Service-learning (SL) is an educational tool that combines learning processes and community service in a single structured project in which participants are trained while working on the real needs of the environment, with the aim of improving it. It is therefore an educational project with a social purpose. Its main objective is to train socially responsible professionals to develop a civic and social commitment based on reflective practices. Since last academic year, UPF has offered the SL catalogue, which aims to be an entry portal for non-profit organizations that wish to incorporate a proposal that has already been offered or have a need that can be carried out via this methodology.

Currently, through contact via the catalogue, we have the example of a subject taken using SL. In this case, second-year students of the bachelor’s degree in Translation and Interpretation are translating an English text into Catalan and Spanish on fair trade, dealing with the Roba Neta (Clean Clothing) Campaign of the entity SETEM: an  international, independent and participatory non-governmental solidarity organization.

The practice involves applying their translation skills on a real client and raise awareness of the production cycles of the textile industry.

In relation to the subject, on Wednesday 1 March, the students had the opportunity to talk to a representative of the entity, specifically Judith Talvy, the person in charge of the Roba Neta Campaign, who explained to them how translation works in a non-profit entity, taking the opportunity to give a brief presentation of the campaign.

Judith Talvy greatly appreciates this university experience, as performing such activities helps create materials to raise the awareness of society and also of the students themselves.