Thoughts and photos by Esther Hyejin Chung

Before pursuing design, I worked with NGOs delivering products and services to marginalized communities. More often than not, when delivering a service, problems would consistently emerge which uncovered gaps in services that were not properly addressed.

One setback that remains pervasive in the Bay Area is the inability of many in the Mam community to communicate with English and Spanish speakers. Mam is one of several Mayan languages spoken by half a million Guatemalans and some Mexicans in Chiapas. In Oakland and Washington D.C, there are huge Mam refugee diasporas. According to The New Yorker, 40% of children and teens arriving at the Bay Area are Mam. Oftentimes these children are the ones responsible for aiding with communication. If families are lucky, one of the two school district-appointed translators may help. The inability to communicate effectively severely limits access to services and disproportionately alienates an entire community based on language. We often take communication for granted until it is stripped from us.

Long before I knew about product design, I wished there was an app that made it easier for the Mam community to communicate with English and Spanish speakers. A challenge is Mam is not a written language and monolingual Mam speakers are usually illiterate. A great product many times focuses on solving a single problem. There are many translating products in the market, Google Translate is the most notable one, but none that focus on Mam: potentially a half a million untapped user market nor one that focuses on users who cannot read or write, a 773 million user market. The U.S Department of Justice released that Mam is the 9th most common language used in immigration courts. Two other Guatemalan Mayan languages, K'iche' and Q'anjob'al, are also in the top 25. The lack of interpreters for Mayan languages many times results in delayed immigration hearings and even deportations.

Every interaction should be dignified, yet for many in the Mam community, communication with non-Mam speakers often results in a feeling of shame and less than. Oftentimes in immigrant families, children accompany caretakers to translate verbal and written information. A child should not have the pressure of translating medical diagnoses, asylum documents, or filling out financial forms. If an app can translate instead, adults will have more autonomy and control over their lives and kids can be...kids. Language is one of many barriers that refugees face, so if that burden can be alleviated, that is one step closer towards a semblance of normal life.

It is important to research if there are people already investing in that issue because it is an indicator that the problem is worth addressing. School districts have recognized that the inability of school staff to reach the Mam community is negatively impacting the education of Mam students. Oakland Unified School District has invested in hiring translators to support in parent meetings but it is not enough. There are simply not enough translators for every Mam person but most Mam people have a smartphone. By using a tool that most people already possess, it can be used to empower. Every human interaction is improved when people are heard, but more importantly, understood.

I want to be of more service by being a designer that centers human equity in my work. What brought me here is a need I saw in my community, both while working as a Medical Interpreter for indigenous Mayan communities in rural Guatemala, as well as my time as a Family Resource Manager in the vibrant Fruitvale neighborhood of Oakland. I am eager to collaborate and learn ways to help address language barriers. I believe the most impactful technology, not only solves problems-it restores dignity.