At BBLTranslation, every project we take on is an opportunity to make a difference beyond simply translating words. Our goal has always been clear: contribute to accessible, inclusive and purposeful communication. We recently had the honour of participating in two deeply meaningful initiatives which reflect this commitment: carrying out a proofreading for the awareness Spanish campaign #LazosPorLaEspAax (Lace up for AxSpA) and translating La ciudad de Cristal (The city of Glass), a book by Miriam Piñol Vilar published by CEADE, into English, Italian, French and Catalan.
#LazosPorLaEspAax #LaceUpForAxSpA: a campaign that leaves a mark
As a professional translation company committed to the Sustainable Development Goals and an active participant of the United Nations Global Compact, we understand that our work with languages can – and should – be more than just a service. Therefore, when we were given the opportunity to collaborate with the #LazosPorLaEspAax #LaceUpForAxSpA campaign, we didn’t give it a second thought.
The #LazosPorLaEspAax #LaceUpForAxSpA campaign, declared as serving the Public Good by the Spanish Society of Rheumatology, was created with a clear objective: raise awareness for axial spondyloarthritis (AxSpA), a chronic inflammatory disease which affects thousands of people yet remains largely unknown to the general population. This initiative not only seeks to inform people on AxSpA, but also create empathy, breaking stigmas and promoting a better social understanding. Thanks to ASIF (Axial Spondyloarthritis International Federation), this campaign has a global outreach.
At BBLTranslation we’ve had the privilege of being in charge of proofreading the leaflet for the campaign, ensuring that every message was clear, coherent and professional. This work involved meticulously revising every word, punctuation mark, spelling and any other typographic detail. A well-written text not only fosters better communication: it conveys confidence, respect for the reader and, in this case, shows sensitivity towards the people concerned.
Although it is often perceived as an invisible task, proofreading plays an essential role in any campaign with a social impact. A small error can divert your attention away from the core message, and this is precisely what we are trying to avoid. Our job has been to ensure that the campaign gets delivered with clarity and dignity, so that its important message reaches as many people as possible, without any interference or distraction.
The translation of The city of Glass: giving voice to a story that needs to be heard
One of our more emotional collaborations in recent months has been the translation of The city of Glass, a powerful and symbolic piece promoted by CEADE. It tells the story of Selene, a girl who has axial spondyloarthritis and opens up her heart to share her everyday life, challenges, fears, and above all, her resilience.
At BBLTranslation, we took on this task with full dedication and respect. Translating this kind of text goes far beyond simply translating the content into another language: it’s about capturing the essence, the emotions and the real voice of the person narrating. We faced the challenge of not only conveying what is said, but also how it feels. Our team paid special attention to preserving the personal, honest, and sometimes raw tone of the story, respecting Selene’s voice and helping to amplify it so that her experience could transcend language barriers.
The work for this translation has had quite a human nature to it. Every word translated carried emotional weight. We are proud to have contributed to such a powerful and necessary story so that it can reach more people, creating understanding on a disease that still needs visibility.
Translation with purpose: a work philosophy
These two collaborations are not isolated cases, they are part of a philosophy that forms part of BBLTranslation’s DNA. We firmly believe that translation can be a tool for social transformation. It’s not about working with only companies or brands, but also with organisations, entities and projects that seek to make the world a more empathetic, conscious and fairer place.
The proofreading of the AxSpA campaign and the translation of The city of Glass serve as clear examples of how we can contribute to causes that really matter as language specialists. As translators and proofreaders, our mission doesn’t end at the margins of the text. We involve ourselves emotionally and ethically in every project and we understand the impact that a well-chosen word or emotional, moving phrase can have.
Beyond language: bringing communities together
Working on these projects has reaffirmed BBLTranslation’s commitment to making information accessible and raising awareness on topics with a social impact. As translators, our job is not only to translate words, but also emotions, experiences and values. With each translation, we aim to bring stories like Selene’s to more people and eliminate language barriers in order to promote greater understanding between communities.
Because every word counts. Because every story deserves to be told accurately and in a respectful way. And because we know that language is a powerful tool for connecting apparently distant, yet deeply human worlds.
Moving forward: commitment to causes that matter
The translation of The city of Glass is just one of the many ways in which BBLTranslation helps causes that make a difference. It’s not just an assignment: it’s part of our active commitment to society. We believe in a future where language barriers do not limit understanding, empathy or access to information.
We’ll continue working to give voice to initiatives that make positive changes and help to build a more caring and conscious world. Because at BBLTranslation, we don’t just translate: we help change lives, word by word.
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Join us on 3 May 2025 for World Spondyloarthritis Day. #LazosPorLaEspAax #LaceUpForAxSpA
