Agnes Szanyi was introduced to Sanctuary for Families in 2019 by a friend who worked at the agency. The friend thought Agnes could be a great fit as a volunteer interpreter for a family receiving services within Sanctuary’s Anti-Trafficking Initiative (ATI). Agnes agreed to interpret for one in-person meeting, but after learning more about the family and their case she decided to continue.
Over the past six years, Agnes has provided ongoing and invaluable support to this family and the team members within ATI. She has assisted the family through immigration proceedings, obtaining public assistance, and many court proceedings.
Agnes shares,
“I believe it is very helpful to have a reliable interpreter who understands and knows the story of the client. For the clients, it is also very important to have an interpreter who they can trust (which in human trafficking or domestic violence cases is extra important) and who follows their case throughout the years, so they don’t need to rely on a new interpreter every time, who might not understand their situation and misrepresent them. It makes a difference – they don’t feel alone any more”.
Agnes reflected on her time volunteering with the family and the most memorable event when they were reunited with their child after a battle that lasted many years. She shared how hard the staff at Sanctuary worked on behalf of the family, and how much their dedication and kindness allowed her to also not feel alone, especially in hard times, similar to the survivors they jointly support.
Sophie Chalfin-Jacobs, a Case Manager within ATI: “Agnes is one of the most thoughtful, intentional, and compassionate people I have worked with in my time at Sanctuary. In her work with this family, she has served not just as their translator but as their advocate and friend. Agnes’s work both embodies and exceeds trauma-informed care, as she has held with them their suffering and fought in-step with them for freedom, justice, healing, and self-sufficiency. She has worked alongside Sanctuary staff to secure the family stable housing, public benefits, healthcare, mental health services, and more. She has helped them to navigate several incredibly complex legal processes while ensuring the family maintains full understanding and involvement at each step. She has also held other providers and translators working with the family to a trauma-informed standard, and has called out language inaccessibility at every turn. As the fourth case manager from Sanctuary working with these long-term clients, Agnes ensured that I was up to speed and that the case transition would not undo any progress made for the family. Agnes intuitively and empathetically does what I and Sanctuary staff always strive for: sees our clients in their full humanity and centers their agency and empowerment above all else”.
Senior Director Program Director of the Anti-Trafficking Initiative, Jessica-Wind Abolafia, shares additional glowing remarks about her time working with Agnes, “Few individuals have the dedication, compassion, grace and perseverance to walk beside survivors, almost every day, for six years, through every turn, rise and challenge in their journey since their escape from their traffickers. Agnes’ commitment to a family of Sanctuary clients was more than advocacy, more than translation. Agnes was a life-line; she supported the family in accessing justice and healing, to be free from violence, isolation and desperation – experiencing joy, health and safety. She became to them, like family. We, and the family, are forever grateful for Agnes, a shining example of an exceptional volunteer and person”.
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To learn more about Agnes Szayni and her work, please join us on April 9th from 6:00-8:00 PM at Pillars of Change.