Indonesia has hundreds of languages still without Scripture in natural, spoken forms. This three-year program will train 20 local translators and seminary students to fill that gap, building skills from basic to advanced to mentoring. Working with local partners, it aims to grow into a lasting, homegrown training network.
Project Name: Training Oral Translators in Indonesia
Implementing Organization: Wycliffe Global Alliance
Evelyn Gan
Consultant for Oral Translation Programmes
Wycliffe Global Alliance
Start date: FY 2026
End date: FY 2028
Summary
Indonesia is home to hundreds of languages whose speakers pass on knowledge through spoken word rather than writing. Most still lack the Bible in a form that feels natural to hear. Oral Bible Translation is expanding quickly in Indonesia, but training hasn’t kept up—seminary graduates lack oral translation skills, and working practitioners have no path to grow or reach consultant-level readiness. Without urgent, structured training, projects across the country risk stalling.
This three-year project trains local translators and seminary students to close that gap. Participants move through three stages—foundational, advanced and consultant-level training—with those who show strong skills advancing to the next stage. Our goal is for at least 20 participants, with a smaller group becoming fully qualified to guide future translation projects on their own. The project partners with several Indonesian organizations, including seminaries, so that this training becomes part of local theological education rather than a one-time effort. That partnership is central to the goal: building lasting, Indonesian-led capacity so that projects no longer depend on outside experts.
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Budget
Total need (in USD): $123,729
Contributions received / pledged: $40,100
Balance needed: $83,629
To learn more about this funding opportunity, email Evelyn Gan,
Consultant for Oral Translation Programmes, Wycliffe Global Alliance: evelyn_gan@wycliffe.net
