Open to opportunities

Yonas Kiflom

@yonaskiflom

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Certified trilingual interpreter and data specialist delivering confidential remote language support.

Ethiopia

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What I'm looking for

I want remote OPI/VRI interpretation, translation, and data entry roles where confidentiality, trauma-sensitive communication, and accuracy matter—especially in medical, legal, and humanitarian settings—supported by strong M&E survey and data tools skills.

I’m a certified trilingual interpreter and translator fluent in Amharic, Tigrigna, and English (C2), with 3+ years of professional over-the-phone interpretation experience. I bring deep clinical and community mental health training, so I’m comfortable handling sensitive topics with empathy, accuracy, and strict confidentiality.

In remote OPI work, I supported UK-based healthcare, social services, and legal professionals through real-time interpretation across medical consultations, emergency calls, psychiatric sessions, and GBV-related disclosures. I also facilitated court and immigration contexts, adapting register and terminology quickly while maintaining professional boundaries.

Beyond interpretation, I’ve coordinated and reviewed MHPSS training materials and helped localize WHO gPM+/SH+ and SH+/PM+ intervention scripts for use by health extension workers. I manage bilingual documentation and donor reporting content, while translating and contextualising resources across Amharic, Tigrigna, and English.

I also support multilingual counselling and psychosocial outreach with humanitarian and NGO teams—delivering bilingual training on PFA, PM+, IPT-G, and SH+ and adapting materials for Tigray humanitarian response. Alongside language work, I’m highly proficient with data tools for M&E and survey administration, including KoBoToolbox/ODK and data cleaning in SPSS and STATA.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

MHPSS Consultant, Trainer & Counsellor

Current

ICRC Ethiopia, UNDP, FHI, Impact Ethiopia & Others

Jun 2021 - Present (5 years 1 month)

Conducted multilingual counselling sessions and psychosocial outreach in Amharic, Tigrigna, and English for IDPs, GBV survivors, and conflict-affected populations. Delivered bilingual training on PFA, PM+, IPT-G, and SH+ and supported interpretation and facilitation during the Cranston Inquiry.

Amharic Tigrigna English IPT Training Facilitation Interpreting

MHPSS Coordinator & Translator Reviewer

World Vision Ethiopia

Apr 2024 - Apr 2026 (2 years)

Reviewed, translated, and contextualised MHPSS training materials and programme resources in Amharic, Tigrigna, and English for use by health extension workers. Managed KoBoToolbox/ODK-based survey administration, cleaned and verified datasets in SPSS and STATA, and compiled quarterly donor narrative reports.

MHPSS Training Materials Translation KOBOToolbox Data Cleaning Data Verification SPSS Stata WHO GPM+Donor Reporting

Over-the-Phone Interpreter

The Bigword

Apr 2022 - Jan 2023 (9 months)

Provided real-time over-the-phone interpretation in Amharic, Tigrigna, and English for UK healthcare, social services, and legal professionals. Handled medical, emergency, psychiatric, GBV-related disclosures, and court/legal communications with strict confidentiality.

Over The Phone Interpretation (OPI)Amharic Tigrigna English Medical Interpretation Legal Interpretation Social Services Interpretation GBV Interpretation Confidentiality Remote Interpretation

MHPSS Consultant

ABH Partners

Jun 2021 - Jun 2022 (1 year)

Delivered trauma-informed counselling to displaced children and families using Amharic and Tigrigna across multiple IDP sites. Interpreted between field workers and community/programme teams and translated assessment tools and referral forms for case management documentation.

MHPSS Amharic Tigrigna Interpretation Culturally Appropriate Delivery Referral Form Translation Case Documentation

Lecturer, Psychiatry Nursing

Adigrat University, College of Health Sciences

Aug 2016 - Jun 2021 (4 years 10 months)

Delivered bilingual instruction to BSc students in English and Tigrigna and translated/adapted course materials for multilingual cohorts. Supported clinical outreach activities requiring interpretation and provided English–Tigrigna translation for research instruments and teaching materials.

Bilingual Teaching (English Tigrigna)Translation Course Material Adaptation Research Instrument Translation

Education

Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework

Mekelle University (College of Health Sciences)

Master of Science (MSc), Integrated Clinical & Community Mental Health

2018 - 2020

Completed an MSc in Integrated Clinical & Community Mental Health, building expertise for accurate and trauma-sensitive work in clinical and community MHPSS settings.