More Than Just Words: My Journey from Volunteer to Advocate for Digital Dignity and Relevance.
By Chido Musodza, Program Associate for Community Engagement, Localization Lab
It’s a common misconception that volunteering is a one-way street—a simple transaction where you give your time for a cause you believe in.
While the desire to give back is a noble one, my personal journey with Localization Lab has taught me that when you contribute to something truly transformative, you receive way more than you give. What begins as a simple act of translating a few words or a project, can blossom into a profound journey of learning, upskilling, and becoming a passionate advocate for digital rights and internet freedom for your own community in a language you understand.
My story with Localization Lab started as a volunteer for the Shona language community. Initially, our mentor for digital security training at the time, approached me and asked if working on translating a secure messaging application was something I would be interested in doing. I agreed to do work on this project, partly because it was an opportunity for me to learn a new skill, mostly because curiosity got the better of me. Like many others, I was drawn in by the mission: to make vital digital security and internet freedom tools accessible to those who need them most, in a language they understand. I also wondered what it would be like to see an app interface in my mother tonguemin a world where your language can determine your access to information, and, your ability to protect yourself online. As I translated string by string, this work grew to feel urgent and deeply personal.
For many underserved language communities, the digital world can feel and look foreign. The tools and resources designed to empower and protect are often locked away behind the barrier of English. This isn’t just an inconvenience; it’s an issue of digital dignity and relevance. It’s about ensuring that everyone, regardless of their native tongue, has the right and ability to navigate the internet safely and freely.
As a volunteer, I began by translating. It was gratifying to see essential tools like Tor and TextSecure (before it became Signal) start to speak Shona. But I quickly realized that localization is so much more than direct translation. It’s about cultural adaptation, about understanding the nuances of how a community communicates and understands the world. It’s about ensuring that the concepts of digital security and the context of the application in relation to the end user’s needs, are not just translated, but are truly understood.
This is where the learning began. I found myself delving into the world of digital rights and internet freedom in a way I never had before- from a localization perspective. As a digital security trainer, I already understood the intricate ways in which technology can be used to both empower and oppress. I also already had a good grasp of the challenges journalists, activists, and everyday citizens face in navigating an increasingly monitored and censored internet. What I did learn was how integrating digital security training, tool demonstrations, and the development of technical terminology, ensures that contributors gain a deep understanding of both the tools and the underlying digital rights principles. Here you get to interface with the developers of the tools and give feedback, you play a role in developing technical terminology which is often missing in local languages and you learn which tools to apply for specific situations.
Localization Lab provided the platform for this education. This is a path that is open to every volunteer, and for those of you considering joining our global family, I want to lay out clearly what you stand to gain. It’s a journey of growth, and here’s a glimpse of what that path can look like:
What's In It For You? A Path of Growth
Professional Development & Skill Enhancement
Gain in-demand tech skills: You’ll get hands-on experience with the localization tools and platforms used across the tech industry.
Build your portfolio: Adding your contributions to world-renowned internet freedom tools is a powerful statement on any resume or CV.
Develop project management experience: You'll learn how to coordinate projects, manage deadlines, and work effectively with a diverse, global team.
Expand your professional network: This is your chance to connect with professionals in technology, digital rights, and linguistics from all over the world. These relationships can open doors to mentorship and new career opportunities.
Personal Growth & Meaningful Impact
Directly empower your community: By making digital security tools available in your language, you are giving a tangible gift of safety to journalists, activists, and your neighbours.
Be part of a global movement: You won’t be acting alone. You’ll join a passionate, international family dedicated to internet freedom and linguistic diversity.
Experience true cultural exchange: Working alongside people from different cultures will deepen your understanding of global perspectives on technology and communication.
Find a deeper sense of purpose: You will be contributing to a cause with a real-world impact, helping to protect human rights and enable free expression online.
Through this community, I was exposed to a wealth of knowledge. We weren’t just translating strings of text; we were engaging in a global conversation about the future of the internet. We were learning from developers about how these tools are built and from fellow activists about the on-the-ground realities of digital security in their regions.
Today, in my role as Program Associate for Community Engagement, I have the privilege of helping others embark on this same journey. I see new volunteers join with a desire to help their communities, and I watch them grow into confident advocates and skilled localizers. I see them take ownership of their language’s digital future, ensuring that their communities are not left behind in the digital age.
Volunteering for Localization Lab is an investment in yourself as much as it is in the cause. It’s an opportunity to be at the forefront of the fight for a more equitable and accessible internet. It’s a chance to ensure that the tools that protect our digital lives are available to all, not just a privileged few.
So, if you are looking for a way to give back that will also enrich your own life, I invite you to join us. Your language has power. And at Localization Lab, you can learn how to use it to build a safer and more inclusive digital world for everyone.