Ocean Wise Case Study

Translation of Education Materials for a Nonprofit

About Ocean Wise

“Art One’s inclusive French-translations of Ocean Wise’s curriculum guides, lesson plans and program materials helped us deliver equal access to French-speaking youth across Canada — increasing participation and deepening our impact.”

Ocean Wise is a nonprofit organization based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. From their beginnings in 1951, they have evolved to become advocates for Earth’s oceans.

They work to connect government, private enterprises, researchers, and regular citizens to combat some of the biggest problems facing the oceans today, from climate change and overfishing to the plastic epidemic.

The scope of the organization’s work is immense. Some of their work is hands-on, like the 3000+ shoreline cleanups they help organize every year. Other projects are research-driven, such as the Kelp Lab, the WhaleReport app, and their work alongside indigenous communities in the Arctic.

Education and civic engagement are also central to their mission. To protect and nourish our oceans, Ocean Wise knows that it is critical to involve today’s youth. That is why they established three programs for Canadian youth funded by the Canada Service Corps (CSC).

Challenge

The organization runs three programs that are designed to engage Canadian youth ages 15-30 from coast to coast to coast.

Youth to Sea is a part-time program that guides 15- to 18-year-olds to develop and carry out an ocean-related service project over eight months. Ocean Pathways places youth ages 19-30 on fieldwork projects run by government or nonprofit organizations for three months. Over a 20-week period, Ocean Bridge offers the same age group the opportunity to design programs for their communities.

When the organization says, “coast to coast to coast,” they mean it—the programs are intended to draw from and serve every corner of Canada. That means making sure that French-speaking youth have equal opportunities to participate—and that projects take place in French-speaking Canada.

Because Ocean Wise operates in Quebec—for one, a chapter of the Youth to Sea program is based in Montreal—they needed an ongoing translation of their education materials to support their mission.

Solution

To be able to deliver French-language versions of their educational content, Ocean Wise sought out a partner providing translation services for nonprofits.

Patrick Lamontagne, the Director of Youth at Ocean Wise, ran an online search to find a language services provider who could handle the translation of education materials. He sought a highly rated translation services provider whose rates aligned with the organization’s budget.

After selecting Art One, they tasked the company with translating all the content for their youth programs from English to French. “The volume of content varies each month, depending on our development schedule,” explains Patrick.

In a given month, Art One might translate education materials such as curriculum guides, lesson plans, brochures, or detailed program guides from English into French. They also handle translation of newsletters, emails, and other communication related to the youth programs.

Results & Impact

“Art One Translations has been an invaluable partner in ensuring our programs are accessible to French-speaking youth, thereby expanding our reach and impact. Their professionalism and attention to detail have significantly contributed to the success of our initiatives,” says Patrick.

He adds that “there has been an increase in participation from French-speaking youth. Feedback from French-speaking participants has been overwhelmingly positive, with a high percentage expressing satisfaction with the clarity and quality of translated materials.”

When it comes to translation for nonprofit organizations, Art One not only delivers quality work but also does it swiftly, reports Patrick. “They are exceptionally reliable and even offer flexibility with our timelines. When we have urgent needs, they can fast-track translations to meet our deadlines without compromising quality. This adaptability has been crucial in keeping our programs running smoothly.”

The team at Ocean Wise also values Art One’s openness to feedback and quality control processes.

“They have set up quarterly meetings to touch base on processes and the quality of translations, which helps in maintaining a high standard of service and addressing any issues promptly. Additionally, they work closely with our team to ensure they use specific words and terminology identified by Ocean Wise during translation. This collaboration ensures that the translated content is not only accurate but also aligns with our brand and messaging guidelines,” explains Patrick.

Explore more of our translation case studies.

Related services:

Translation for Nonprofits

Relevant sectors:

Environmental Organizations · Public Education · Nonprofits

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