Uniiculture.xyz helps those who need assistance completing tasks, such as going to the grocery store or filling out a job application, that can be difficult for those of different cultures or nationalities.
Miguel Gomez first came up with the idea for a website to bring people of different cultures and nationalities together on the second floor of Alden Library after a late night of studying.
His website, uniiculture.xyz, allows people who might be from a different culture or who speak a different language to seek free help with everyday tasks.
“I was cramming for an exam that night, and around midnight I took a break and watched some tech videos, and one specifically was an interview between two tech founders,” Gomez, a senior studying physics, said. “They talked about how most successful tech companies solve everyday problems.”
Gomez, who also is the vice president of the OU's International Student Union, said he saw people struggling with some of those barriers throughout his life and decided to do something about it.
“Last year, I saw an individual near Kroger, and he appeared to be from Latin America. I saw him struggling and could see he needed help, so I went up to him and asked him in Spanish if he needed help, and he said yes,” he said, adding that he has talked to other people who need help with tasks such as opening a bank account or applying for a job.
Gomez said he noticed similar situations when he helped take his father’s coworkers to the doctor, where he would translate during their appointments.
“There wasn’t any alternative. You could seek a friend to help you, but a lot of individuals don’t speak fluent English," he said. "The other thing is to go to a website and find a translator, but they charge a lot through their services. There weren’t any here in Athens, Ohio.”
Gomez decided to revamp his website — which originally served as a type of social media platform where people could learn more about other cultures — into a help service after he visited France with his then-girlfriend and struggled to order food from a restaurant.
“I can’t imagine someone who comes to this country not knowing or reading the native language. I can’t imagine them communicating,” he said. “For us it was just ordering food, but I can’t imagine, like, breaking your leg or applying for a job.”
Now, people who want to use the service can call or email Gomez and their names will be entered online. They can seek help in advance or on the spot if they're struggling.
Those who want to volunteer can also use the website to apply and then connect with someone who needs assistance. The website's algorithm pairs the volunteer with the person who needs help based on free time and the language they both speak, Gomez said.
“The solution is to have a network of volunteers to bring other people on board, so now the way it works, they can either call or email us and they can tell us what they need,” he said.
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Gomez is currently working to develop a review system for users of the website and its 10 volunteers.
Because he expects to graduate this spring, Gomez said he could either continue working on the website or try to get a job in the tech industry.
He said if he decides to continue with the website, he would move south or to California because he thinks he could find a sponsor to help expand the service to more people in need of English translation. He visited Palo Alto and San Francisco last year to seek feedback from potential backers and members of the tech industry.
“No one knows about it, and when you first tell them about this, they don’t like it,” he said. “There were moments like that throughout the years here, but that made me keep on going. Even if it helps just one (person), it makes my day.”
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