Report of JUPEBIM activities for Year 2021

This report is about the Interpreters and Translators Association for Selangor and KL Deaf Community (JUPEBIM), its programmes and activities for the year 2021.

JUPEBIM was established and registered with the Registrar of Societies in October 2020. The objective of this association is to serve the Deaf community by providing quality Sign Language interpreting services. Quality interpreting is made possible by equipping interpreters and translators with the required knowledge and skills through interpreter training, Code of Ethics and professional guidelines – which are provided during events and workshops relating to interpreting. Currently the association has more than 50 members and counting. 

JUPEBIM’s first AGM via ZOOM was held on 23 May 2021 and it was hosted by the founder and President, Mdm. Lucy Lim. Dr. Debra Russell, Honorary President of the World Association of Sign Language Interpreter (WASLI) was the special guest in the AGM. A total of 34 participants attended the event.

In 2021, JUPEBIM was accepted as a member of WASLI and as a result, our members were given the opportunity to participate in events hosted by WASLI and  WASLI ASIA & WFD RSA. 

A virtual forum by WFD RSA and WASLI Asia with the theme “Asian Deaf and Interpreter Communities Collaborating for a Better Future 2 with the goal Promote collaboration between Deaf and interpreter communities in the Asian regions” was held on 26 June 2021 and was attended by 3 committee members, namely – Lucy Lim, President; Sariah Ibrahim Asst Secretary; and Annie Ong our Treasurer.

In another programme, WASLI 2021 Conference, which was held from 10th to 11th July 2021, about 10 members of JUPEBIM attended the online conference which was delivered on  2 stream. Various topics was presented and our members benefitted much from the presentation and sharing . 

 In addition to being actively involved in continuous learning programmes which JUPEBIM organises and hosts, the association also engages in collaborations with other community associations. JUPEBIM signed a MOU with Malaysian Sign Language and Deaf Studies Association (MyBIM) and Deaf Media and Technology Association (DeafMT) Kuala Lumpur and Selangor on 1 October 2021. Together with these associations, JUPEBIM hosted a webinar on Celebrating Thriving Deaf Communities which was held from 1^st to 2nd October 2021. A total of 7 Sessions were held for 2 days with a total of 10 Speakers. 8 Malaysian Sign Language Interpreters from JUPEBIM supported the event which attracted about 126 online viewers. 

The association plans to collaborate with associations outside of Malaysia, specifically the neighboring countries, to enrich members’ knowledge and experiences and to enhance its services. 

JUPEBIM Sign Language Interpreters helped to provide Voice Over for 3 video projects with Deaf Media and Technology Association (DeafMT) Selangor and Kuala Lumpur.

These were the 3 programmes that JUPEBIM provided support: 

Audism family : 26 June 2021

Audism Cure : 7 Aug 2021

Audism Education : 11 Sept 2021

JUPEBIM hosted a talk under its Continuous Professional Learning Series on 24 July from 1 to 3 pm. The talk was  was by a leading, internationally recognised scholar and practitioner in SL interpreting, Nigel Howard. He is currently an adjunct professor at both the University of Columbia and the University of Victoria in the Department of Linguistics. He has had over 25 years of experiences as a Deaf Interpreter in a large range of settings including media, medical, mental health, legal, theatre, community, conferences and workshops – locally, nationally and internationally.

JUPEBIM also invited Ms Megumi Kawakami, a WASLI DI rep from Okinawa, Japan, to give a talk on “Becoming a Deaf Interpreter” for its members. A total of 20 members attended this workshop and aspire to become Deaf Interpreters. 

Since its establishment, Facebook has been the association’s main social media platform to create awareness of its existence, programmes, workshops, and announcements. The committee members hope to create a website about the association in the near future. The website will broaden the association’s network and reach a wider audience and also enable its members to reach out for inquiries. It will be an excellent platform to list JUPEBIM interpreters’ profile and experiences as a valuable information to the public who may need interpreting services. 

JUPEBIM ACTIVITIES & PROGRAMMES 2021