UniSONous

In 2021, Le Monde des Possibles and Maison Arc-en-Ciel in Liège launched the UniSONous project to support LGBTQIA+ newcomers and raise awareness among professionals about their specific needs. This project, supported by the Wallonia-Brussels Federation, aims to build bridges between the issues of migration and gender identity or sexual orientation, which are still too rarely explored together.

The first edition of UniSONous trained social interpreters to support LGBTQIA+ migrants, while creating multilingual information materials for newcomers. These materials include recordings on rights, existing support services, and administrative procedures, as well as awareness-raising posters aimed at reducing discrimination in centers for international protection seekers (DPI). Specific training for LGBTQIA+ DPI was also organized to provide them with a safe space to learn and share their experiences.

In its second edition, UniSONous 2 continues this commitment by broadening its scope and strengthening the sustainability of the tools created. In collaboration with the Liège association network, this project aims to better respond to the challenges faced by LGBTQIA+ migrants in Belgium. It incorporates participatory research on the needs of those concerned, enabling better targeting of future actions and ensuring sustainable and respectful inclusion.

UniSONous is based on a participatory approach, directly involving LGBTQIA+ migrants in the design of tools and activities. By valuing their testimonies and integrating their perspectives, this project contributes to a better understanding of the issues these individuals face, while raising awareness among institutions and professionals.

The project UniSONous is structured around several clear objectives and complementary activities to support LGBTQIA+ migrants and raise awareness among relevant stakeholders:

Training interpreters in social settings:
- Organize specific sessions to prepare them to support LGBTQIA+ migrants, with a focus on terminology, lived experiences, and available resources.
Create multilingual information materials:
- Produce records on existing rights and supports for LGBTQIA+ newcomers.
- Distribute these tools via diasporas, community networks, and language networks.
Organize group workshops:
- Provide safe spaces where LGBTQIA+ newcomers can learn about their rights, share their experiences, and develop strategies to defend their rights.
Raise awareness and equip professionals:
- Produce a booklet summarizing the needs and testimonials of LGBTQIA+ migrants to guide the practices of institutions and associations.
- Display awareness posters created by and for LGBTQIA+ people in reception centers and other relevant facilities.
Strengthen local collaborations:
- Work with the Liège network to integrate the tools created into local practices and ensure their sustainability.

By combining awareness-raising, support, and co-construction, UniSONous aims to bring about lasting change in practices to promote the inclusion of LGBTQIA+ migrants, while enhancing the visibility and dignity of these individuals.

Le livret UniSONous

The recordings UniSONous :

The workshop UniSONous :

Awareness posters UniSONous :

UniSONnous book Light

UniSONous guide 2023 web

January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2023

Potierue 10, 4000 Liège

Céline Reding - unisonous@possibles.org

The introductory training course in social interpreting offered by Univerbal and organized by Le Monde des Possibles enabled me to become a professional in this field. It allowed me to acquire the necessary skills, whether in terms of professional practice, techniques to use, or appropriate terminology. In addition, the topics covered throughout the training were very enriching and essential for working as an interpreter, such as immigration law, asylum procedures, LGBTQIA+ rights, the medical and social fields, mental health, and more. Above all, the entire training was an exceptional experience thanks to our wonderful group! I encourage all multilingual people to try this experience and work in this field, because the main goal of this training and joining the Univerbal service is to help non-native speakers better navigate this foreign country and perhaps give them hope that a better life is possible here.

S. 2023

I covered all the objectives and managed to capture their attention and help them understand the terminology used in the workshop. The objective was clear and well understood. Improvise as much as possible in case of ambiguity or misunderstanding. Understanding as much as possible allows us to find an alternative way to explain things better. The interpretation was clear, though not perfectly fluent, as we are still practicing to improve.

S.J. 2023

I learned that it is always better to educate people, especially those of you who have the opportunity to do so, because many of them live in ignorance, which can lead to misinterpretation. The interpretation was clear, but it required a lot of paraphrasing, which takes a lot of energy.

I learned that there are countries that criminalize homosexuality. I learned the terms queer, intersex, and asexual.

W.R. 2023

I have learned that you should always take risks because fear is not based on good reasons.

M.B. 2023

Participating in the UniSONous project was a very important experience for me as an interpreter, an immigrant, and especially as a member of the LGBTQIA+ community. The project was really useful for a number of reasons: showing newcomers the correct terms to use in French when talking about the LGBTQIA+ community, letting everyone know that they have the same rights, showing immigrants who are part of the LGBTQIA+ community their rights, and directing them to the right sources of help. And finally, it was useful for me and the group of future interpreters with whom I participated to improve our vocabulary in different languages and ultimately bring our work together in a wonderful workshop. I would like to thank Le Monde des Possibles and especially the trainers at Univerbal for giving us the opportunity to participate in this project.

M.B. 2023