Become an Interpreter

Your language is rare. We treat it that way.

If you speak Bambara, Pulaar/Fula, Wolof, Soninke, French, or another African language fluently, hospitals, courts, and schools need you — and skills this specialized deserve to be treated that way, not slotted into a common-language rate.

No experience? We train you 100% remote — work from home Paid per assignment
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Why Interpret With Chiwara

Meaningful work, on your terms

100% remote

Every assignment is by phone or video — work from wherever you have a quiet space and a reliable connection.

Flexible scheduling

Set your own availability and take assignments that fit around your life, not the other way around.

Work that matters

Help patients understand a diagnosis, help a parent follow an IEP meeting, help a client be heard in court.

Languages in demand

Bambara, Pulaar/Fula, Wolof, Soninke, and other African languages are hard for agencies to staff — you’re needed.

Requirements

What it takes to join the roster

We hold every interpreter to a professional standard — because the organizations and families you’ll work with are counting on it.

  • Fluent in English and at least one African language we recruit for
  • Comfortable interpreting in medical, legal, or educational settings
  • Professional conduct and strict confidentiality on every call
  • A reliable phone or internet connection for remote sessions
  • Willingness to complete our language and readiness screening

From application to your first assignment

1

Apply

Tell us about your languages, experience, and availability.

2

Screening

A short language and readiness assessment with our team.

3

Paperwork

A confidentiality agreement and standard background check — standard for medical or legal interpreting.

4

Training, if you need it

New to interpreting? We’ll walk you through training options and costs upfront — no surprises.

5

Start interpreting

Begin accepting remote assignments that match your availability.

Application

Apply to join the interpreter roster

Four short steps. This is a first step, not a commitment — we review every application personally and follow up to talk through the work. New to interpreting? Apply anyway — we provide training.

We never charge interpreters a fee Your information stays confidential We respond personally
01

About you

02

Your languages

This is what matters most. Be specific about dialects and regional varieties.

Which language(s) do you interpret?

Select all that apply.

Other African languages you interpret

Not seeing your language above? Open a region and tap every language that applies.

West Africa & the Sahel
Horn of Africa & East Africa
Central Africa & Great Lakes
Southern Africa
North Africa
03

Experience & training

No formal experience yet? Still apply — we train the right people.

Settings you’ve interpreted in
Certifications you hold

Optional, but it helps us place you faster. PDF or Word preferred.

04

Availability & next steps

How can you interpret?
When are you usually available?
Before high-stakes assignments, every interpreter completes these. Are you willing to:

To be clear

We never ask you to pay us for a job, never ask for your bank details or a government ID number at sign-up, and never ask you to buy equipment. If anyone claiming to be from Chiwara does, it isn’t us — please let us know right away.

Common questions from interpreters

Formal certification isn’t required to apply, though it’s a plus if you have it. Every applicant goes through our language and readiness screening, which is how we evaluate fit regardless of certification status.

Yes — select “None yet — willing to train” on the application. If your languages and English level are strong, we’ll walk you through training options and what they cost before you commit to anything.

Yes. Every Chiwara assignment happens by phone or video — there is no on-site or in-person interpreting. You’ll need a quiet, private space and a dependable phone or internet connection.

Pay varies by language, modality, and assignment type. We’ll walk through specific rates during your screening conversation so you have clear numbers before you commit to anything.

A smartphone or computer, a reliable internet or phone connection, and a quiet, private space where you can speak freely and confidentially. We’ll cover any platform-specific details during onboarding.

We’re recruiting as broadly as possible across African languages — not just the ones listed on this site. If you speak a language you don’t see mentioned here, apply anyway — we’re always expanding the roster.

We review every application personally, then follow up to schedule a screening conversation. Timing can vary with volume, but we aim to keep the process straightforward and responsive.