Peace Boat - Volunteer interpreters (Voyage 119)

We will accept applications for Voyage 119 around May 2024.

We generally seek candidates in the following language combinations: English-Japanese; Spanish-Japanese-English; English-Korean; English-Mandarin Chinese; Japanese-Korean; and Japanese-Mandarin Chinese.

What's Involved

As an international NGO that organizes most of its activities on a chartered passenger ship, every day Peace Boat hosts numerous events onboard. As part of this, Peace Boat hosts many projects and invites a diverse range of guest educators from around the world to join a voyage. Primarily, Peace Boat volunteer interpreters are in charge of simultaneous and consecutive interpreting onboard and at ports during our global voyages. Through interpreting, volunteer interpreters will have the chance to be involved in a wide range of events and learn about global issues.

Some of the responsibilities of a volunteer interpreter are as follows:

• Consecutive and/or simultaneous interpreting of daily lectures, meetings, forums, and informal gatherings for guest educators
• Interpreting and assisting tours in ports of call
• Assisting communication between Japanese-speaking and non-Japanese speaking participants
• Translating and making handouts for lectures, etc.
• Assisting with onboard language programs
• Planning and leading self-organized events, workshops or classes based on your interest

How to apply

To apply for an upcoming voyage, please read the voyage specific ‘Application Guidelines’ and fill out the necessary form, which can be found at the top of the application page.

To apply, applicants are required to submit the following materials:

1. Application Form
2. Resume/CV in all languages for which you are applying
3. A one-page essay stating why you wish to join Peace Boat as a volunteer interpreter in all languages for which you are applying. The content should be the same in each language.

Please submit your completed applications via email. Before submitting your application, be sure to read the ‘Application Guidelines’ carefully as we are unable to accept incomplete applications.

Application process

• Stage 1 - Screening of Application Materials: Applicants who submit their completed application packet by the application deadline should receive an email confirming receipt. If you do not receive an email within two weeks, please send a follow-up email to confirm your application has been received.
• Stage 2 - Interpreting Test: Applicants who successfully pass the first stage of the selection process will be invited to a consecutive interpreting test via Zoom call.
• Stage 3 - Interview: Applicants who successfully pass the second stage of the selection process will be invited to an interview via Zoom call.

What Is Peace Boat

Peace Boat is a Japan-based international NGO which promotes peace, human rights, and sustainability. Established in 1983, it holds Special Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) of the United Nations (UN).

Peace Boat’s first voyage was organized in 1983 by a group of Japanese university students as a creative response to government censorship regarding Japan’s past military aggression in the Asia-Pacific. They chartered a ship to visit neighboring countries with the aim of learning first-hand about the war from those who experienced it and initiating people-to-people exchange.

Peace Boat carries out its main activities through a passenger ship that travels the world. Working in partnership with UN SDG Action Campaign, Peace Boat’s activities onboard and in port empower participants, strengthen local capacity for sustainability, and build people-to-people cooperation beyond borders. The voyages, run on a social business model, blend sustainable tourism, lifelong learning and friendship activities with educational programmes, cooperative projects, and advocacy.