Translating Proximity and the Power of Listening Across Borders: Two volunteer TED Translators reflect on how subtitling TEDx prison talks changed how they think about justice, memory, and humanity.
Eric lives in France, and Claire lives in Japan. They’ve never set foot in a U.S. prison. Yet they’ve become two of the most dedicated translators of Proximity for Justice’s TEDx prison talks—subtitling more than 150 videos and helping those voices reach the world.
From Curiosity to Commitment
Eric has been a long-time viewer of TED Talks, watching them from the moment they became available online. So, it was a natural next step to translate TED Talks as soon as the platform launched TED Translators in 2009. He wanted more people to have access to the ideas he found so moving.
That journey eventually led him to the TEDx prison talks. He was drawn to raising awareness of the life journey of those incarcerated and those who have returned home.
Claire joined TED Translators after a local TEDx event in her hometown in 2014. When Eric introduced her to the Proximity for Justice talks, she said yes immediately. It has since changed her perception of crime and incarceration:
“On a personal level, I used to think that the actions you choose to take lead you somewhere. But the TEDx prison [events] led me to realize that the way society is structured and your own personal environment also influence your choices or the type of life that you will have.”
Translation as Transformation
Eric and Claire work as a team—one translates, the other reviews, then they switch. Sometimes it’s straightforward. Sometimes, it’s emotional, as is the case with one talk that resonated with Eric:
“It was The Value of Golden Memories by Frank Beltran,” he said. “He spoke about watching his daughter play in the water. I had the same memory, and it brought mine back so vividly. I realized how much we lose in the small moments of life—and how precious they are when you can’t reach them anymore.”
Claire also spoke to the unique power of subtitling to widen the reach of each story. A well-translated talk can unlock understanding and action in someone halfway around the world.
“When talks are translated, they reach more people in the country where that language is translated. That's the whole point, obviously. Who knows, it could give people active in the judicial systems in French-speaking countries new ideas to try, or the boldness to test their ideas in their own country. We all are one translation away from a good idea!”
Advice for New Translators
If you’re thinking about becoming a TED Translator—or just wondering if this kind of work matters—Claire and Eric are clear:
“Do it. You’ll learn so much about language, about justice, about yourself.”
“Bring along a tissue box. Some stories are so distressing, and the injustice of life sometimes so obvious. And after translating, go out in the world to spread these testimonies of hope.”
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A HUGE thank you to Eric and Claire for their support!
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TED is always looking for volunteers to help subtitle and translate TED and TEDx talks, including those filmed inside prisons. Volunteers like Claire and Eric have translated our talks into dozens of languages, making them accessible to loved ones, community leaders, and allies around the world.
It’s flexible, remote, and incredibly impactful.
🔗 Learn more and get started:ted.com/translate
📧 Already a TED Translator or want to work on a PfJ prison talk? Reach out to delia@proximityforjustice.org so we can support you and recommend some talks to get you started!
