📅 February 27, 2025 | Kyiv
How did the international JICA-UNDP training on asbestos safety help protect Ukrainians’ health? How did Status Ko ensure flawless simultaneous translation for effective global communication? Discover the full story on our blog!
On 27 February 2025, a certified training workshop, Workshop on Awareness, Identification and Safe Management of Asbestos—Protecting the Health of Ukrainians, was held at the Kyiv Regional State Administration. The event was organized in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA ) with the support of KODA. The one-day workshop lasted 8 hours and was held offline and online, bringing together participants from different regions of Ukraine.
Why does Ukraine need this training?
Asbestos is a hazardous material used in construction for decades, but now poses a serious health risk. The training has become especially relevant in the context of large-scale infrastructure destruction due to Russian aggression, where the restoration of buildings often faces the problem of asbestos-containing materials.
The aim of the training was to:
- Raising awareness of asbestos hazards among professionals;
- Learning to identify and safely remove asbestos-containing materials;
- Introduction to international recycling standards and legal regulations in Ukraine;
- Creating a framework for environmentally sound urban renewal.
Geography and participants
Representatives of JICA partner cities—Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Kherson, Sumy, and the Kyiv Regional State Administration—attended the event. The Ministry of Development, the Ministry of Health, and the Ministry of Environment were among the observers, underscoring the government's importance of this topic.
How did simultaneous interpretation help bring the experts together?
The seminar involved constant dialogue between Ukrainian experts and Japanese representatives of JICA. Status Ko Translation Center provided experienced simultaneous interpreters, Anastasia Rötig and Volodymyr Kaplun, to ensure effective interaction.
During the 8-hour training, they provided simultaneous interpretation from Ukrainian into English and vice versa, working with both live and online participants. This allowed everyone to communicate freely, discuss problems, and share experiences without language barriers.
Challenges faced by the interpreters
Working with the topic of environmental safety and asbestos requires in-depth knowledge of specialized technical terminology, quick adaptation to presentations and speeches, and the ability to maintain accuracy and neutrality even when discussing emotionally charged topics related to health and war.
Thanks to the experience and professionalism of Status Ko's interpreters, all aspects of the training were conveyed to the audience clearly, considering context and cultural differences.
Conclusions and significance of the event
This training was a platform for knowledge exchange and an example of successful international cooperation for the safety of Ukrainians. Simultaneous interpretation played a key role in creating a unified information space between the organizers, experts, and government agencies.
Status Ko Translation Centre is proud to be part of an initiative that helps Ukraine build an environmentally safe and healthy future. We continue to support international projects that contribute to our country's development, protection, and restoration.
If you organize international events where high-quality communication without language barriers is essential, don't hesitate to contact Status Ko. We will do our best to make your event sound in all languages.