Reflections on 30 years of The Language Factory

We’re coming to the end of 2022 and enjoying the final celebrations for the 30^th anniversary of The Language Factory. The past 30 years have taken us from modest beginnings to become an expert translation agency providing a high-quality service to a range of business sectors, from market research to marketing, HR to healthcare and travel.

The Language Factory has always tried to move with the times, using new technological advances to support our specialist mother-tongue translators. But we have also valued consistency and hard work and pride ourselves on having experienced staff members, some of whom have been with us for 20 or more years.

As The Language Factory has grown in the past 30 years we have tried to make sure we give something back.  That’s why at this important anniversary we’re reflecting on the value of giving back.

 

Empowering women

The Language Factory has always championed women in business, supporting international development projects which focus on women’s empowerment for over a decade. Our current focus is on supporting the valuable work of the Microloan Foundation. The MicroLoan Foundation helps the poorest women in sub-Saharan Africa, by providing the tools and skills they need to work their way out of poverty. They provide funding (microloans), mentoring and support to women who would otherwise have no access to financial services. In recognition of our 30-year anniversary and the 20 years of impact of the Microloan Foundation, The Language Factory has pledged to match every donation from their Christmas appeal up to £50,000.

 

This one story shows the difference donations can make to a single family.

Jennifa lives in a small village on the outskirts of Lilongwe, Malawi. She recently divorced her husband and is a single mother with two children and two orphans in her care.

She had been running a hair salon for two years, but every week she struggled to make ends meet. When Jennifa became a single mother in 2021, she started a second business, selling tomatoes, to supplement her income. Still, she did not make enough money to keep her children in school. School fees, books and uniforms were too expensive. She couldn’t afford clothes for her children. The family often had to miss meals and faced periods of hunger. Life was hard for them.

Although on her first loan cycle, Jennifa has already noticed a huge change in her daily life. She invested her loan (worth £100) in hair products and equipment for her salon, which has resulted in more customers.

Jennifa’s parents were farmers and could not afford to pay for her school fees. By the age of 16, she had only reached a basic level of primary education. Business and financial literacy training with MicroLoan Foundation has enabled Jennifa to upskill and grow her income. She has learnt the importance of reinvesting profits, market research and making savings for future hardship.

With her increased income, Jennifa spends her profits on providing everything her children need at home, clothes for her children and groceries so the family can eat a healthy diet. She can afford cooking oil and daily necessities like soap.

“I am living a good life now” she said.

Help make a difference

The Language Factory will continue to support the valuable work of The Microloan Foundation and empower women across the world to take control of their lives and support their families.

To find out how you can help, click here to make a donation.