellenbosch University. After graduation, she spent four years working in stakeholder communications, before joining Folio Online in 2019, where she

currently manages Folio InterTel, a well-known telephonic and on-site medical interpreting service. Besides InterTel, she also heads up Folio’s conference interpreting and voice-over portfolios. Lize is a passionate advocate of mother-tongue accessibility, and her years of collaboration with the Deaf community have given her insight into where the needs lie and where publicly available interpreting services fall short. Facilitating linguistic access is her ultimate goal, and her involvement in the language services industry paves the way to achieving it.

South Africa’s Deaf and hard-of-hearing community is deeply rooted within the nation’s linguistic landscape. This large population primarily represents Deaf people and people with hearing loss, but it also includes their families, South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters, and other individuals who identify with Deaf culture by virtue of social beliefs, behaviours and values. However, despite the size of this community, it remains underrepresented in South African society, and the medical field in particular. SASL became South Africa’s 12th official language in 2023, meaning that it is now more pertinent than ever to recognise the needs of the Deaf community in healthcare settings, as well as the subsequent need for SASL interpreters to facilitate communication in this environment. This will grant the Deaf community a crucial right that is currently overlooked by the broader society– linguistic access in the South African public healthcare sector. This presentation explores the vital importance of SASL interpreting in the medical field. It addresses the significant barriers faced by the Deaf community in accessing healthcare services and how SASL interpreters can bridge this gap. The presentation establishes the positive impact of interpreting services on patient care and outcomes through case studies and practical examples. It also emphasizes the urgent need to increase the number of trained SASL interpreters who would work towards providing equitable and effective healthcare for all South Africans.

Key takeaways:

1. Understanding the challenges faced by South Africa’s Deaf community in accessing medical services in the public healthcare sector.
2. Realizing the critical role of South African Sign Language (SASL) interpreters in facilitating communication in healthcare settings.
3. Showcasing real-life examples where SASL interpreting has significantly improved patient experiences and outcomes.
4. Recognising the need for more trained SASL interpreters in the medical field to ensure equitable healthcare access.

Session Title: Africa and Latin America, Friends or Foes?

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 2:20 PM – 2:50 PM (GMT)

Lucrecia Jarab is the Director of Business Development at tbo group. A PMI Certified, GALA Member Programs Committee Volunteer, Women in Localization Volunteer, Nimdzi Localization Influencer, and Chef, she loves cultures, languages, meeting people, organizing things and helping her clients find solutions and achieve their best results. Lucrecia has been working in the Translation and Localization Industry for 13 years and she has been blessed in life getting to travel and live to many places and experience different cultures. She also had the opportunity to play a key role in establishing offices in Europe and Asia for tbo. On top of all of this, she has what feels is the most important job of all, which is to be a proud mom to 1 year old twin boys.

The landscape of Language Service Providers in Africa and Latin America presents more opportunities for collaboration than competition. Both regions can benefit from shared knowledge, resources, and strategic partnerships, turning potential rivalry into a powerful alliance for growth and development in the global language services market.

Key takeaways:

• This presentation will be an opportunity to reflect on the relations between Latin America and Africa outside but mostly within the LSP landscape, our differences and similarities, the importance of adapting to Dynamic Markets, New Frontiers for Market Expansion beyond Africa, and possible Strategic Opportunities.

Session Title: The Impact of Interpreter Rates of Large Organizations on Interpreter Pricing

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM (GMT)

Oumi Kulthum El-Kindiy Ferguson is the strategic director as Thought In Motion (Pty) Ltd, a company she runs with her partner and husband Mr. Fitzgerald Ron Ferguson. Thought In Motion (Pty) Ltd is a micro event company providing sage advice, research, and language services (LSP). By adopting years of experience in research, business development and event management, Oumi can adopt benchmarks when sourcing and supplying interpreters for events. She can meet specific skills requirements by understanding the fundamental structure and notion of language services despite not being an interpreter herself. Her interest in the LSP space was born in 2017, when after 10 years of event planning, she found her niche in using her networking skills to navigate new territories, meet new people while building a database of contacts to use for language and research projects. Oumi will use her combined research and LSP skills to present her view on the impact large organizations have on the interpreter rates.

This presentation follows the typical skills development journey of an interpreter in Africa, accounting for the skills and accreditation requirements posed by major employers of freelance interpreters. The talk outlines how most interpreters exceed these expectations. Employers include major international organizations. The presentation outlines how interpreters amass skills over years only to discover that the journey is not what it promises to be. We discuss the rates awarded to freelancers specifically in the SADC and East African regions, and review pay policies experienced within the region. We discuss the lifetime value of these large organizations as clients and their general contribution to skills development and career actualization. We review the profitability of the language expert business in the context of the SADC and AU while asking key questions about how to make the business robust and viable.

Key takeaways:

1. Understanding the skills development journey 
2. Realizing the net worth of the experience interpreters amass over time 
3. Discussing possible solutions and approach to address shortfalls in rates and policies that are identified in the presentation 

Session Title: Quality Assurance Strategies for Client Satisfaction in Language Service Companies in Africa

Qhawekazi Phelakho

Date: August 29, 2024

Time: 10:40 AM – 11:20 AM (GMT)

Qhawekazi is a distinguished isiZulu language expert committed to the preservation and promotion of African languages. She is currently completing her Master’s degree in Translation Studies at the University of the Witwatersrand, where she has been honored as a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society. Qhawekazi holds a Bachelor’s degree in African Languages and Media Studies, a BA Honors in Translation Studies, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Education. Her extensive academic background and practical expertise establish her as a specialist in translation. Her dedication to linguistic excellence and education fuels her research and professional work, aiming to elevate the use and appreciation of isiZulu across various fields.

Siyanda Siwela

Seasoned language practitioner with a BA degree in Language Practice and over eight years of experience in project management for translation agencies. Handles large-scale translation projects and coordinates with a diverse team of translators. Siyanda is highly proficient in using CAT tools and automated QA systems, ensuring high-quality translations across various industries. Dedicated to improving quality of translations and being a helping hand to translators in using tools and making use of all the features they provide to enhance quality.

The panel discussion will provide an in-depth examination of multi-tiered QA processes essential for delivering accurate and consistent translations. While traditional methods such as backward and forward translation will be briefly mentioned, the focus will go beyond these to explore other crucial processes often overlooked in conferences, such as migration and screenshot review. These aspects are also vital for maintaining translation quality but are frequently underrepresented in standard discussions. Real-life project examples will be used to illustrate the significance of these processes, offering practical insights into how migration and screenshot review can impact translation outcomes. The discussion will also highlight the role of Computer-Assisted Translation (CAT) tools and automated QA systems in enhancing efficiency and accuracy.

Additionally, continuous training for translators, particularly in industry-specific terminology, will be emphasized as essential for maintaining high standards

Furthermore, the importance of transparent client communication and cultural competence will be explored, emphasizing how these elements contribute to meeting specific client needs and delivering culturally relevant translations. The panel will also address the challenges translators face in communication, especially when alerting clients to glaring errors in legacy files. Strategies for effectively managing these issues and ensuring that client needs are met will be discussed.

Key takeaways:

1. Effective QA Processes
2. Utilization of CAT Tools
3. Ongoing Translator Training
4. Client Communication
5. Cultural Competence

Session Title: The Evolution of Translation: Challenges and Opportunities for LSPs.

Date: August 29, 2024

Time: 4:45PM – 5:15PM (GMT)

Renato Beninatto is a recognized expert in the language services and localization industry. He is the co-founder of Nimdzi Insights, a leading research and consulting firm. Renato began his career as a financial and literary translator before becoming the owner of a translation company. He then held leadership positions in major companies in the sector. He has served as vice president of ABRATES, the Brazilian Association of Translators, and president of ELIA, the European Language Industry Association. An international speaker and respected author, he has published several books on globalization and language technology, including “The General Theory of the Translation Company.” Renato is passionate about innovation and helps companies navigate the complex landscape of translation and localization.

Explore how the translation industry is evolving in the face of automation and new technologies. Learn how LSPs are transforming these innovations into opportunities and the role of associations in driving change. We’ll also discuss demographic challenges and strategies to strengthen language service companies with fewer new recruits entering the field.

Session Title: Media Localization in Africa: Opportunities, Threats and Workarounds

Date: August 29, 2024

Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM (GMT)

Ricky Kalu, Managing Director at Kalu Media, brings over 15 years of experience in media and localization. He is deeply passionate about promoting African languages with excellence across various multimedia platforms. His vision is to make professional localization services accessible for both major and minor African dialects, ensuring pure translations and high-quality media representation.

Ricky’s expertise extends into the advertising and film industries, where he continues to work as a linguistic creative. He also manages two sister brands: Kalu Audio, an award-winning audio company (formerly Freq’ncy Audio), and Voiceover Africa, a Pan-African voice bank and audio production platform.

In addition to his professional endeavors, Ricky has been an active member of the advisory board at EduInLoc for the past two years. His insights into localization within an African context have made him a sought-after speaker at global industry platforms.

Ricky resides in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Many LSPs wish they could transition into or incorporate media localization as a discipline within their organization. The idea of additional revenue is enough to attract attention to this option for many leaders. How do you navigate this in an African setting? The chance to interact with creative work can spark interest in many within the language industry. In this session we discuss all things media localization. Within a workshop framework there will be some prepared content to lay a solid foundation on media localization as a practice and also create sufficient space for participants to bring their own question. The session is primarily geared to those who want to incorporate ML into their set-ups, or recently started and want to improve on certain segments of ML.

Prepared Topics:

1. Localization Function in Media Localization- Transcreation, Adaptation and QC
2. Talent Management in Media Localization Context.
3. Audio Solutions for Media localization.

Key takeaways:

1. To gain basic understanding of the various segments or categories that exist within media localization.
   1. Workshop the potential barriers to entry and how to creatively navigate them.
   2. To discuss key considerations if one is thinking of transitioning into a multi-disciplinary LSP.
   3. Discuss collaboration points that could fast track the development of media localization as a discipline within Africa.
   4. Discuss the impact of generative AI in the Media localization spaces in Africa.

Session Title: Translation and localization tools for the new AI Era

Date: August 29, 2024

Time: 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM (GMT)

Serge Gladkoff graduated with Honors from an Ivy League college, majoring in nuclear science. With over 28 years in the localization industry, he has served as a localization manager and co-founded Logrus Global, a language service and technology firm. Serge leads the company’s AI Lab which released hLEPOR automatic metrics on www.pypi.org, the Paralela AI-based aligner product, and secured a second-place in the Biomedical WMT 2022 ClinSpEn MT training challenge. Serge has also co-authored multiple research papers on LQA/TQE and AI/ML/MT. Serge is the member of ASTM MQM 2.0 research group, has served three times on the GALA Board, and is the US ANSI expert for ISO. Serge is a member of MQM Council, an industry-wide advisory expert group, which recently has published a milestone paper “The Multi-Range Theory of Translation Quality Measurement: MQM scoring models and Statistical Quality Control” (https://arxiv.org/abs/2405.16969).

With the advent of AI, how will the translation market and translation tools change? We will start this session by discussing several important facts and the newest trends, and we will draw a landscape of the current and future state of the industry. One key difference is that the need to measure translation quality is more acute than ever. As a result of our work over the past 18 months, new MQM scoring models have been published. We will explain why and how this is important, especially in the context of the new AI/GenAI world.

We will demonstrate the Perfectionist tool as a fully automated instrument to measure translation quality, and explain several use cases, with a focus on one specific example.

This session will also highlight some key advantages of GenAI over the previous generation of MT technology and demonstrate a sample implementation of GenAI in our Catmint CAT tool. We will focus on the translation market and community in Africa, addressing its key features and how our tools cater to this unique market.

Key Takeaways:

Attendees will learn the following main points from this session:

o   Impact of AI on the Translation Market: Understanding how AI and GenAI are transforming the translation industry, including the newest trends and developments.

o   Importance of Measuring Translation Quality: Insights into why measuring translation quality is now more crucial than ever and how this impacts the industry.

o   Introduction to New MQM Scoring Models: An overview of the new MQM scoring models developed over the past 18 months and their significance in the AI/GenAI landscape.

o   Demonstration of the Perfectionist Tool: A live demonstration of the Perfectionist tool, showcasing its capabilities as a fully automated instrument for measuring translation quality, along with specific use cases.

o   Advantages of GenAI in Translation Technology: A detailed comparison of GenAI and previous MT technology generations, highlighting the key benefits and improvements.

o   Implementation of GenAI in Catmint CAT Tool: A practical example of GenAI implementation within the Catmint CAT tool, demonstrating its functionality and advantages.

o   Focus on the African Translation Market: Special attention to the unique features of the translation market and community in Africa, and how the presented tools address these specific needs.

Session Title: The Intelligence Revolution: Catalyzing Africa’s Next Business Boom

Date: August 29, 2024

Time: 10:00 AM – 10:30 AM (GMT)

Stefan Huyghe is Vice President of Localization at Communicaid Language Solutions and has over 20 years of experience in the language industry. He is the creator of the AI-in-Loc newsletter which has over 5000 subscribers and tracks Artificial Intelligence developments at the intersection of language and technology. His articles and blog posts are regularly featured in localization industry publications and MultiLingual Magazine elected him to the top 34 most influential localization figures worldwide. He speaks fluent Dutch, French, German, and English. A true polyglot, he lived in Switzerland, Greece, Spain, and the French West Indies before settling in the United States. A social media evangelist and modern marketing strategist, he also runs the popular LocDiscussion podcast series.

AI is revolutionizing the language industry and holds exceptional promise for Africa. This presentation explores how AI can reshape the African language services landscape, offering strategic insights into integration, training, and collaboration to meet the continent’s multilingual needs.

We begin with an overview of Africa’s language services industry, highlighting challenges like rising multilingual content demand and the need for high-quality translation services amidst vast linguistic diversity. The transformative potential of AI is underscored, illustrating its capacity to address these challenges.

• Key strategies for integrating AI into language service workflows

• How we can future proof Localization in Africa

• A collaborative ecosystem to harness AI’s full potential

The presentation concludes with a call to action, urging industry leaders to embrace the intelligence revolution. By adopting AI, training local talent, and fostering collaboration, Africa’s language services industry can lead in linguistic innovation and cultural preservation. AI is not just a tool but a catalyst for growth, innovation, and the preservation of Africa’s rich linguistic heritage. Let’s embrace Africa’s next business boom together.

Session Title: Accelerating Implications for Digitizing Indigenous Languages

Date: August 28, 2024

Time: 3:50 PM – 4:20 PM (GMT)

Tex Texin, in a 3 decade career, has helped numerous companies create global products and expand their business to new regional markets.

Tex has contributed to several internationalization standards and open source software and has been an advisor to several globalization non-profits.

He is an advisor to Translation Commons where he is architecting their Language Digitization Initiative, bringing the languages of Indigenous communities to digital systems. Most recently, Tex has been developing keyboards and related standards for Indigenous languages.

Tex is a popular speaker at conferences around the world and is the owner/author of the popular, instructional website I18nGuy.com.

This presentation will focus on creating awareness of the need for language digitization and why accelerating implementations has now become vital to Indigenous communities. UNESCO is highlighting this need during the International Decade of Indigenous Languages which begins in 2022.

Translation Commons first created the Language Digitization Initiative for communities who want the above benefits of language digitization. It defines a process to move a language through the steps of digitization. Important initial steps are Unicode standardization, creating keyboard systems, defining fonts, and making these available and usable for community members. Now in partnership with UNESCO’s International Year and Decade of Indigenous Languages, Translation Commons is preparing the Language Technology Framework to be implemented in the upcoming Decade.

Key Take-aways: 

1. Many people read and write only in languages that have no digital support. With limited access to information critical to modern living, they cannot participate in e-commerce, e-mail, searching the Web for information on healthcare, how-to articles, etc. They miss critical  information from their government and timely instructions when a disaster strikes. They cannot contribute to the Web, social or print media in the many ways routinely available to the speakers of supported languages to add knowledge or point of view to society in general, to government representatives, etc.
2. The session will also highlight several case studies of this process for indigenous communities, including the obstacles and challenges as well as positive steps toward digital language capability. Examples range from individuals such as Bivuti Chakma digitizing single-handedly the Chakma language, all the way to entire communities uniting together to bring their language online such as the Sunuwar community in Nepal and Sikkim. Specifically we will examine the Sunuwar language community attempting their first steps in creating a Unicode Proposal for their script encoding, and we will identify the struggles and challenges faced by indigenous peoples wanting to use their language digitally.