KNOXVILLE, TN, May 29, 2026 /24-7PressRelease/ -- For Dr. Leoma Gilley, the loss of a language is not just a cultural concern. It is a spiritual one.

After decades of service across Africa, working in some of the most remote and culturally rich regions of the continent, Dr. Gilley has dedicated her life to preserving not just words, but the identity and voice of the people who speak them.

"The work has never been about me. It's about what God has already placed within people," Dr. Gilley shares. "Their language, their story, and their ability to truly understand and be understood."

That mission continues through the Institute for the Development of Languages and Translation in Africa (iDELTA), a bachelor-level training program developed by Dr. Gilley under SIL Global, an organization with more than 90 years of global linguistic and cultural engagement. The program is designed to equip Africans to lead language development and translation efforts within their own communities.

The program's next English Academic Course will take place from June 8 through July 31, 2026, in Nairobi, Kenya. A French-language program is also scheduled later in the year in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from October 12 through December 4, 2026.

For Dr. Gilley, iDELTA represents far more than academic instruction. It reflects a long-term commitment to sustainability by empowering local leaders rather than relying solely on outside support.

"This is about building capacity where it matters most," Dr. Gilley explains. "For many years, the work depended on people coming from outside. Now we are seeing a transition where Africans themselves are equipped to carry this forward with knowledge, skill, and deep cultural understanding."

Students in the iDELTA program complete a multi-year curriculum that combines language, literacy, and translation training with direct community application. Specialized tracks include Bible translation, linguistics, literacy, and language assessment, each designed to meet practical needs across diverse language environments.

Yet for Dr. Gilley, the deeper significance of the work extends far beyond academics.

"Language isn't just a tool. It's how people understand truth. It's how they connect. It's how they experience faith," she says. "When you preserve a language, you are preserving the ability for people to hear and respond in a way that is truly their own."

Her perspective has been shaped by more than 20 years of living and working across Africa, where she witnessed both profound challenges and extraordinary resilience within the communities she served.

"It never ceased to amaze me," she reflects. "In places many people may never see, you find creativity, hospitality, and strength that cannot be measured. That is something worth honoring."

Today, alongside her continued involvement in language development efforts, Dr. Gilley also continues to write, documenting her experiences and the people who have shaped her journey. Her books serve not as personal narratives, but as reflections of a larger story rooted in faith, service, and the recognition of value in every culture.

Looking ahead to the upcoming iDELTA sessions, the goal remains clear:

"This is about preparing others," she says. "If the work is going to continue, it has to belong to the people themselves. And if I can play even a small part in that, then I have done what I was asked to do."

As the upcoming iDELTA sessions approach, Dr. Gilley hopes the next generation of African language leaders will continue carrying forward a mission rooted not only in education, but also in dignity, faith, and cultural preservation.

To learn more, please click here to visit Leoma Gilley's official website.

About Dr. Leoma Gilley

Dr. Leoma Gilley is a linguist, educator, and author with more than two decades of experience in Africa. Her work focuses on language development, translation, and equipping local communities through education and faith-based initiatives.

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