“When my mother finally had a voice, our lives changed.”
That one sentence captures the heart of Roza’s journey, a journey shaped by displacement, resilience, and ultimately, the transformative power of language.Born in Ethiopia to Eritrean parents and now living in Nairobi, Roza is a multilingual refugee who speaks Tigrinya, Amharic, English, and Swahili. She is a principled, curious, and driven young woman, someone who once relied on a translator to survive, and who now offers the same support to others.This is her story. And it’s also the story of why language access is not a privilege, but a right.
Before she became an interpreter, Roza was a writer. A skilled one. She worked on Upwork as a freelance article writer, producing media content and client pieces. But her life shifted when she discovered Tarjimly. Roza didn’t come to Tarjimly just to volunteer. She came with lived experience and a deep desire to give back.Years earlier, when her family was stuck in Kakuma refugee camp in northern Kenya, her mother faced a crucial moment. She had one final chance to speak to the UNHCR in hopes of relocating to Nairobi — but she didn’t have the words.The difference came when someone provided an interpreter who spoke both English and Tigrinya.
“My mom finally spoke her truth,” Roza remembers.
“She talked about the unbearable heat, the hunger, the hopelessness. The interpreter stayed with her for seven hours. And because of that, we were taken to Nairobi.”
That moment shaped Roza’s life and planted the seed for what she would become.
Language barriers aren’t just an inconvenience. For refugees, they are a matter of life and death.
“Language can save a dying patient,” Roza says plainly.
When someone can’t express their pain, ask for help, or explain their rights — they risk being unseen, misunderstood, or even denied care. Refugees who can’t speak the dominant language often:
That’s why language justice matters. It’s not just about translation. It’s about restoring power. It’s about dignity.And that’s what Roza offers when she interprets.
For Roza, language isn’t just a tool — it’s a way to preserve someone’s sense of self.
“When I help someone express their needs,” she says,
“I’m preserving their time, their dignity, and their effort. I know how it feels to be desperate in public, unable to speak, unable to ask for what you need.”
She recalls moments when she’s walked into Kenyan public offices and spotted Eritreans or Ethiopians struggling to explain themselves. Without hesitation, she steps in to help — not as an official, but as a fellow human being.And that’s what she believes is the true superpower of community.When refugees support each other — when multilingual volunteers offer their voices — it creates a ripple effect. It fosters empathy, respect, belonging, and hope. It says: You are not alone. Your voice matters. I hear you.
Roza’s experience with Tarjimly has been more than a volunteer opportunity. It’s been a path to growth — both personal and professional.Through the platform, she has worked with clients from around the world, learning how different systems operate, interpreting in new settings, and building confidence in her own ability to serve and succeed.
“Tarjimly gave me a place to grow my skills,” she says.
“I love it here.”
Tarjimly’s model is simple: a refugee or aid worker in need of language support opens the app and connects with a translator or interpreter in minutes. This on-demand, remote model bridges a critical gap in the humanitarian field — especially in underserved or emergency contexts.By making language access immediate, human, and free, Tarjimly is proving that technology can serve humanity — and that refugees, immigrants, and bilinguals can be leaders in the process.
Roza isn’t stopping anytime soon. Her next goal is to master simultaneous interpretation and work at international conferences. She wants to interpret at high-level events, helping shape global conversations — and she wants her voice, and her story, to carry weight in those rooms.Her journey reminds us that language is power — and when we invest in that power, we don’t just help individuals; we uplift entire communities.
“I really implore people who are multilingual to give back. Help someone express themselves. Help them be heard. An interpreter can change someone’s life. It happened to me. And now, I do it for others.”
