Based on my experience this year at the Community Center for Social Support, I can confidently state that Ukraine needs a strong social work profession and comprehensive social services to effectively address challenges in various aspects of life. The war deeply affected all dimensions of people’s lives.
However, there is also a need for social policy changes that are grounded in evidence from social work practice. On this challenge, we need a cooperation with local and district administrations. The social support we created in Kamjanez-Podilskyi serves as an example of such engagement.
Social workers play an essential role in shaping the responses to social problems and in influencing government social policies. We are already collaborating with the IFSW member organization to tackle this objective, and I am confident that the social work profession will contribute significantly to the well-being in Ukraine society.
Diana TETERIA
Social Worker
Community Center for Social Support – Kamjanez-Podilskyj, Ukraine
Member of the Association of Social Workers in Ukraine
We have seen how important it is to develop community initiatives while considering the community’s resources and strengths. In Ukraine, social workers are essential to help people through such rapid changes in their social and economic situation.
Social work can and already is changing the world because it works with people to create and implement solutions that fit their specific situation. In Ukraine, people have a real desire to create changes in their own environment, to improve their family resources, and this is consistent with the essence of our profession.
To achieve this, we need social workers from other countries to share their experiences, knowledge and ideas on how we can use the potential of the social work profession for the greater good of people.
Viktoria SUBOTINA
Social Worker
Community Center for Social Support – Kamjanez-Podilskyj, Ukraine
Member of the Association of Social Workers in Ukraine
For more information, visit: https://www.ifsw.org/social-work-in-ukraine/