News

On 18th September, the EU-WEBSPI team recently gathered in person once again, reaffirming our commitment to improving access to essential services through quality interpreting solutions. Hosted by our partner METAdrasi in Athens, this meeting offered an insightful look into the local context, deepening our understanding of the challenges and progress in the region.

The event kicked off with our annual in-person General Assembly, where we reviewed the project’s achievements and discussed future priorities. The opportunity to meet face-to-face facilitated important, productive conversations on our continued advancement.

After the assembly, we had the privilege of virtually meeting Ms. Kakosimou, Director of Support at the Greek Asylum Service. She provided valuable insights into the operational framework of the Greek Asylum Service, offering us a clearer understanding of the current asylum processes.

We also had the opportunity to visit the Reception and Identification Centre (RIC) in Malakassa, where we were welcomed by the Commander, Mr. Christou. He guided us through the reception and registration process for refugees, sharing key insights into the day-to-day realities and challenges at the center.

This day of meaningful exchanges left our team energised and inspired, as we move forward with a renewed sense of purpose and determination to continue our work in improving access to essential services through effective interpreting solutions.

News

After a year of virtual meetings, the majority of the consortium partners got to see each other again live at the University of Ghent for the fourth edition of the InDialog Conference. On 19 September, the academic partners presented the ongoing research in the panel ‘Video-mediated PSI for and by migrants and refugees’, which was concluded with an interesting discussion together with our partners from the reception agencies and the PSI providers.

On 20 September, the second consortium meeting took place, taking advantage of the opportunity of having different colleagues present in the city of Ghent. In between the General Assembly and the Executive Committee, the partners visited the reception facility of Fedasil in the Ghent docks. Our Fedasil partner outlined how it operates in Belgium and a social worker commented on her collaboration with interpreters deployed in conversations with residents. The visit concluded with a presentation by an interpreter on site, talking about his experience and assignments at the different centres across Belgium, and with a tour of the Ghent reception centre.

The partners headed back home after a fruitful three days full of inspiring talks, encounters and visits, feeling entirely reinvigorated to take the next steps in the project.

News

23 September 2022

On 23 September 2022, the consortium gathered in Brussels to launch the EU-WEBPSI project. The project enables partners from different domains to join forces: university partners as well as reception agencies and organisations involved in interpreter training and certification, work together to reach the project’s objectives. A hybrid meeting was set up, allowing partners who were unable to come to Brussels to participate. 

The meeting kicked off with an ice-breaking activity and a presentation by the Ghent University project coordinators. The partners broadly discussed what the project entails, what they want to achieve and how they will do so. After the well-deserved coffee break, the participants got started with the work packages included in the project. They discussed the development and challenges of the tasks that lay ahead, as well as the responsibilities per partner. 

The second Consortium Meeting will be organised on site in Ghent in September 2023. This meeting will be combined with a field visit to a Fedasil reception centre.