Budget Group Call Regarding Funding Sources

As you might know, Babels and other alternative translation equipment networks will be organizing an international meeting on May 6-8 2006 which will address the issue of languages and translation in the social forum process. You can find all the information available so far about this event at : Babels Intl Encounter

The budget that we have prepared is based on building a “common good” to be shared in a participatory manner by participants to this meeting, according to protocols and decisions we will take as a group. We need to find external sources of financing, especially for participants’ travel to the meeting venue. We welcome any concrete help. If you feel you can help us, please read the full message and respond to it.

Philippe.

BUDGET ETHIC

With the budget (see) we are not only trying to finance an international meeting. We are also trying to work meaningfully and in accordance with ethics and values that we feel that all of you, who have volunteered in a wide range of Babels projects, have expressed on numerous occasions.

We want to organize the diversity of the participants (geography, experience, type of expertise) in order to build a real international meeting addressing the diverse issues of ‘translation around Social Forums’ in a very wide sense, including volunteer participation, language diversity, technical equipment, written translation, interpreting, etc. We have therefore put a value on ‘free-work’ and on collaboration and participation from organizations involved in the Social Forums. But we have a responsibility : To make sure participants will be able to participate.

The budget is also based on direct participation in the form of a registration fee, for all the people participating in this event. This fee varies according to people’s financial situation. But the money raised this way also, is not sufficient.

That is why we are attempting to obtain funds from outside sources.

IDENTIFYING SOURCES

The sources of financing we are exploring and are willing to explore are of the same type as the ones explored for Social Forums internationally : public money and private money from some progressive funds. We are currently working on some options (see Report) but need help to identify new sources and/or to help with already identified sources.

For example, we have identified some possible sources with the European Commission, but we need help in order to follow the Commission’s publications to know exactly who shoudl be targeted and when. At the same time we might overlook some sources which you are familiar with.

In one word we need concrete help to be able to present our project to the right person at the right time.

HOW TO

Please contact us only if you have real and concrete information or previous expertise in raising funds for this type of situation.

We understand that most of you are willing to help the best they can, but we will not be able to handle many evasive answers. Since all is published on the website (we have no secret documents hiding somewhere else), you have all what is needed to present informally to anyone this project. Of course do not contact anyone formally unless you have contacted us before, since some other people might be already working on the same thing.

All the funds are not asking for the same type of documents, and specific presentation of the project needs to be written and submitted. If you know people willing to help on this specific issue, or if you have done this in a former life, then we might need also your help. But really, do contact us only if you are familiar with this very specific work of fund raising.

If you can help, feel free to contact us directly.

 Philippe bignet @ wanadoo.fr
— General information

 Isabelle isabbl @ club-internet.fr
— European funds and other specific funds in Europe.

 Martin mmcgreal @ magma.ca
— Canada and Quebec funds

 Bettina bettina.gertum @ terra.com.br
— Brazilian and Latin American funds

 Laurent jeso2 @ ras.eu.org
— US funds and other specific funds in France