Welcome to OLI's Blog
At OLI, we believe in the power of sharing stories to connect and inspire. On our blog, you’ll find a collection of blog posts, press releases, and success stories that highlight our mission, impact, and the voices of those we serve.
How to Stay Sane (and Informed!) with Emails from OLI and Elevate
We get it — your inbox is full. Between client emails, newsletters, and all the “urgent” pings of digital life, it can feel like just one more message might tip you over the edge. At OLI, we do our best to keep communication purposeful and respectful. We never want to...
Celebrating World Kiswahili Language Day
According to the United Nations, ‘World Kiswahili Language Day, celebrated on 7 July each year, honours Kiswahili as one of the most widely spoken languages in Africa and the world, with over 200 million speakers.’ So, this week I asked Godline Gabriel to share his...
6 Proven Ways to Write Captivating Blogs for UN International Days (and What Not to Do)
As Yuna pointed out, blogging about UN International Days and Weeks for OLI is a unique opportunity to inform, inspire, and foster global understanding. To make your posts both impactful and engaging, here’s a practical guide to getting started — and common pitfalls...
Making Your Words Matter
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,...
World Refugee Day
Imagine. Your home country has become inhospitable. Maybe because of climate change, war, or economic or political turmoil. You know that for your family to survive, you have to... leave. So you sell everything you own: your house, your business, your valuables… And...
Why Languages – Including the Lesser-Spoken – Matter to Me
If I am so passionate about languages today, it’s because they have been a part of my life forever. My childhood was steeped in the changing melodies of very different languages. I spoke English with my Welsh mother and Breton with my father, and my sisters sometimes...
Elevate’s First Week – A Strong Start!
We’re one week into the official launch of the OLI Elevate training programme, and it’s been a good one! Our first Training Snacks, Translators’ Toolkit courses, and the lively conversations already happening in the Linguists’ Lounge discussion spaces have shown us...
Introducing Elevate: Training with Purpose and Heart
If you’re a volunteer language professional at OLI and looking to grow, learn, and connect, we have some exciting news for you! Today, we are introducing Elevate – OLI’s training and development platform for our community. Elevate is designed specifically...
OLI and WikiMed Marked World Mental Health Month with a Translation Drive
In honour of World Mental Health Awareness Month, the Open Language Initiative (OLI) led a translation drive focused on mental health. This campaign aimed to bring accurate, accessible information on mental health conditions to underrepresented communities around the world.