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relais

English translation: (relay) work centre

21:10 May 13, 2001
French to English translations [PRO]
French term or phrase: relais
"Il faut d'abord imaginer un abbé Pierre américain. ...Comme lui, il a fondé une organisation puissante, avec des relais nombreux, pour améliorer le sort des plus vulnérables."
Jeanne Zang
United States
Local time: 13:18
English translation:(relay) work centre
Explanation:
Here you will find all sorts of info about the Emmaüs organisation founded by the Abbé Pierre. It started out as an association of structured “self-help” communities to get the least able back on their feet socially and economically. The movement now operates through a series of structures with specific objectives. “Relais” appear in several contexts related to Emmaüs, (“prêt relais”, “relais de la parole” and many others) but specifically in reference to the centres (eg : le Relais Bellepierre) set up by the Foundation where marginalized people work recycling unwanted clothes, repairing unwanted household goods which are then sold to raise money. The “relais” were set up in 1984.

There is the English Emmaüs site (www.emmaus-international.org) but the site is not up yet.

Therefore, it does has a very specific meaning here with regard to the Abbé Pierre. Whilst it could be for accommodation, it does in fact very specifically refer to the centres where 730 needy people on the edge of society are employed. However, as you have to marry the term up to your context to which the parallel is being drawn. Your choice of term will no doubt depend on the specific function of the "relais" in your original context. This is a difficult one! English language equivalents I found on the web often used the word "centre" (adaptive work centre, bridge to work centre...). A personal thing here : many used the word "needy" but perhaps not that appreciated by those concerned! Probably why the term "relais" was used in France, as it covers a lot.

1 - http://www.emmaus-bourgoin.org/mouvement/mouvement.htm (For everything you ever wanted to know about the Abbé Pierre but never dares to ask…)

Emmaüs France est une des régions du Mouvement Emmaüs internationaL Les différents groupes locaux se référant au mouvement Emmaüs en France, se retrouvent dans l'Association Emmaüs France crée en 1985. Cette association les représente auprès des pouvoirs publics et des médias et veille à l'application des articles du Manifeste Universel du Mouvement Emmaüs.
La grande richesse d'Emmaüs France vient de la variétés et de la complémentarité de l'ensemble de ses composantes présentées ci-dessous:

2 - http://www.cg974.fr/rd000419.html

235 CPS/DPEFS
DIR

Demande de subvention de la Fondation Abbé-Pierre, pour le fonctionnement du relais social de Bellepierre

Subvention accordée

3 - http://w1.neuronnexion.fr/~emmausbj/dpresse/presse2.htm

Les Relais Créés en 1984, les Relais sont des entreprises dont l’activité est centrée sur la fripe. Leur objectif et leur raison d’être sont de créer un maximum d’emplois, en particulier pour des personnes marginalisées. Aujourd'hui, les Relais emploient 730 personnes sur l'ensemble de la chaine du vêtement d'occasion : ramassage (source d'emplois non qualifiés), vente et tri sélectif à destination du recyclage.

Selected response from:

Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Local time: 19:18
Grading comment
Thanks very much for going to such great lengths to provide a helpful answer!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
nashifts
J Lewis (X)
nashelter or boardinghouse or poorhouse
1964
nahalt(s)
jmleger
narepresentations / outlets / points of assistance
Fr?d?rique
nalocal branches/communities
Buzzy
na(relay) work centre
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
napost houses, coaching inns, shelter OR work centres, help centres, points of assistance
Isore Martin


  

Answers


9 mins
shifts


Explanation:
"Relais" normally means "shifts," as in "I work the daytime shift."


    Le Robert & Collins du Management
J Lewis (X)
PRO pts in pair: 8

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Tony M
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2 hrs
shelter or boardinghouse or poorhouse


Explanation:
It seems they provide a home for some vulnerables .relais means relay in a straight way but in web domains it is used as "Hotel". Together with vulnerable it may be poorhouse (not certainly five star hotel) .


1964
Türkiye
Local time: 20:18
Native speaker of: Native in TurkishTurkish
PRO pts in pair: 294
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2 hrs
halt(s)


Explanation:
We are talking about places to stay at here, not about work shifts.

jmleger
Local time: 12:18
Native speaker of: Native in FrenchFrench
PRO pts in pair: 696
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3 hrs
representations / outlets / points of assistance


Explanation:
To me, it means that the organisation is present in many places through various activities (shops, canteens, homes, etc.)


Fr?d?rique
Local time: 19:18
PRO pts in pair: 52

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Tony M
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3 hrs
local branches/communities


Explanation:
The idea of "relais" is a local part of a larger, more distant organisation.

It could be shelters (or food distribution outlets, or hostels, or medical centers - it depends what the organisation actually does)if that's specifically what you're talking about, but I think it's probably a more general reference to local "branches" of a charity. The Emmaüs organisation founded by Abbé Pierre referred to in the context has "communautés" where people actually live, so communities is another possibility.

Among other examples "Relais" is used like this by mail order companies, when you can opt to have your order delivered to a local shop rather than to your own address (a "relais 3 Suisses" for example).
I've also come across the term "animatrice-relais" - the person reponsible for going to the regional meetings then reporting back to her local team.
Hope this helds you find a suitable term.


    own experience
Buzzy
Local time: 19:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 377

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Tony M
gcaddy
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4 hrs
(relay) work centre


Explanation:
Here you will find all sorts of info about the Emmaüs organisation founded by the Abbé Pierre. It started out as an association of structured “self-help” communities to get the least able back on their feet socially and economically. The movement now operates through a series of structures with specific objectives. “Relais” appear in several contexts related to Emmaüs, (“prêt relais”, “relais de la parole” and many others) but specifically in reference to the centres (eg : le Relais Bellepierre) set up by the Foundation where marginalized people work recycling unwanted clothes, repairing unwanted household goods which are then sold to raise money. The “relais” were set up in 1984.

There is the English Emmaüs site (www.emmaus-international.org) but the site is not up yet.

Therefore, it does has a very specific meaning here with regard to the Abbé Pierre. Whilst it could be for accommodation, it does in fact very specifically refer to the centres where 730 needy people on the edge of society are employed. However, as you have to marry the term up to your context to which the parallel is being drawn. Your choice of term will no doubt depend on the specific function of the "relais" in your original context. This is a difficult one! English language equivalents I found on the web often used the word "centre" (adaptive work centre, bridge to work centre...). A personal thing here : many used the word "needy" but perhaps not that appreciated by those concerned! Probably why the term "relais" was used in France, as it covers a lot.

1 - http://www.emmaus-bourgoin.org/mouvement/mouvement.htm (For everything you ever wanted to know about the Abbé Pierre but never dares to ask…)

Emmaüs France est une des régions du Mouvement Emmaüs internationaL Les différents groupes locaux se référant au mouvement Emmaüs en France, se retrouvent dans l'Association Emmaüs France crée en 1985. Cette association les représente auprès des pouvoirs publics et des médias et veille à l'application des articles du Manifeste Universel du Mouvement Emmaüs.
La grande richesse d'Emmaüs France vient de la variétés et de la complémentarité de l'ensemble de ses composantes présentées ci-dessous:

2 - http://www.cg974.fr/rd000419.html

235 CPS/DPEFS
DIR

Demande de subvention de la Fondation Abbé-Pierre, pour le fonctionnement du relais social de Bellepierre

Subvention accordée

3 - http://w1.neuronnexion.fr/~emmausbj/dpresse/presse2.htm

Les Relais Créés en 1984, les Relais sont des entreprises dont l’activité est centrée sur la fripe. Leur objectif et leur raison d’être sont de créer un maximum d’emplois, en particulier pour des personnes marginalisées. Aujourd'hui, les Relais emploient 730 personnes sur l'ensemble de la chaine du vêtement d'occasion : ramassage (source d'emplois non qualifiés), vente et tri sélectif à destination du recyclage.




    Reference: http://www.emmaus-bourgoin.org/mouvement/mouvement.htm
    www.cg974.fr/rd000419.html, w1.neuronnexion.fr/~emmausbj/dpresse/presse2.htm
Nikki Scott-Despaigne
Local time: 19:18
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in pair: 4638
Grading comment
Thanks very much for going to such great lengths to provide a helpful answer!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
Carolyn Denoncourt
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

10 hrs
post houses, coaching inns, shelter OR work centres, help centres, points of assistance


Explanation:
Post house and coaching inn is the most adequate definition at Comprehensive French-Eng Dictionary, Collins Robert.
In the context, it could be work centres, help centres and points of assistance, although I would rather go for shelter, post house or coaching inn. It's more specific and with a little bit more of context, I would be sure of it.


    Collins Robert, Comprehensive (2 volumes)
Isore Martin
Spain
Local time: 18:18
Native speaker of: Spanish
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