As volunteers for the Open Language Initiative (OLI), you bridge communication gaps and foster cross-cultural understanding. By using your linguistic talents to write blog posts about UN International Days and Weeks concerning OLI’s mission, you can benefit yourself, OLI, and the global community.

OLI aims to make information accessible, envisioning a world where multilingualism benefits all. Our values — inclusivity, accessibility, diversity, collaboration, and respect — make engaging with UN International Days a natural extension of our work.

We invite OLI volunteers to lend their voices to diverse communities for these two main reasons..

Mission and Reach

UN International Days raise awareness and inspire action on issues like human rights, the environment, and development. By connecting these observances to OLI’s work in blog posts, you can:

• Highlight OLI’s impact, such as translating educational materials for International Mother Language Day.
• Attract new volunteers and partners by boosting our online presence.
• Increase OLI’s visibility and credibility by associating with global themes.
• Educate and inspire readers about the significance of these days and OLI’s role in addressing global challenges through language.

Language as a Bridge

Many UN Days relate to language and cultural understanding:

• International Mother Language Day: Discuss linguistic diversity and OLI’s support for vulnerable communities.
• International Translation Day: Celebrate translators and OLI’s volunteer community.
• Language Days (Chinese, French, English, etc.): Explore cultural richness and OLI’s support for multilingualism.
• Education and Literacy Days: Show how OLI empowers individuals with accessible knowledge.
• Even non-language days, like World Refugee Day, can highlight OLI’s translation services for refugees.

But there are also a number of benefits for you!

Personal and Professional Growth

Writing for the OLI blog helps you:

• Enhance writing and research skills.
• Deepen understanding of global issues.
• Build your portfolio with tangible examples.
• Connect with OLI’s audience and the broader public.

Collaboration and Fostering Community

Why not write jointly with another volunteer?

• Share diverse perspectives from volunteers worldwide.
• Spark internal discussions and deeper understanding.
• Encourage engagement within the OLI community.

How to Get Started

• Choose a UN observance from our spreadsheet or suggest your own. 
• Andrew will then get in touch with you.
• Brainstorm how OLI’s work connects to the day.
• Research the observance and OLI’s relevant projects.
• Draft your post, then submit for review and editing.

By leveraging your expertise, OLI volunteers can transform UN International Days into powerful stories, showing how language initiatives build a more inclusive and understanding world. Who’s in?

If you’re interested in blogging, you might want to read some guidelines from Andrew before you start!