Project Overview

Square Services provided Nepali simultaneous interpretation for STRIDE’s International Virtual Symposium, “Advancing Health Equity Through Structural Transformation: Global Lessons in Anti-Racist and Anti-Discriminatory Action.”

Hosted by McGill University and Georgetown University Center for Global Health Policy & Politics, the symposium brought together researchers and local partners from Bolivia, Brazil, Kenya and Nepal to discuss health equity, structural discrimination and approaches to social transformation.

The Nepali component was supported through the Dalit Lives Matter Global Alliance, STRIDE’s local research partner in Nepal.

Our Role

Square Services provided real-time Nepali simultaneous interpretation during the symposium’s breakout sessions, enabling Nepali-speaking participants and international delegates to participate in discussions without language barriers.

The wider symposium included Portuguese, Spanish, English and Nepali, with Square Services responsible for facilitating communication for Nepali-speaking participants.

In addition to interpretation, our interpreters prepared written summaries of contributions made by Nepali speakers, helping the wider research team document key perspectives emerging from the Nepali-language discussions.

Interpreting Sensitive Issues

The sessions addressed complex and sensitive issues involving caste-based discrimination, climate vulnerability, public health and access to essential services.

Discussions in the Nepali context examined how climate-related disasters can intensify existing social inequalities. In parts of the Madhesh, for example, vulnerable Dalit communities may live in areas particularly exposed to flooding. During climate-induced disasters, existing discrimination and social exclusion can create additional barriers to accessing shelter and assistance.

Interpreters therefore needed to communicate not only public-health and climate terminology, but also the social, cultural and contextual meaning behind discussions of discrimination and vulnerability.

The Challenge

The multilingual and virtual nature of the symposium required interpretation that was:

• Accurate, particularly when discussing sensitive research and public-health issues

• Context-aware, reflecting Nepal’s social and cultural realities

• Real-time, allowing participants to engage naturally across languages

• Technically reliable, supporting simultaneous interpretation within a virtual event environment

Outcome

Through simultaneous interpretation and written summaries of Nepali speakers’ contributions, Square Services helped facilitate inclusive international dialogue on health equity, discrimination and climate-related vulnerability.

The assignment demonstrated our ability to provide Nepali interpretation for international virtual conferences, research programmes and development initiatives, particularly where climate change, public health and social justice intersect.