Qua
rterl
Community-based Social Economy and
Community Development Community-based Social Economy and Socio-Political Development Tilting Toward Sustainable Community Development: The ‘Safe at Home’ Project Sustainable Community Development: The Social Economy Basel as Example of Social and Solidarity Economy Practice InProject: A Collaborative Intervention in the Urban Community of Coimbra (Portugal) Social Enterprising in Ukraine: quo vadis?’ Who Benefits from Community Development? Working with Hildren and Youth Living in the Streets of Durban: Participatory methodologies Social Workers: Front Line Actors for Disaster Risk Reduction
y
Mar ch 2014
CONTENTS
Issue 7 Volume 3 2014
10
EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to the seventh edition of social dialogue 05 PRESIDENT’S REPORT
06
COVER STORY
Comunity-based social-economy and socio-political development
10
FEATURES
Tilting Toward Sustainable Community Development: The ‘Safe at Home’ Project 14 Some Community Development Projects (CDP) Around the World
18
Sustainable Community Development: The Social Economy Basel as Example of Social and Solidarity Economy Practice
20
InProject:: a collaborative intervention in the urban community of Coimbra (Portugal)
24
Social enterprising in Ukraine: quo vadis?
28
Who benefits from Community Development? 32 Social Workers: Front line actors for disaster risk reduction
36
Working with Children and Youth Living in the Streets of Durban: Participatory Methodologies
14 52
42
PEOPLE
Vishanthie Sewpaul 44 Lengwe-Katembula J. Mwansa
48
REPORTS
Global Insurance Companies Rally for Sustainability 50 Global Definition of the Social Work Profession
52
CAMPUS
Summary of Report from Laos
56
List of Conference
60
Backword
62
56
CREDITS
Issue 7 Volume 3 2014 Social Dialogue
Social Dialogue is published by The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW). It is the Šcopyright of IASSW and published on a quarterly basis and distributed worldwide. Website: www.social-dialogue.com ISSN: 2221-352X Management Committee Angelina Yuen
Immediate Past President of International Association of Schools of Social Work, Vice-President of The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
Tatsuru Akimoto
President of Asian Association of School of Social Work; Director & Professor of Asian Center for Welfare Society in Japan College of Social Work, Japan
Akua Benjamin
President of North American/ Caribbean Association of Schools of Social Work, Professor and Director of School of Social Work, Ryerson University, Canada
Helle Ingrid Strauss
Associate Professor & International Coordinator of Metropolitan University College, School of Social Work, Denmark
From le ft to
Strauss right: , Akimo Helle |Nadk to, Tats a Treasurer of International Association of Schools of Social Work, uru |B rni, Vimla Vit enjamin ha , Akua l |Yuen Tsan Former Executive Director of Council on Social Work Education, USA Lorna C g laudett Woon Ki, An g a Pame la |Wa elina | Nadkarni, V. Vithal tkins, Ju lia President of International Association of Schools of School Work, Professor and Founder Dean of School
Julia Mary Watkins
of Social Work, TataInstitute of Social Sciences, India
Editorial Board Publisher: Vimla V.Nadkarni Editor in Chief: Carolyn Noble Managing Editors: Hillming Li, Angelina Yuen Executive Editor: Timothy Sim Executive Officer: Catherine Cheung, Hiuching Chan, Carol Wang, Manho Cheung, Nicky Fung, Agnes Yeung Regional Representatives: Violeta Gevorginiene, Gidraph Wairine Production Manager: Maurice Kwan Creative Director: Marco Wong Designer: Vanessa Kei IT officer: Man Chan Chief Development Officer: Maurice Kwan Chief Operating Officer: Mavis Chan Accountant: Faustina Wong For the references of articles, please access to the online edition.
Printing and logistics sponsor Regal Printing Limited
11/F Wyler Center Phase II, 200 Tai Lin Pai Road, Kwai Chung Nt Hong Kong. Tel. : (852)2552 2202 Fax: (852)2552 0700 Website: www.regalprintingltd.com.hk
Published by:
The International Association of Schools of Social
Producer
Work (IASSW) Website: www.iassw-aiets.org
IASSW Foundation RM. 1712, 17/F., Li Ka Shing Tower, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel. : (852)3569 0902 Fax: (852)8148 2407 Email: hillming@iassw.net / william@iassw.net Website: www.iassw-aiets.org
Note
All articles contained in Social Dialogue, including letters and emails to the editor, reviews, and editorials, represent the opinions of the authors, not those of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), or any organizations with which the authors may be affiliated. The editors and management of IASSW do not assume responsibility for opinion expressed by the authors or individuals quoted in the magazine, for the accuracy of material submitted by the authors, or for any injury to persons or property resulting from reference to ideas or products mentioned in the editorial copy or the advertisements.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Welcome to the Seventh Edition of Social Dialogue This edition focuses on social enterprises and
We have the usual reports and notices and people
community development projects from across the
profiles.
globe. We have essays and case examples of local
and contributors who have had worked to make this
community projects and social enterprises and their
edition as informative and inspiring as it is. Enjoy!
aims and successes.
The editorial team thanks all our interns
Briefly social enterprises are
community based ventures by which people and communities come together and use market–based ventures to achieve agreed social ends. A successful social enterprise has broad benefits, including: creating wealth, creating or retaining jobs in the local area, and increasing people’s skills and capacity for employment. Key proponents of social enterprise ventures offer their thoughts with examples of successes in this edition.
Whereas social enterprises are businesses, community development
projects
are
mostly
partnerships with the community and
voluntary government
supported services whose aim is to problem solve, build community assets,
skills and resources and
work for structural change towards more socially just outcomes for that community. Some great examples are described in these pages as well.
Carolyn Noble Editor in Chief carolyn@social-dialogue.com
April 2014 Social Dialogue 5
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
International Association of Schools of Social Work
President’s Report (June to Dec. 2013) for Third Executive Committee and Board Meeting held in Thang Long University, Hanoi, Vietnam IASSW Executive Committee and Board Meetings
IASSW thanks Prof. Le Thi
Second Executive Committee and Board Meeting Hosted by School of Social Work, University of Ljubljana, Slovenia (June 19–21, 2013)
(INGAD),
The Second Executive Committee and Board meetings were held at University of Ljubljana, Slovenia, from July 19–21 2013. A symposium on “Against Social Suffering: Social Work in Alliance with the People with Disabilities in the Times of Crisis with a focus on Bodily to Civic Disability” (July 17 and 18) was organized in collaboration with IASSW, South East Europe Sub-Regional
Quy, Director of the Institute for Gender and Development Hanoi,
Associate
Vimla V.Nadka
rni President,Intern ationalAssociat ion of Schools of So cial Work (IASS W)
Professor Nguyen Thi Thuan (PhD), Acting President, University of Labour and Social Affairs, and Dr. Thang Long, Lecturer at Social Work Department, Thang Long University, for their efforts to make this programme happen in Thang Long University, Hanoi. The capacity building workshop was designed, coordinated and managed by Janet Williams, Chair of Capacity Building Committee in consultation with Prof. Yuen, Prof. Quy, and Prof. Thuan. There has been great enthusiasm on the part of our Board members who volunteered to make presentations at the conference.
Association and European Association of Schools of Social Work. Dean Gabi Cacinovic Vogrincic, Professor Darja Zavirsek and her School of Social Work team hosted the symposium very graciously. There were highly stimulating papers presented by faculty from schools of social work in different parts of East Europe and some of the Board members. The symposium material prepared by School of Social Work, University of Ljubljana in the form of E-book has been posted on IASSW website under `Publication’.
Launch of 'Indian Association of Social Work Education' One of the landmark events organised by Prof. Nadkarni with the funding support of IASSW and the School of Social Work, TISS was the consultation on `Revival of Association of Social Work Education in India' on December 2-3, 2013 which was attended by 29 social work educators from across the country and TISS. This was a much needed effort
Third Executive Committee and Board meetings Hosted by School of Social Work, Thang Long University, Hanoi, Vietnam (January 18-21, 2014) This meeting was organized with the initiative of ImmediatePast President Prof. Angie Yuen. Prof. Yuen had prepared the ground for the meeting during the Stockholm world conference where senior faculty from Vietnam had indicated interest in IASSW organizing a faculty development programme for the social work educators there.
6
in view of the fact that the earlier association had become dormant for almost a decade. It also was in keeping with the mission of the IASSW. At the end of the meeting, the participants launched a new association of schools of social work: `Indian Association of Social Work Education' on 3rd December 2013 with the formation of an Adhoc Committee. The detailed report has been submitted to the Education Committee and Board members.
Participation in International Meetings and Workshops
Along with panelists Mark Rodgers, President of NACASSW(in
Keynote Speaker at the EmPeace LABS 2013
Regional Social Work Organizations Promoting the Global
the Chair) and Dixon, Prof. Nadkarni presented an update on IASSW at the Panel discussion on “International and
Prof Nadkarni, IASSW, presented the Keynote Address titled “Social Work and Community Development" at the Inaugural Function of the training programme: 'Empowerment for Peace through Leadership in Agribusiness Sustainability (EmPeace LABS) 2013' (October 19-36, 2013).
The
participating youth hailed from Africa, South America, Nepal and India. The EmPeace LABS is a project initiated by University-Community Partnership for Social Action Research (UCP-SARnet) of Arizona State University, USA in partnership with Gandhi Research Foundation (GRF), and the Jain Irrigation Systems Ltd (JISL) in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. The First International Leadership Training Workshop
Agenda”. As this was on the last day of the CSWE-APM, not many participants attended the session.
Special Guest Speaker at International Conference on Water in Mumbai The College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai organized an international conference on “Political Economy of Water: A Social Work Response” during December 1921, 2013. Prof. Nadkarni was invited as Special Guest and made a presentation on the Global Agenda at the opening ceremony. The conference was attended by various national and international delegates.
(EmPeace LABS 2012) was held in October 2012 and was attended by 70 young community leaders from 13 African countries.
CSWE- APM 2013 Prof. Nadkarni attended CSWE-APM 2013 in Dallas, USA from October 30 to November 3, 2013. She presented updates on IASSW activities in the CSWE Board Meeting and the meeting of North American and Caribbean Association of Schools of Social Work (NACASSW). She participated in the KAKI Advisory Committee Meeting, and also the UN Day/ IASSW Meeting which was organized on the request of the US based UN representatives. She witnessed the launching of the Manual on Human Rights by Terry Hokenstad, Lynne Healy and Uma Segal, developed with funds from KAKI. In the China Collaborative Meeting, she and Julia discussed about the role of IASSW in evaluation of the project. It was
Representation on International Committees Prof. Nadkarni serves on the Advisory Board of UniversityCommunity Partnership for Social Action Research (UCPSARnet) of Arizona State University. She is also member of the International Advisory Board of the Global Institute of Social Work initiated by Professor TAN Ngoh Tiong, Dean, School of Human Development and Social Services, SIM University, Singapore. Prof. Terry Hokenstad, Distinguished University Professor, Ralph S. and Dorothy P. Schmitt Professor and Professor of Global Health, Mandel School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, and one of our active US based UN representatives is the President of GISW.
decided that this will be a participatory evaluation and the US school faculty will send in their suggestions for the items that should go in the evaluation. President also attended the meeting on research that was initiated by a faculty member from Fordham University.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 7
PRESIDENT’S REPORT
Dissemination of President’s Updates
Social Networking
The last update (July to September) was circulated to
IASSW continued to be active on Facebook (http://www.
IASSW board members, IASSW individual and institutional
facebook.com/ IASSW.AIETS). The membership of the
members through various Google groups.
Facebook site is growing. We have now more than 750
The President’s report was also submitted for CSWE-APM
followers/members using that site. This has enabled us to
Board meeting and publication in the social dialogue
upload information on our activities, pictures and links of
magazine. A report has been submitted to International
IASSW members, at times during the process of the event
Social Work Journal for the “News and Views” section
itself!
Interacting with IASSW on our sites
which will be published in the next issue. IASSW is also presented at Twitter: @IASSW_AIETS (having An article on “IASSW” has been written by Prof. Vimla
around 180 followers) and at LinkedIn as ‘International
Nadkarni and Dr. Tetyana Semigina for the Int Encyclopedia
Association of Schools of Social Work’ (group)'.
of Social and Behavioral Sciences 2nd Edition, Elsevier Ltd, U.K. The article has been submitted to International Social
IASSW Secretary Tetyana Semigina and Rashmi Pandey
Work Journal and is under review.
Administrative Assistant of IASSW have been alert and
Website Development
actively involved in the continuous uploading of new exciting materials including books and updates of upcoming events around the globe.
To make the website more attractive and reader friendly, changes have been made in the icons and access to information. The process of upgrading the website is continuing. Profiles of each of the board members have been posted on the website based on a template developed by the
Enhancement of internal communication among IASSW members
President's office. The list of IASSW members (updated up to 2013) is now available on the website.
Four Google groups were created for facilitating and enhancing communication amongst IASSW members as
The PayPal facility is now available to all members desiring
follows:
to pay the fees for two years. The website manager is very
IASSW Board Members
prompt in posting messages and links from time to time.
(iassw-board-members@googlegroups.com) Entire board members are included in this group
I thank Dixon Sookraj and Angie for working very closely
KK Group
with Hillming to achieve this progress. Hillming has been
(katherine-kendall-group@googlegroups.com)
most responsive to our requests.
All Vice presidents and Secretary is the member of this group Individual members (iassw-members@googlegroups.com) All individual members of the IASSW are members of this group Institutional members (iassw-institutionalmembers@googlegroups.com) All institutional members of the IASSW are members of this group
8
Overview of Activities of the Committees The
IASSW
Committees
continued
The Global Agenda Observatory is the mechanism for monitoring and reporting on the implementation of The Agenda Commitments. their
specific
contributions during the last six months, the details of which are available in the respective reports. The highlights are as follows: The Education Committee's guidelines for capacity building, programme consultations and development of regional resource centres were posted in November. The guidelines for the development of Regional Resources Centers have been circulated to the Vice-Presidents for feedback. Janet Williams, Chair of the committee is working very closely with colleagues in Vietnam Dr. Le Thi Quy and Dr. Nguyen Thuan as well as Dr. Yuen for the international symposium on social work education in Hanoi in January 2014. The symposium will precede the IASSW Board meeting. Four International projects were selected in the June 2013 Board meeting for IASSW funding covering collaborations between Schools in New Zealand and Australia; Schools in Norway, Sweden and Zambia; the USA and China. The topics cover teaching international social work using online technology, social work dialogue in teaching and practice research, field education and collaboration in MSW teaching and field education. The Research committee is in the process of preparing a draft/discussion paper for the IASSW General Assembly (GA) 2014 for a possible statement about importance of
The Indian states, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and the Far western region of Nepal were hard hit due to the recent Himalayan flood devastation on June 16-17, 2013. As a response, the Sustainability, Climate Change, Disaster Intervention Committee of IASSW coordinated with schools of social work in these regions to extend solidarity and onsite help to the victims of disasters. The committee has prepared a detailed proposal titled 'Building Knowledge and Skills of Social Work faculty’. The proposal has been submitted to the IASSW International Project Funding Committee for their review and response. Darla Spence Coffey, President, Council on Social Work Education, Barbara W. Shank, Chair, Council on Social Work Education Board of Directors, Mark E. Rodgers, President, North American and Caribbean Schools of Social Work, Shirley Gatenio Gabel Chair, CSWE Commission on Global Social Work Education, formulated and signed a letter which was circulated to the US school encouraging to become members of IASSW. We sincerely, thank for this initiative, IASSW Board approved the climate change policy statement which is posted on the IASSW website.
The
link is available at: http://www.iassw-aiets.org/%20boardapproved-climate-change-policy-statement We most welcome your suggestions and feedback on this report.
research and researcher education in social work and social work education. The IASSW members of the Global Agenda Steering Committee are busy putting together the Sage publication of International Social Work Journal on the Global Agenda and the special report to be forwarded at the 2014 World Conference on Social Work and Social Development. The European Association of Schools of Social Work has set-up the Global Agenda Observatory for the European region, while other regional associations are in the process.
Mumbai 400 088, India Email: vimla@iassw.net
April 2014 Social Dialogue 9
COVERSTORY
Comunity-based Social Economy and Socio-political Development
(Photo from Wikipedia)
Prof. Dr. Susanne Elsen Free University of Bolzano, Italy
In times when the dominating economic system is increasingly
Recent scientific discourse on the relationship between social
turning against societies and their weakest members, it has
work and economy has been limited to the requirements
become a necessity to rearrange the relationships between
of creating market-driven social services and the issue of
social work and economy. Under such conditions, social
applying instruments and standards of business management
work must achieve more than merely to flank the market, it
to social and health services. A comprehensive perspective
needs to create and defend complementary and alternative
on creation and distribution of values in societies, on
structures within civil societies. The socio-political issues are
participation of society's members in societal wealth it has
highly complex. They imply the necessity for sustainability
created, and on the positioning of social policy and social
and social development of the global society.
work in this context, is blanked out. Even where more recent socio-political programmes talk of supporting "local
Social Work and the Economy a Troubled Relationship
economy", this does not also imply that they have given up the outdated segregation of economic and social aspects. In European states, the relationship between social work and the
Social movements for civilian rights enforced the socio-
economic system is largely reduced to accompanying and
political conditions that protect the working population in
complementary measures of employment policy, ensuring
Western industrialised countries against the societal risks it has
employability
been exposed for the first time in history since the beginning
professional actors of social development do not interpret the
of the 20th century. The laying-down of socio-political rights
mission statement of promoting "local economies" by applying
and professional social work with individuals, groups and
the logic of communities and the people in a community, or
communities that emerged in consequence were a significant
by applying the requirements of sustainable development, but
step in the evolution of societies.
by applying conventional business development criteria. And
and
promoting
"soft
locational
factors";
the process of creating options for independent development needs to be supported through the instruments of social policy
10
and community development.
Social Economy in Communities Idea and Claim
Self-Organisation and Socio-Political Innovation
Shaping sustainable social development raises questions
Twenty years ago, JĂźrgen Habermas (1985) commented as
about the logic behind socially integrated economic activity
follows on the situation of the welfare state: "In a situation
geared to maintaining the capacity for social, cultural,
in which economic stagnation, increasing unemployment
ecological and economic evolution. Economic activity,
levels and crises of public institutions can be related to the
seen from this perspective, needs to be considered as driven
cost of running a welfare state, the structural restrictions of
by the requirements of individuals and communities. It is
the compromise on which the welfare state is based and by
about quality of life, about the fair distribution of the values
which it has been maintained can be felt� (p. 156) In such
created, about a self-determined life and our relationship with
a situation, the welfare state runs the risk of losing its social
nature. Every project with such a claim is contradictory to
basis, in the case that its (yet) gainfully employed contributors
the overpowering financial interests that rule the economy
turn against the claimants of its benefits, thus revoking the
and societies, and even people's thought patterns, today.
welfare states' basic legitimation. If, under such conditions,
It is about the preservation and sustainable organisation of
the welfare state was to lose its central reference point - labour
basics that people need in order to exist and live together in
- it can no longer be about including this norm. The project of
communities.
a sustainable welfare state should exceed beyond introducing guaranteed minimum wages in order to break the spell that the
Given a closer look, it shows that the term "community"
employment market has cast on the life stories of all those that
implies the goals, principles of coordination, and limits to this
are fit to work - also affecting the growing and increasingly
kind of social economy:
excluded potential of those who only stand in reserve. This
would be a revolutionary step, but not revolutionary enough.
1. The inextricable entity of use, creation, and
distribution of the material bases of life
2. Common property and the democratic use of natural, economic and cultural resources
3. Shaping of socio-cultural life nexuses through
Habermas adds that the advocates of the welfare state project only ever looked in one direction: "The primary task was to discipline abundant economic power and protect the lifeworld of salaried employees from the destructive effects of
forms of vertical collectivisation based on
critical economic growth." But no attention was paid to the
association and voluntary action
legal and administrative means of implementation for the programmes of the welfare state, which led to a practice of
What we are seeking already exists - and has always existed
individualisation of cases, levelling, and control, a practice
- in the shadow of the dominant economy, and it is currently
that separates, restricts, and supervises the claimants, forcing
re-emerging all over the world. In the international discourse,
them into a passive and conformist role.
these approaches are drawing more public attention to themselves as alternatives or complementary structures to
Habermas emphasises that there is no alternative to preserving
the current neo-liberal practice, which is increasingly subject
the welfare state and developing it further, but this requires
to crises. Regardless of their different forms and the different
a path-breaking combination of administrative power and
contexts from which they have emerged, they show distinct
intelligent self-restriction in order to mitigate the destructive
similarities and the attempts at conceptualising these make
effects of an interventionist state on its citizens' life-world. This
it clear that they constitute real alternatives to the western
points to a formative social policy that enables and promotes
growth- and neo-liberal profit model and this is what sets
civil self-organisation. As long as social policy is "lined up as a
them apart from forms of management that are driven by
policy to create readiness for work, and every agenda item that
private capitalism.
is identified arouses the institutionalised suspicion of abuse, a change towards structural regulation means a reproduction
A full examination of these potentials requires abolishing
of the pattern of undersupply, exclusion and repression that
prejudices, even within the critical left, and a serious
we are already familiar with (Cremer-Schäfer, Helga (2004):
examination of the conditions of the success or failure of
It is true that unemployment should be the starting point for
collective economies. It is a demonstrable fact that, over
any endeavour of socio-political reform. But unemployed or
the last 150 years, it was not only the lobby of the capitalist
poor people also need to be able to form a social movement
economy that rejected, drained or assimilated unconventional
through collective self-organisation. As a matter of fact, none
socio-economic projects to promote self-determination and
of the employment policy measures that have been put into
self-government, but also the social democratic and Marxist
practice in Germany since the 1970s were aimed at cooperative
labour movements.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 11
COVERSTORY
forms of self-help. These are intensely contradictory of the
In
systematic individualism of neo-classic economics. The social
primarily run by organisationally skilled citizens. The
western
countries,
socio-economic
alternatives
are
security system of the welfare state centres on the redundant
opportunities for self-help run along the demarcation lines of
and isolated individual. The ignorance towards approaches
social inequality, and in welfare states, the efforts in favour
of cooperative and mutual action, e.g. the foundation of
of self-determined participation for disadvantaged people are
cooperatives with employment-related and social objectives,
often opposed by the self-interests of those organisations that
and the fixation on individualised approaches to explaining
claim themselves to be the representatives of the poor and
causes and intervention approaches are deeply rooted in the
disadvantaged members of society.
history of the capitalist society. Solidarity and a diversity of lifestyles and ways of utilisation are systematically rejected
The principles that characterise associations are the voluntary
and are perceived as a threat to particular interests (Altner,
basis on which they are formed, the solidarity between and
G端nther (2004)
equal status of their members. As organisations based on community, they can only serve to enhance freedom and
Making individual provisions, taking care of oneself, and
existential security in combination with social policy. The
acquiring wealth are - and always have been - highly rated.
latter provides the life management resources that individuals
Joint efforts to improve one's situation, on the other hand, have
can - but are not obliged to - incorporate in their action
never been - and are still not - desired. Instead, preventing
strategies. These resources are a necessity, but the conditions
collective self-organisation is a recurring theme both in history
and barriers to accessing them need to be reduced.
and in at present. "So long as the needy restricted themselves to welfare work and other activities that were neutral towards the system, such as work in friendly societies, they would be - subject to a certain extent of supervision - tolerated. Society-based initiatives took on a political character, though, and now pose a threat to the existing balance of power and ownership structure" (Wendt, Wolf Rainer (1995). The bans on forming coalitions and on assemblies enforced in the late 18th century and in the 19th century forced such associations to work in the underground, which, however, only increased their internal cohesion. But today, as opposed to the former workers' movement, there is no shared experience of unbearable working conditions, which had previously led to
Market place is an example for community based economy. (Photo from Community Economies)
the formation of defensive movements and cooperatives for economic self-help. This is a major problem for the growing number of victims of the economic system, especially in western industrialised countries, where problematic social situations are individualised in the discourse and then professionally worked upon. Shame and retraction are the intended consequences of this, not the abilities required for self-help and self-organisation (Munsch, Chantal (2003).
12
(Photo from 3BL Media)
Formative social policy would thus need to be based on the
Social policy develops from collective attempts of coping
following fundamental premises:
with social problems. When individuals who are affected by the same conditions form associations, this generally bears
1. To protect social and ecological life interests, and
times of the beginning workers' movement, the capacity for
value these higher than ownership interests. 2. To enable socially productive participation by means
collective action is based being in the same situation together
of self-organised activity based on commonality
and reflection upon it, and sharing a common interest to
and targeted at a social objective, as well as
change it.
participation in social and communication
networks across all relevant areas of society. 3. To take into account the social aspect as an integral
This capacity is the historic legitimation of socio-political movements, and it needs to be reactivated in view of the
part of socio-economic solutions. Social problems
current conditions of excessive capitalism and the tendency
are not external to economy, and not be worked
towards the redundancy of human labour.
upon as separate issues from economy. 4. Public spending should be organised in a pluralistic
potential for political change. Today, just as it used to be in the
Conclusion
and democratic organisations -
Everywhere around the world, collective actors are opposing
e.g. in multi-stakeholder enterprises - in an
the new economic mindset of expropriation, are defending
effective and synergetic way.
life's basic rights and bringing socially integrated forms
5. Social local policy should use the available material
of economy to life as alternative concepts. They are part
resources and social capital a way that is socially
of a new grassroots social policy, which will lead to social
productive.
change in the long run despite the strong resistance there is
6. Formative social policy should open up opportunities
to it. Today, in view of the changed conditions, all this is no
for learning and experimenting with new approaches
longer only about regaining political control of the powers
to solving societal problems, especially in areas where
of market, or about protecting individuals and communities
members of society are marginalised. It requires new
from infringements through the market, but about developing
forms of organisations in the economic, education and
and maintaining forms of independent community-based
political administration systems.
social economies as an integral part of the life-world.
7. It should be guided by the principle of a plural economy that serves the satisfaction of human needs and respects its ecological limitations.
(Photo from Sustainable Economies Law Center)
8. It requires the possibility to generate resources independently through activity in markets and non-market economies geared at social objectives. 9. Against the backdrop of mass unemployment, it is necessary to relieve people affected by redundancy from the crushing fears for their existence through providing guaranteed basic social care
April 2014 Social Dialogue 13
FEATURES
Tilting Toward Sustainable Community Development:
The ‘Safe at Home’ Project Leanne Schubert
The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Mel Gray
The University of Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia
Rapoport (1968) observed that ‘both social work and art can
influenced by constrained managerial work environments,
be conceived as instruments of social change’ (p. 144). The
withdraw from activism as a mode of seeking social
‘Safe at Home’ art-based community development project
change, a gap has opened and artists have stepped in (De
sought to revisit the transformatory potential of social work
Bruyne & Gielen, 2011). This disciplinary blurring invites
as art (Schubert, 2012).
a reconsideration of social work’s relationship to art and social change, especially given the emerging perception that
We have argued elsewhere that common ground was
social work and socially engaged art are interchangeable or,
evident between social work and community arts practice
at least, interrelated (Helguera, 2011).
when artists moved away from making objects and focused on process, relationship and community (Gray & Schubert,
Art
2010; Schubert, 2006). These commonalities are prevalent
responding to social change. Social work’s preoccupation
in activism and social change (see, for example, Chandler &
with professionalism down the years has distanced it from
Newmark, 2006; de Zegher, 1998; Lacy, 1995). While the
its potential connections with its art, though the so-called
term socially engaged art is developing and remains porous,
‘Mother of social work’ Jane Addams connected with this
essentially it refers to any ‘social interaction that proclaims
idea. Lydia Rapoport (1968) picked up Addams’ concern
itself as art’ (Helguera, 2011, p. 1). The term social practice
with art, similarly linking it to social work’s ‘social purpose’
is recent and signals the removal of any explicit reference to
(p. 139). Rapoport (1968) reflected a broad understanding of
art making (Helguera, 2011). It seems that as social workers,
what art might be, drawing on the long history of exploration
14
celebrates
uncertainty,
and
enables
fluidity
in
by philosophers, aestheticians, artists and art critics. For her,
of funding received. The Network provided seed funding
art was ‘a process involving transformation’ (Rapoport, 1968,
and 13 grant applications to various funding bodies secured
pp. 141-142 emphasis added). She believed ‘the scientific
a further $68,400 for the project. The following artworks
arts may be expressive of some larger social purpose’
and events were created through the project:
(Rapoport, 1968, p. 142 emphasis added) hinting at art’s socially transformative nature. Subsequent developments in
． The cut out project (Domestic and Family Violence
social work seeking to ground it in science missed a strong
– STOP! I don’t like it): This work symbolically
connection between social work, art and social change.
represented the children who had experienced D&FV
As well, social work became embroiled in individualistic
within the community.
definitions of art – in skills, relationship, meaning and so on (Gray & Schubert, 2013). But, more recently, Weir (2009)
． Posters and coasters campaign: This series of artworks
again signalled art’s propensity for social change via the
addressed community attitudes to D&FV – the posters
generation of ‘new awareness’. Applying this understanding
and coaters were distributed in licensed venues
to violence, Weir saw the potential for art to assist in
throughout the LGA.
‘bringing the violence to the surface, to the consciousness, [which] may also aid our dealing with it’ (p. 122). She saw it as a means to stimulate the social imagination.
． Community exhibitions: Works produced during the course of the project were made available for exhibition, installed and temporal works documented.
Contemporary art literature on socially engaged art practices resonate with the idea of art as a medium to stimulate the
． Safe Families day and activity book: This intervention
social imagination – to envision ideas of social change. Here
grew from the project’s growing connection with
art is also liminal – it is a threshold, a place of transition,
Housing NSW who extended an invitation for Safe
ambiguity and uncertainty – a process. Relational art sees
at Home to take a lead role in the cut out project and
this liminal space as one in which people come together
participate in a sausage sizzle at a local event.
in a context of intimacy, sharing and equality to engage in mutual inquiry that brings about a sense of belonging
． Art for the Park: This activity focused on connecting
or community. As in social group or community work, it
with residents of the East Cessnock community,
is a space of unlimited possibilities for transformation
engaging them with the project and gathering ideas
and change (La Shure, 2005). As a profession concerned
about the work to be created for the park within this
with social change, the possibility that art might lead to
neighbourhood (See Figure 1)
transformation and change is an attractive idea for social work, and one that has remained largely under-developed.
． Hopscotch and Respect mosaics: These two interventions aimed to extend our engagement
Against this backdrop, ‘Safe at Home’ was a multidisciplinary
with community members in one of the statistically
arts-based community development project conducted in
more domestically dangerous neighbourhoods to
Australia’s Hunter Valley during 2007-2011. The product of
promote awareness of domestic and family violence
a partnership between The University of Newcastle (UoN)
and its impact (Figure 2 illustrates the installation of
and Cessnock Anti Violence Network (the Network), it aimed
Hopscotch).
to raise awareness of, and challenge negative community attitude toward, domestic and family violence (D&FV).
． Snakes and Ladders mosaic: This artwork aimed to
Conversations with community and Network members
raise children’s awareness of domestic violence and
generated ideas for potential artworks in the making of which
strengthen community networks (Figure 3 shows a
we sought to engage marginalised community members in
detail from this mosaic).
East Cessnock and give voice to their concerns. Ultimately, the mix of artworks undertaken was contingent on the level
April 2014 Social Dialogue 15
FEATURES
Though domestic and family violence was the Network’s
– the Posters and Coasters campaign – to raise awareness
major concern, this issue was not raised directly by the
in licensed premises across the Cessnock local government
local residents. However, since ‘art allows you to see what
area (LGA).
is really going on’ (Ruskin, in Crombie, 2007), this was an ideal medium through which to engage the community
Given the history of neglected concerns, where possible,
in the ‘Safe at Home’ project. The community’s concerns
attempts were made to address residents’ issues either
centred on place-based issues. For example, residents
directly through the ‘Safe at Home’ project or referral to
wanted a better path between the housing estate and local
local agencies. The core artwork – the park installation –
school, to make it suitable for parents with prams and a
was designed to strengthen community ownership of the
child in a wheelchair. Young people between the age of
project. The artworks were created through a series of
14-18 wanted goal posts in the park as there was nowhere
workshops with community members facilitated by two
to play football – and they inevitably ended up playing
local practitioners and children were actively involved.
in the street – but this was stalled by lack of support from
The permanent artworks stand as lasting reminders to the
the local council. Many residents complained about noisy
community of the importance of being ‘Safe at Home’ and
unregistered dirt bikes and suggested speed humps, barriers
free from violence.
and police intervention. This was followed up with the NSW police and led to a crackdown on unlicensed bike riders in the area. Many families expressed difficulties with involving their children in organised sport and other activities due to the associated costs. Subsequently, the Housing NSW community development worker initiated discussions with the local Police Citizens Youth Club for regular transport to the estate to enable young people to take part in their services and Youth off the Streets provided after school activities in the neighbourhood. There were ongoing concerns about vandalism in the community by a particular child and family. The Housing NSW community development worker initiated a series of joint structured interventions with the Department of Community Services that led to improvements in the child’s antisocial behaviours. The need for regular community cleanups and park maintenance, including better management of the passes for the local Council waste depot distributed by Housing NSW led to negotiations with the local City Council to support a local resident in regular park maintenance and refuse collection. An issue closely related to the high incidence of D&FV on this estate was the high level of drug and alcohol use. This was addressed directly through one of the Project’s artworks
16
Afterthoughts about the Who, What, When, Where, and
projects, such as ‘Safe at Home’, is difficult in the short-term,
How of Arts-based Community Development
some attempt was made to assess whether these particular arts-based interventions had any impact on community
Who: We had to be clear about who constituted our
attitudes toward DFV. For example, the posters and coasters
community. This project developed as a response to three
were found to have the greatest reach with 97.2% uptake by
different communities: the Network, East Cessnock, and
the licensed premises that offered to take part in the project
the broader Cessnock LGA. Working across these differing
(see Schubert, 2012).
communities was complex and challenging with project leaders constantly balancing competing needs and priorities.
Anecdotally the project was positively received on measures
Ultimately, the Network and East Cessnock community
of community engagement and social inclusion (Schubert &
constituted the who of the project.
Gray, 2013). It acted as a catalyst for action and involved over 40 artists, community developers and social workers,
What: The what was the Network’s agenda of addressing
achieving benefits well beyond its stated remit of D&FV. Its
D&FV. It led essentially to a health promotion strategy, using
place-based focus enlivened the surrounding neighbourhood
art-based community development, to raise community
and brought community members and children together
awareness of D&FV.
through the artworks. While the project was time limited,
When: To achieve the goal of ‘safety at home’ required long-
the artworks endure to challenge the long-standing negative
term intervention beyond the time-limited ‘Safe at Home’
reputation of the East Cessnock neighbourhood. Inclusive
project. Since communities do not operate during business
community engagement, participation and recognition
hours, a perennial problem of community development
of the interests of the different groups involved in the
is how to support after-hours community activities – after
project were essential to its success given this was a highly
school, in the evening and on weekends. Hence key
process-oriented community development project (Sharp et
activities to engage the East Cessnock community, such as
al., 2005). Inclusivity was ensured in a variety of ways: A
Art in the Park (see Figure 1), took place over the weekend.
community door knock gathered a wide range of residents’
Children were engaged through after-school activities and
views and encouraged broader levels of participation as did
the children’s drawings ultimately formed the main themes
the posters and coasters campaign and cutout project. This
of the large mosaic part installation (see Figure 2).
increased adult participation in, and the geographical reach of, the project. These well-managed processes maximised
Where: This collaborative project required cooperation
community
between organisations, especially since there had been long-
al., 2005). Community members came together most
standing differences of opinion as to whose responsibility
successfully, at least in numerical terms, at two community
it was to maintain and improve the park in Alkira Avenue
events (Schubert & Gray, 2013). A sense of community,
where the pivotal artwork was installed.
place, ownership and inclusion was most strongly present in
ownership
and
empowerment
(Sharp
et
the creation of the installation works but this was primarily How: To ensure worker safety, a buddy system was
with children, who were major participants in the project.
implemented with two practitioners worked together at all times. Besides working in partnership, shared leadership led
In conclusion, ‘Safe at Home’s’ arts-based community
to a maximisation of outcomes through clear communication
development approach succeeded in involving community
and follow up of ideas, issues and concerns as they arose.
members at all stages of the project from gathering ideas,
These community development action strategies were
planning, designing and gathering further contributions of
supported by active media campaigning and were sustained
drawings, to the final design, creation and production of the
beyond the art-based agenda.
artworks. In taking this inclusive approach, the project was able to use arts-based community development as a vehicle
Though evaluating the impact of community development
for the creation of hope that change was, indeed, possible and achievable.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 17
Some
Community Development Projects (CDP)
Around the World
North America - Urban justice The Community Development Project (CDP) at the Urban Justice Center strengthens the impact of grassroots organizations in New York City’s low-income and other excluded communities. We partner with community organizations to win legal cases, publish community-driven research reports, assist with the formation of new organizations and cooperatives, and provide technical assistance in support of their work towards social justice. Our issue areas include: ．fair housing and anti-displacement ．workers’ rights ．consumer justice ．economic development ．civic participation ．access to affordable health care ．environmental justice
Harvard Kennedy School CDP The Community Development Project (CDP) harnesses the academic and professional resources of Harvard University to facilitate civic engagement in economic development projects in underserved communities. The CDP Consulting Team is made up of Harvard Kennedy School students. They are diverse in race, ethnicity, and cultural heritage, and all share a vision of America as a place where everyone has a chance to succeed. They are committed to making this vision of equal opportunity a reality. Most members of the team have a personal connection to communities in the South, and some have ties to the Delta in particular. The CDP Consulting Team was drawn to Greenwood and Baptist Town, Mississippi, because of a strong belief that the residents of Greenwood and Baptist Town are in a unique position to shape their community’s future. Together, the team will design a path to a better future for Baptist Town and for the broader community of Greenwood. ProWorld is committed to empowering communities, promoting economic development, and conserving the environment by cultivating compassionate global citizens. ProWorld matches professionals with community projects in developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America. From building cleaner-burning stoves in Peru to empowering women in Thailand, participants make a real difference in local communities. For more than 12 years, ProWorld has offered unique internship opportunities in healthcare, environment and social-economic sectors. ProWorld has also created customized overseas programs for more than 70 American and Canadian universities and colleges.
18
ProWorld currently offers programs in Belize, Brazil, Ghana, Peru, and Thailand. Current opportunities include: ．Community Development - install clean-burning stoves, build ceramic water filters, or construct schools ．Environmental and Wildlife Conservation - work in a national park, assist in water conservation, or plant trees to reforest depleted ecosystems. ．Education and Teaching - work as a teacher's assistant, teach English or educate teens on current social, health and environmental issues. ．Health Care - conduct field-based clinical, public health and research programs. ．Youth Programs - assist with youth sports programs, work with after-school activities or volunteer in daycare centers
ProWorld Social Development Internships
ProWorld internship abroad programs allow you to gain valuable professional experience as you intern at a nonprofit, NGO or other local organization. Internships are specifically designed to provide you with professional experience. Internships are diverse and fascinating opportunities for career exploration. Internship programs, which are usually 2-6 months long, allow participants to work on more in-depth projects. Spanishspeakers can help disseminate information about Andean traditional textiles and support and collaborate with existing communities of weavers in Cusco, Peru, while English-majors can write articles on local politics and human rights issues in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Proworld Custom Group Programs
ProWorld custom group programs are for groups of 10 or more and include customized length and dates, pre-trip organizational support and materials, intensive on-site orientation, coordination and funding of group or individual development projects, group or homestay living with 3 meals per day, and daily staff support and contact. In addition, ProWorld can help with curriculum development and offers weekly adventure and cultural experiences. www.proworldvolunteers.org/custom-groups
Latin America SOS Children Charity CDP SOS Children is a global charity, and for over 60 years they have been supporting children, families and their communities to flourish. They believe every child should belong to a family and grow up with love, respect and security. Prevent children ending up alone, abandoned or in institutions through our
community programmes which support families in need. When children can no longer live with their family, SOS Children charity provide long-term care and a supportive family environment in an SOS Children's Village.
Eastern Europe CDP in Bosnia supported by World Bank The Community Development Project will improve basic services, and facilities for low-income, and poor communities in under-served municipalities, as well as improve the governance, and capacity of local governments, in the delivery of services, through better partnerships in investment identification, and decisions. http://www.worldbank.org/projects/P070995/communitydevelopment-project?lang=en
Western Europe Pobal CDP in Irish Pobal manages the Local and Community Development Programme (LCDP) on behalf of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. The programme aims to tackle poverty and social exclusion through partnership and constructive engagement between Government and its agencies and people in disadvantaged communities. The LCDP is the outcome of the integration of the former Local Development Social Inclusion Programme (LDSIP) and the Community Development Programme. It is now delivered primarily by Local Development Companies. It has the following goals, with particular focus given to the delivery of goals 2 & 3, each of which receive approximately 40% of programme funds: Goal 1 - Promote awareness, knowledge and uptake of a wide range of statutory, voluntary and community services Goal 2 - Increase access to formal and informal educational, recreational and cultural development activities and resources Goal 3 - Increase peoples’ work readiness and employment prospects Goal 4 - Promote active engagement with policy, practice and decision making processes on matters affecting local communities
Sub-Sahara Africa Kenya Voluntary and Community Development Project Company Overview: Kenya Voluntary & Community Development Project is a non-political, non-racial and non-profit making registered organization under the certificate number BON/S.H./4076. The organization spans across many issues all geared towards the interventions that improve quality of life in the Kenyan communities.
Mission: Increase the participation of beneficiaries in the planning and implementation of their initiatives in poverty alleviation and development activities such as economic infrastructure, health education, water supply and sanitation, agriculture and livestock production and environmental conservation Boma CDP The BOMA Project is a U.S. nonprofit and registered Kenyan NGO with a proven track record, measurable results and a transformative approach to alleviating poverty and building resiliency in the arid lands of rural Africa. Oceania Scanlon Foundation CDP in Australia Supporting Parents - Developing Children' in the City of Hume in Victoria The Huddle' Learning and Life Community Centre in North Melbourne National Community Hubs Project
Middle East , South Asia, East Asia and Southeast Asia Reach out to Asia(ROTA) CDP ROTA's mission is to extend that assistance into Asia - where it's strategic geographic location gives it a unique opportunity to support its neighboring countries as they overcome developmental difficulties. In addition, more than 60% of Qatar's own expatriate community is of Asian origin, giving ROTA added insight and understanding of the needs and cultural norms of the Asian people.
UNOPS The South-East Asian Community Access project (SEACAP) CDP The South-East Asian Community Access project (SEACAP) is a transport initiative aimed at developing the knowledge base needed to improve the access of rural communities to social and economic opportunities. http://www.unops.org/english/whatwedo/UNOPSinaction/ Pages/South-East-Asian-Community-Access-Project.aspx
UN-HABITA regional office for Asia and Pacific CDP The United Nations Human Settlements Programme, UNHABITAT, is the United Nations agency for human settlements. It is mandated by the UN General Assembly to promote socially and environmentally sustainable town and cities with the goal of providing adequate shelter for all. http://www.fukuoka.unhabitat.org/projects/index_en.html
April 2014 Social Dialogue 19
FEATURES
(Photo from Google)
Sustainable Community Development:
The Social Economy Basel as Example of Social and Solidarity Economy Practice Isidor Wallimann, Maxwell School, Syracuse University
Introduction The social and solidarity economy (SSE) can be understood as a kind of counter-culture, counter-economy, and expanded democracy. It challenges the conventional societal and economic system. It is rooted in democratically run companies, and creates a totally novel understanding of the social bond and connectedness in our society. The organisational basis for it can be conceived as a cooperative, democratic network of businesses and civil society organisations interested in and willing to pursue local, socially and ecologically sustainable development. Operationally, such a network would have to deal with the following type of questions: 1. How is it possible to stop the outflow of resources from the network? 2. How is it possible to increase the inflow of resources from outside the network? 3. How can the the network grow through internal growth, e.g. by organizing a certain credit volume within the federation? 4. How can economic and socio-cultural integration be encouraged for the federation to attract outsiders to join?
20
Of course, various courses of action can answer to the above questions, depending on the SSE’s point of departure and the social and political setting within which it is embedded. Basically, the SSE approach can be summarized as follows: It does not aspire to keep pace with growth driven “industrialism” of multinationals, it rather seeks to get away from it. It will seek more qualitative over quantitative growth. It is more labor intensive and pays lower wages, it aims at building communities making individuals independent of those with concentrated privately owned capital. It does not seek to abolish the market economy, but rather to find relative protection from it and build resilience against its blackmail and extortions. It emphasises resources – not deficits – people have, particularly in those who have been labelled as lacking resources by traditional labor markets. It does not seek to divide up communities but to expand them by pooling resources for mutual use. It aims not for a short term, but for a long-term synergetically derived existential security for an ever increasing number of people
Social Integration for Growth One way to generate social integration is for the federation to
The Social Economy Basel: An example of Practice
issue its own hour based currency which facilitates exchanges
An example of such an effort is the Social Economy Basel
between individuals within the SSE network. With very few
www.sozialeoekonomie.ch. It saw its beginning with the
resources, the federation can implement an exchange and
Social Economy Association (SEA) founded in 1996. With
trading center for its and outside actors. A simple market web
its membership and a one member one vote system the
page or paper can for all participants list supply and demand
association strives to build a prototype of SSE. The idea
and, thus, summarize all exchange possibilities. All members
is similar to that of “biotopes” which represent attempts to
of the exchange and trading circle start at no cost to them
preserve bio diversity amidst and against the odds of industrial
with a certain number of hours to begin exchanging. Thus,
society and agriculture damaging bio diversity. The SEA
adults and children can provide services to each other, pay
Basel mission is to contribute to social, local and ecological
for them in hours, and even move on to paying for goods
sustainability on a local and regional level. Its growth is
in hours if they so wish. In such exchange circles all have a
kept at an “organic” level so as not to depend on top down
greater range of exchanges available than would otherwise be
outside funding. Human resources and funding needed for
the case without the exchange circle. Finally, it takes but time
administrative tasks and growth emanate in grassroot fashion
and some skill to participate in such exchange circles. This is
bottom up from “the movements”.
a labor time not capital based approach to enhance both SSE growth and cohesion.
The Institute for Social Economy
For the same purpose, currency backed alternative local
The SEA Basel – being the first of its kind in Switzerland –
money may be issued by the federation. Alternative Money
immediately began to cooperate with other similar attempts
is bought with “official” money – and can under certain rules
and likeminded organisations in Germany, France and
be exchanged back into “official” money. Using alternative
Luxembourg in starting the Institute for Social Economy. Some
money can be made more or less compulsory for firms and
activities were joint efforts, for others the SEA Basel was acting
indivduals within the federation. If desired, individuals and
alone. The purpose was to
firms outside the federation may also be encouraged to participate. Participation may also be promoted by selling the
．Inform the public about social economy and
alternative currency at a discount given certain conditions are
its potential in handling present and future problems
met. As alternative money circulates, some of the “official”
of development
money with which alternative money was bought can be invested in the SSE network and, thus, is a form of credit.
．Offer public courses and conferences on issues pertaining to SSE
In this sense, all who purchase and use alternative money
．Give interviews and offer statements on SSE to mass
also promote the SSE at no cost to them. As with the hour
media, and to encourage research and publications
based currency, the “official money” backed currency, too,
concerned with SSE and its development
contributes to SSE cohesion and growth.
Sozialoekonomie website. (Photo from Schweizerischer Konsumenten Verband)
April 2014 Social Dialogue 21
FEATURES
The Social Economy Network Cooperative In 1998 when SEA founded the Social Economy Network Cooperative starting with already existing worker self managed firms and civil society movent organisations. Membership is open only for organisations. Each network coop member has one vote irrespective of its size. Organisations with various legal forms are accepted as long as statues guarantee the one member one vote principle, and that members may decide over employment practices and the use of surpluses. For
Over the years, the network cooperative and/or the social economy association have provided collateral coverage for network members, grant loans and microloans to them, start small new for profit businesses, and not for profit movement organisations. The latter often have a food policy and urban agriculture focus www.urbanagriculturebasel.ch . Investments have been made in neighborhood solar energy plant run by one network member. Social cohesion and SSE development is enhanced by a newsletter, the SSE fair, time based exchange circles and a Swiss Franc backed alternative currency.
profit or not for profit organisations may be federation coop members. As a result, the network cooperative is composed of a combination of commercial and civil society. Especially the latter are grounded in new social movements such as the social justice, the environmental and the women’s movement. The network cooperative also considers civil society organisations as socially necessary producers of public goods – mostly information, education, politics and culture. In Basel, therefore, they are part and parcel of the SSE even though the value of their production – though real and socially necessary – cannot not be monetized, as is true for other public goods. In terms of growth the Social Economy Basel and its network coop is kept in an organic growth pattern that does not depend on outside funding. The Social Economy Network Cooperative aims to: ．Enhance the social, economic and political cohesion among network members ．Build a local platform for moving towards local, social and ecological sustainability, and to politically mobilize social,economic and political forces towards this goal ．Promote the exchange of goods and services among members of the network ．Promote the exchange of goods and services between the network and firms, organistions and individuals outsite the network ．Locate new markets and social movement spaces and to establish new businesses and civil society organizations ．Organize collateral guarantees for bank loans to federation members ．Make micro loans for federation members, small coop start up businesses and new civil society organisations ．Engage in sustainability enhancing investments ．Issue alternative currencies
Alternative Currencies of the Social Economy Network To enhance social cohesion and give marginalized individuals an instrument for social integration and fringe income, a LETS type time based exchange system was started in 2000, then another one in 2005. Both operated well but were dissolved
BNB BonNetzBon (Goodnetwrok Voucher)
after about 2 years because too many participants had life circumstances changed. In 2002 the Swiss Franc backed alternative currency BNB (GoodNetworkVoucher) was launched. In a pilot phase it was first tried only among members of the Social Economy Network Cooperative. Subsequently, it went public in 2005 to include individuals, businesses and NGOs outside the coop network. Some 120 firms and non profit organisations presently accept the BNB. In so doing they receive free publicity. Participation is free of cost. The BNB is valid for 3 years, when bills in circulation can be exchanged free of charge for the new series. There is no penalty when BNBs do not circulate within a given time. All circulation is based on ideational movement energy and cooperation. Due to cooperation with the neighboring social economy in Mulhouse (France), the BNB can be exchanged against the French SOL – and inverse – being used in the Alsace social economy network. The BNB can be bought by anybody with Swiss Francs. Members of the network coop and their membership may purchase the BNB at a discount of ten percent. The BNB can be exchanged back into Swiss Francs at a small loss to cover expenses. Swiss Francs not needed for liquidity are used for loans to network coop members, or is invested in renewable local energy production. To further stimulate the social economy, loans are/can be made in BNBs or be paid back in BNBs. Loans made are usually interest free.
22
One goal is to make self produced energy units backing the BNB and move away from Swiss Francs as the currency backing the BNB. Another goal is to combine the BNBhours exchange system with the Swiss Franc backed BNB. This would allow for a very low level entry path into the the social economy Basel exchange system. I would require only time and skills, no financial resources, and provide participants with the option of exchangeing BNBhours for Franc backed BNBs leading to a wide range of products and services commonly not available for a BNBhours exchange circle.
Concluding Remarks Not all political systems have civil society well developed. As a result, it can be expected that new social movements, too, are not as prevalent in such societies. Equally, the coop movement and tradition may not have had much traction in some societies and economies. Furthermore, sustainable local development may be an objective for rural areas – not for a small urban space as is the case for the Social Economy Basel. Typically, new social movements have a lower density in rural compared to urban spaces. Alternatively, cities might be huge metropolitan spaces. In such situations, SSE might follow a “Plan-B”, a modified local chambre of commerce
The Surplus Value the Alternative Currency BNB
approach. Under “Plan-B”, a network coop could nevertheless
Given the Social Economy Basel system as it is conceived and practiced, the BNB has a significant surplus value. The BNB
intent to move towards sustainable social and ecological development on the local or regional level. The same could also be conceived as a possibility for a segment or sector
．Is locally and democratically controlled money
of a metropolitan area (somewhat like the neighborhood
．Does not leave town or the region
housing construction and habitat coops in 19th and early
．Cannot be used for speculation
20th Century European Cities). Nationally or internationally
．Helps in fighting undesirable global competition ．Connects people interested in promoting local
be envisioned for various small local businesses and NGOs
mobile companies would be excluded from membership in
the network cooperative for reasons articulated above. Many
development for sustainability
SSE guidelines and strategies outlined above would still hold,
．Provides identity for those interested in local development towards sustainability, and allows them to display this identity ．Serves as a general symbol for local development and
however. Their operationalization and application would follow a similar pattern, though some different outcomes, uncertainties or risks might have to be considered.
the transition towards sustainability ．Strengthens social movement energy for local development towards sustainability ．Supports local business and NGOs ideationally and commercially as they support local development towards sustainability ．Can consciously be spent in support of Social Economy Basel efforts to bring about sustainability ．Generates funds for loans to federation NGOs
and businesses working for local development towards sustainability ．Generates funds for new start up federation NGOs and businesses working for local development towards
BNB BonNetzBon (Goodnetwrok Voucher) (Photo from Polymer Bank Botes of the World)
sustainability ．Generates funds for investments in local renewable federation coop energy production ．Entails and teaches an alternative understanding of the nature and role of money ．Stands for an economy embedded in society, not for a society dominated by the economy
April 2014 Social Dialogue 23
FEATURES
"Fernandes Tomás” street after InProject (Photo from InProject (From author))
InProject: A Collaborative Intervention
in the Urban Community of Coimbra (Portugal) Helena Neves Almeida, Joana Guerra
Presenting InProject The InProject is the designation of a community intervention project developed by a group of students of the 1st study cycle in Social Work along with the professors Helena
and friendship. Ultimately, it was intended that students developed a sense of democratic participation, an active belief in the person’s and community’s abilities and in the positive contribution of working collaboratively.
Neves Almeida and Joana Guerra under the curricular unit of Planning and Project Management. This project was linked to the first Festival of Social Crochet, under the Plan for Equality and Citizenship of the City Hall of Coimbra, Portugal in partnership with the Observatory on Citizenship and Social Intervention (OCIS - Observatório da Cidadania e Intervenção Social), established in the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra. The primary goal was to create a real opportunity for students to voluntarily participate in a project of community intervention with features that are not usually under the paradigms of current public social policies. That is, it was intended to participate in the design and implementation of an innovative project and promoter of social change, in order to solve a
after "Fernandes Tomás” street roject InProject (Photo from InP )) hor aut m (Fro
problem or an existing social need, experimenting new forms of association and building partnerships in the community where they exist. This was a methodological challenge because the core promoter of this project was to build empowering relationships and new support networks that acknowledge nonmaterial resources like creativity, commitment, affection
24
InProject team: students, professors, residents and traders of the intervened street with the local government officials and Faculty’s Dean. (Photo from InProject (From author))
Ties Binding the Project: The Starting Point Starting from a reflection on the current problems and needs of the portuguese society, InProject team felt strongly motivated to address the problem of aging, and specially draw its attention to social isolation of seniors living in urban contexts.
of life in order to ensure that it is experienced in a positive way. The components that make old age triumphant are health, functional ability, good cognitive and physical functioning and a high commitment to life through interpersonal relationships and active participation in society. Participating in activities that involve interaction with different generations allows the exchange of knowledge and the rediscovery of skills and
The phenomenon of aging as a social phenomenon went
capabilities that are no longer so present in everyday life.
beyond the private sphere of the family and became a complex and multidimensional challenge that concerns the whole society. The care for the elders, most often based on family, cannot only be framed in the implicit family love, because many times these ties do not exist or are fragile or careless. The seat of the attention to the elderly is responsibility of all and for all.
So, InProject supported active aging through fundamental principles
like
intergenerational
solidarity,
democratic
participation and affective relationships between people and the place where they move and live. To place these principles in motion, InProject developed a plan of action which ensured a strategy based on activating personal resources and creating alliances. To do so, and recalling the general framework of InProject which is the 1st Festival of Social Crochet, we forged alliances among seniors,
)
neighbors, traders and local government in order to plan an artistic intervention in the street. Just like an open sky gallery. Students and seniors conceived this intervention with umbrellas made in crochet. The idea was to suspend them in a street to symbolize the act of “protecting” the seniors from social isolation, even when they live in central and busy geographical areas. So the first activity was to study better the features of the chosen street. “Fernandes Tomás” is the oldest street of the town and over the years has decreased its young resident population and increased the number of the elders residing alone. It was a good field to work "Fernandes Tomás” street after InProject (Photo from InProject (From author))
Be old or older does not mean belonging to a homogenous group with standardized attributes and needs. It must be recognized the differences and have them as a starting point because to get old alone is not the same to get old in the family, or is not the same to age in rural or urban contexts, or is not the same to get old isolated or surrounded by neighbors, is not the same to get old at our own home or in an institutional environment or is not the same to age with a sufficient retirement or to live with low benefits, it is not the same to age in a community that cares and involves or in a community that segregates and excludes.
The Process of Activating Resources We contacted with dwellers and traders of this street to propose the placement of umbrellas. They had a great response to this challenge. And together we had a common goal: by the 4th of July (Coimbra’s Holiday), the street where they live and work would be transformed into a special art place. Students, residents of the street, traders, local government align efforts to make this activity come true. To support the production of fifty umbrellas made with crochet art we created distinct activities: brief lectures to publicize the project to the student’s community, with the consequent request for umbrellas; we’ve made one intergenerational workshop to learn how to do crochet and one seminar to present the project to the entire
Being a senior is to belong to a very heterogeneous group whose common denominator is age. And it is important to make sure that is advantageous to prepare this natural phase
community. At the same time we visited and talked to people of the street many times. Everybody shared knowledge and experiences of life.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 25
FEATURES
Ending with Success The umbrellas were designed by each person who wanted to participate. We had the collaboration of social work students and teachers, friends, families and senior residents of Fernandes Tomás street. And, on the 3rd of July, InProject collaborators participated in the setting of the exhibition in order to be inaugurated in the next day by the Mayor and Faculty’s Dean. The exhibition was composed by fifty four umbrellas and remained in the street until August 31 in accordance to the timetable of the 1st Festival of Social Crochet. Residents and traders became cicerone’s exposure, explaining to tourists and passers the symbolism of the umbrellas. The street became busy, the windows more often occupied with lively conversations and cafes became busiest. The media, through newspapers and television programs,
"Fernandes Tomás” street after InProject (Photo from InProject (From author))
blogs of tourism, gastronomy, photography blossomed one of the oldest streets of the city and used it as a reference that shouldn ́t be missed during the summer of 2013. The umbrellas made with crochet produce cheerful, colorful and artistic effects which translate moments of sharing and warmth created by people of different generations involved in this initiative. Everybody contributed to transform a commonplace into a special symbol of intergenerational solidarity. Residents, costumers, tourist, passers-by circulated through a street that normally was not part of their way or usual tourist track or path. "Fernandes Tomás” street after InProject (Photo from InProject (From author))
shops Results of the intergenerational work or)) auth (From ject InPro from to (Pho
26
Final Thoughts The inherent creative attitude in designing innovative solutions in social intervention constitutes a procedural guideline reference to participatory methodologies. In this context, the term "bricolage" becomes the keystone. It translates the knowledge of weaving social ties, the art of composing the leads that are given as non-existent or ruptured, using relationships of proximity with the actors involved in the social abb. It consist of taking advantage of opportunities of the environment and of the human and social resources, combining them persistently and continuously "everything is possible" in the action; to assess the constraints it focuses on the power of communication, the value of solidarity and the
It was possible to revert the data to the community in a public meeting with the desideratum to provide the necessary visibility of this initiative and contribute to the assessment of the impact on people's and community’s lives, integrating InProject into the roadmap of best practices about teaching and learning through the articulation between the University and the surrounding community. One of the products of this activity was a video about the experience developed, referred to the European Association of Schools of Social Work that this College (FPCEUC) is a member. It was worth the challenge and the entire path followed and performed with and for all.
goals that guide the construction of hope. Following this logic, the resources, in its instrumental dimension, are subordinated to the goals and are no more than integrated elements of a participatory intervention strategy its individual and collective dimensions intersect without loss of identity. Each person, each individual context is worthy and doesn’t dilute in the geographical, social, economical and cultural collective, but also cannot turn off the context in which the inter-societal relations express themselves and gain meaning. In a participatory logic, there’re no absurd ideas. Ideas are its “feed” because they allow to explore senses, to evaluate opportunities and constraints, to cruise information, to share knowledge and to create synergies to social alternatives. The InProject is an example of operationalization of this concept and how an idea evolves and changes into a
"Fernandes Tomás” street after InProject (Photo from InProject (From author))
project. A team of young students, available to think of an unstructured idea and give it some sense, took the challenge and went to the field to confront and to build their skills in relation to the others: the population, the political, economic and social actors. The team discovered the power of word, teamwork and networking, the potential of participatory methodologies. From the experience excels the value of individual and collective motivation in training processes. Without it all paths become difficult and sometimes painful.
"Fernandes Tomás” stre (Photo from InProject et after InProject (From author))
April 2014 Social Dialogue 27
FEATURES Tetyana Semigina (Ph.D, MSW) Professor of the School of Social Work, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Ukraine)
Email: tetyanasemigina@gmail.com
Vasyl Nazaruk
(MA) Director of the All – Ukrainian Resource Centre for Social Enterprise Development ‘Social Initiatives’ Email: vasyl_nazaruk@ukr.net
Oksana Boyko
(MSW) Seniour Lecturer, School of Social Work, National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy (Ukraine), Email: boykoo@ukr.net
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
Social Enterprising in Ukraine:
quo vadis?’
The article will address the specific features of social enterprising in Ukraine, as well as provide an in-depth into local social enterprises’ activities. Some considerations will be provided re: the training needs of local social work academics to enhance their curriculum with social enterprising.
How it Started During last decades social entrepreneurship (SE) as a component of social development social work (Midgley & Conley, 2010) has become an important force in solving social issues, elimination of disproportions between social and economic development and achieving of sustainable development in different countries. Development of this new model of business becomes especially relevant in Ukraine, as it is a relatively young independent state (until 1991 it was a part of USSR) and it is yet at the stage of forming pervasive and efficient market economy, legislative base, as well as civil society institutes. In such socioeconomic situation many citizens are unprotected while facing global and local challenges. Thus it is very important to find and implement new efficient forms and methods to address emerging social issues (namely, unemployment, low level of living and others) like SE.
28
In fact, all the enterprises by the organizations of disabled people (with deaf impairments, blind and others) which have been working in Ukraine since 1991, according to the National Law ‘On the Basics of Social Protection of Invalids in Ukraine’ could be considered social ones. Additionally, civic society organizations, caring about diversification of the profits sources, used to create commercial projects or to become the founders of commercial organizations which, in their turn, transferred part of the profits to the founder. However, the phrase ‘social enterprise’ was not used in fact. Since 1994 the main providers of the SE concept in Ukraine were donor organizations, international projects and foreign funds which suggested Ukrainian non-profit organizations to apply basic principles of SE as one of the tools of their financial stability. Thus, since that social entrepreneurship has been considered in Ukraine as an entrepreneurship of not-
emy
for-profit organization which profit is used for implementing
The Centre covers the following four main areas of activities:
organization mission statement or statute goals.
1) analytic (research of social enterprising in Ukraine and abroad; exploring the best SE practices; analysis of financing
SE in Ukraine started its development on a system base (i.e.,
and training opportunities for SE); 2) information (creating
as a certain form of business) since 2004, when the UCAN
and maintaining the web portal on SE; disseminating the
program conducted a range of trainings and provided grants
studies and educating on SE; holding regularly the national
to civic organizations to establish social enterprises. Then
forum for Ukrainian SE); 3) education and training (trainings
the British Council hold an initiative in Ukraine in 2010
and workshops, consultations and advice for SE; practice
and successfully transferred its best experience of social
placements for students at SE; e-training via web portal);
enterprising. As the follow-up, it has created the Consortium
4) cooperation (promoting SE amongst all the stakeholders;
‘Social Enterprise Development’ which included itself, East
legal initiatives; support developing draft national strategy for
Europe Foundation, PricewaterhouseCoopers in Ukraine,
SE development in Ukraine; international projects).
International Renaissance Foundation (and Erste Bank. The above consortium has implemented the international program
The special webplatform was created for the Resource Centre
on training and experience exchange in this area, supported
‘Social Initiatives’ – ‘Social Entrepreneurship in Ukraine’
establishing four social enterprising resource centres in
(http://www.socialbusiness.in.ua/). The
different regions of Ukraine, provided grants and soft loans to
electronic database on social enterprises is places at this web
social enterprises.
platform along with the updates on social enterprising
In February 2013 East Europe Fuundation and DTEK (the
in Ukraine and relevant best practices. The first attempt was
privately-owned energy company) have launched the new
made by the Centre to collect data on SE in Ukraine and
social project aimed to created local economic development
on training opportunities – below there are published by it
agencies in four oblasts and to disburse costs for social
resource guides.
enterprises establishment and development. The activities would promote small business development and increasing the number of workplaces for vulnerable layers of population.
first
in
Ukraine
The Current Profile of Social Enterprises in Ukraine To analyze the situation with the SE in Ukraine and to
In Ukraine the notion and the core of SE itself have not
disseminate the best practices within the country, in early
been legalized yet. In some normative documents only few
2013 there was the study conducted by the School of Social
issues are mentioned related to SE. Use of the term ‘social
Work of the National University ‘Kyiv-Mohyla Academy’ and
entrepreneurship’ is purely tied up with donor programs.
the All-Ukrainian Resource Centre for Social Entrepreneurship
Currently the first steps are made to initiate its legalization in
Development ‘Social Initiatives’. The study was held within
Ukraine. Thus, in April 2013 there was a draft Law submitted
the frames of the Social Enterprise Development Project by
‘On Social Enterprises’ to Parliament of Ukraine, but it was
the Consortium support.
rejected due to the large number of significant comments to
The core criteria for respondents’ selection was availability
be considered.
of the social enterprise features, non-dependently of
The All–Ukrainian Resource Centre
the sizes of enterprise. Firstly, the activity should be profitable independently of the area and type of the
To promote SE development in Ukraine, there has been the
organization activities (production or services). Secondly,
All-Ukrainian Resource Centre established at the base of
the enterprise should have identified social aims which
the School of Social Work of National University of Kyiv-
should be documented. Finally, democratic governance and
Mohyla Academy (SSW UKMA) in September 2012. The
reinvestment of profit into enhancement of activities and\or
School provides permanent support to it with the staff,
on achieving identified social goals should be present.
students, volunteers to ensure its enhanced activities and wide coverage of different stakeholders. The project itself has
Contact details of social enterprises were provided by the All-
been implemented in cooperation with the civic organization
Ukrainian Resource Centre for Social Enterprise Development
‘Youth Centre on Social Sphere Transformation Issues ‘Socium-
‘Social Initiatives’, some of the contact details were taken
XXI’ established in 1998 by the graduates and lecturers of the
from the open sources. In total, 41 social enterprises from
SSW UKMA. Creating the Resource Centre was financially
12 regions of Ukraine returned the filled in questionnaires.
supported by the International Renaissance Foundation and
Though, these are not all the social enterprises of Ukraine,
East Europe Foundation.
however, based on this small sample, some general features of local social entrepreneurship might be analyzed.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 29
FEATURES
While in-depth analyzing of the data presented, it should be
financing social enterprises are their own investments (41%),
mentioned that the enterprises engaged into production, cover
credits (20%), grants (15%), civic organizations (14%), other
the following areas of activities: souvenir production, light
resources (12%) – costs from the budgets (public and local
industry (clothes sewing), producing juice and agriculture
budgets, charity, donations).
products, development and design of devices and tools for special group of clients (for blind and deaf people), producing
There have been the challenges analyzed faced by Ukrainian
food. Such social enterprises mention as a commercial
social enterprises the most frequently. Firstly, this is the lack
component selling goods at the market. Social goals of
of resources, mainly financial ones. Secondly, high and unfair
enterprises engaged into production of goods include work
competition with commercial organizations, as due to the
with such groups of people like disabled persons, women
lack of the SE notion in the local legislation, 54% of the SE
and children – home abuse survivors, children-orphans,
has to compete with local business organizations. However,
pensioners, children-graduates of boarding schools. But
another 46% does not feel the competition as the services
for clearly identified groups, social goal of such enterprises
they provide are unique and specific, thus the competition
include alcohol and drug abuse prevention amongst youth,
is low or almost lacking. Thirdly, lack of the notion of social
creating workplaces for people who need social rehabilitation,
entrepreneurship in national legislation results into difficulties
planning and organization of public services and enhancing
with the tax administration system and facing permanently the
the cultural level of the community.
lack of loans at privilege conditions. As principally important, the difficulties are mentioned with the local authorities
Those enterprises dealing with service provision are engaged
support and community support, as well as low community
into the following areas: education and personal development,
awareness on social entrepreneurship which results into the
micro financing, hippotherapy, selling second hand clothes,
lack of knowledge of the SE status and its core ideas. Another
consultations, sport clubs and sections for children activities,
challenge identified was corruption while purchasing services
mass media, nursery and non-school education, tourism,
by public structures. One of the core challenges were local
active leisure, polygraphy, marketing activities, health care,
authorities support and community support due to the low
furniture repair, medicine care, graphic design, selling
awareness of the SE status and its idea.
decorative and applied arts products, tire repair service. local enterprises are quite similar to the foreign ones – almost
Introducing Social Entrepreneurship into Academic Setting
all social enterprises which participated in the study are small
Having noted the growing interest to education on SE issues
as an average number of staff at the social enterprise does not
across the different stakeholders in Ukraine, the School
exceed three persons.
of Social Work of the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla
In terms of governance democracy at the Ukrainian
Academy in cooperation with the All-Ukrainian Centre for
social enterprises, specifically, making decision on profit
Social Entrepreneurship Development ‘Social Initiatives’
redistribution, though at most social enterprises this decision
initiated discussion in academic environment on possible
is made collectively (66%), one third of the social enterprises
ways for introducing social entrepreneurship in higher
which are mainly limited liability companies (LLC) or
educational institutions of Ukraine.
While speaking about the sizes of Ukrainian social enterprises,
physical person – entrepreneur have non-democratic model of making decisions, decisions are made by one person at
The initiative was supported by the British Council in Ukraine,
such enterprises.
and the two days workshop ‘Teaching social entrepreneurship in higher educational institutions’ specifically for academic
For the SE successful activities there is a need for the local
audience was held by Frier Spreckley (UK) on February 26,
authorities support. The study evidenced that larger part of
2013. At the end of the workshop the focus group was held at
social enterprises feels the support from the authorities –
the School of Social Work of the National University of Kyiv-
like support in funding the projects, assistance in providing
Mohyla Academy, by its staff to identify possible options for
benefits for the facilities rent, advertisement areas and others.
introducing SE into the Ukrainian academic setting.
In terms of community support – most social enterprises (78%) feel the community support, especially in those cases when
The 14 participants – lecturers from higher educational
the community is aware of the enterprise social goals (27%).
institutions – interested in SEand committed to its development in Ukraine, specifically, in academic setting, were the focus
While analyzing the main sources of SE financing, due to the lack of governmental support, the most popular form of
30
group participants.
In most cases it would be difficult to introduce SE into
are supported by international donors and implemented in
academic activities as a separate discipline/course, however,
relevant projects, via resource centres created.
it might be an optional course for students (preferably for
The study held in 2013 by the Resource Centre in cooperation
Master Degree students), as it is very difficult to change the list
with the SSW UKMA, evidenced that, due to the lack of legal
of mandatory disciplines in the curriculum. When speaking
notion of SE, social enterprises act in different organizational-
about social workers, it should be taken into account that their
legal forms in Ukraine. The most popular form is the SE
education standards are not approved yet. Thus it is possible
activities at the base of civic organization in cooperation with
to advocate the issues of introducing the SE course into the
the physical person-entrepreneur, as well as exclusively at the
education program for social workers.
base of civic organization. Social goals of enterprises engaged into production of goods and other activities may include
The most realistic perspective for most of the participants was
work with such groups of people like disabled persons,
introducing SE as a theme block/module of existing course/
women and children – home abuse survivors, children-
discipline - as this would not require formal approval by the
orphans, pensioners, children-graduates of boarding schools.
management of higher educational institutions
Training on SE issues is at its beginning development stage in Ukraine. It’s mainly related to absence of legal base,
It would be easy to introduce it as an optional course as this
lack of common agreement on what SE is in Ukrainian
would require making changes into existing curriculum and
context, lack of qualified trainers /lecturers and developed
programs. This would enable organizing mixed groups of
courses (academic and non-academic), as well as to the low
students from different faculties and specialties (managers,
community awareness.
social workers, sociologists, marketing specialists, economists etc.). Their specific knowledge in their own areas would
However, activities of civic organizations promoting SE
assist better implementation of projects, making practice
ideas, collecting and disseminating data and best practices,
assignments, as the very issue of social entrepreneurship is
conducting training and workshops for all those willing to
interdisciplinary itself. In such format it would be possible
establish SE; the first initiatives of Ukrainian academic staff
to involve practitioners and actual social entrepreneurs into
on exploring the content and format of SE education across
teaching.
the world and on initiating introducing special courses/ theme blocks in higher educational settings; development
The other suggestions were the following: as topics for the
of resource centres and other evidence that there is a great
course papers, BA and MA diploma papers, students’ papers
potential in Ukraine for active development of training and
submitted for academic competitions; as a training course in
education for social entrepreneurs.
the centres for advancing qualification or as a direction for postgraduate education; within the framework of activities of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, other organizations. Ukrainian lecturers listed a range of needs they feel to enable introducing SE into their academic settings, namely: relevant literature and– materials supported by practice; educating them on SE theory and interdisciplinary issues; preparing social environment to teaching new topics, including informing the management of higher educational institutions; involving local community of social entrepreneurs into disseminating information on SE in mass media, at different events; presenting local best practices of SE to wide community.
Conclusions
Kiev City, Ukraine
For Ukraine the SE is a new and under-studied issue. Implementing social functions, social services provision by commercial structures or small production at the base of social organizations (namely, those issues which are understood as SE) in Ukraine is not welcome by the state very much and is not supported by current legal base. Whereas the SE ideas
April 2014 Social Dialogue 31
FEATURES
Who Benefits from Community Development? Johannes Bertelsen and Rikke Posborg Johs Bertelsen: University of Copenhagen, European Litterature, mag.art. Rikke Posborg: Social worker from School of Social Work in Copenhagen. Has edited and published several articles and books within the social work and policy area.
Copenhagen, Denmark
In Denmark, community work has been part of social action and social work since the end of the 19th century. For many years it was not the authorities but private philanthropic, often Christian organizations who took the initiative to develop an important charity work in the cities' poor workingclass neighborhoods. Community work at the time was not designed as an educational tool, but consisted mainly of quite elementary relief assistance which aimed to alleviate poverty from the worst consequences in terms of lack of housing, food and clothing. Only 100 years later in the 1970s , in the light of inspiration from English social workers, Danish social workers began to develop actual teaching methods for community work and development. At this time the society changed radically from a very class divided industrial and rural society into a modern welfare state with equal democratic and educational opportunities for all citizens. This development, based on a very rapid technical and economic development, not only meant new opportunities for education and prosperity for every citizen but it also meant the risk some citizens or communities being lost in the rapid development and end up being marginalized without the opportunity to benefit from this development.
Christian Students Settlement In the following, we give an example of this development through a description of the private organization Christian
32
Vesterbro , where the Christian Student Settlement tried to implement this English concept of Toynbee Hall.
Students Settlement, where we have both been employees for a longer period. Christian Students Settlement (here after the Settlement) was established in 1911, influenced by an English model- Toynbee Hall in East London established in 1884. Toynbee Hall was neither concerned with providing emergency assistance in the shape of clothing and food, nor to inculcate the poor with a moral lifestyle. Samuel August Barnett, the founder of Toynbee Hall, rather engaged university students to work with the local communities. They were to live at the settlement and initiate various social and cultural events for the inhabitants in the poor quarters. The students would gain knowledge of the life in the quarters and the poor would be educated. These were two conditions that in the long run could benefit society. The Settlement tried to implement this English concept in the district of Vesterbro, one of Copenhagen's working-class neighborhoods with a population of approx. 80,000 people. The founders were clergy, academics and the staff was voluntary students who were invited to stay in the settlement while they participated in outreach social work, mainly meeting the district's children and elderly. Later, the families and the educational work in the broad sense became an important objective of the work of the Settlement.
New Times - New Identities 1 As mentioned, the teaching methodology for community work or community development was not yet fully developed, so the group was finding its way in this type of engagement with the local communities. The target was a working class population who had emigrated from the provinces in need of basic social support to their daily lives and in need of information and education so that they could establish themselves with an independent identity and an understanding of their new role as working in a big city. Community work based on voluntary students, was a meeting between two different classes of society, academics and workers, but it was also a challenge for the Settlement as to how the organization should position itself in this meeting and with subsequent interactions. Would the development of society and thus also the local community go through service of Christianity? Or should the Christians and academics show solidarity with the working class and the socialist movement, who had great influence in the working class neighborhoods in the early 20th century. Because of the very poor living conditions of the workers, both in terms of economics, housing and working conditions, it became quickly clear to both management and staff of the Settlement that efforts should focus on the material living conditions. The idea of giving the community an ethical and moral boost was it was agreed completely dependent on a tangible boost of workers' material situation. Until the end of the 1950s community work of the Settlement consisted of a combination of social assistance and support to working families internally in the community and an externally fight - in the medias and in political meetings and conferences – to get the public authorities to have attention in the poor living conditions that characterized the working class neighborhoods. An example of this was Vesterbro Housing Action.
The Housing-Action in the 1950s Back in the 1950s words like ‘tied to condemned houses’, ‘slum’ and ‘overpopulated apartments’ were everyday words that described the housing situation in Vesterbro with severe social and health problems in the everyday life of the children as well of the adults in the community. Many births in a family could be a burden for the elder children in a family. One worker tells how it became her duty to take a stillborn baby to the graveyard and how, after the mother had given birth to 11 children, an older brother got angry with their father asking why he did not to care to use protection. They slept 6 children in a tiny and crowded room. The family had for many years lived in different small flats in Vesterbro with limited heating (Fris Laneth 2011).
Listening to stories like the above case, the Settlement decided to take a broader approach to the problem. This action was called “Housing Action of Vesterbro”. Its aim was to convince the municipality to engage in renovation of some of the oldest blocks in the neighborhood and in other equivalent slum areas of Copenhagen. The Housing Action was build on the direct experiences from the living conditions for thousands of children and young people in the overcrowded, dark and damp flats in the streets of Vesterbro. The action for better housing was a specific fight against poor living structures and was as such aimed to help a whole neighborhood to better living standards. But the Housing Action did not enjoy a broader engagement from the working class people of the neighborhood. On the other hand the Housing Action was supported by a broader range of middle class people all over Copenhagen. Even though the whole community was no fully supportive, the Settlement’s engagement and leadership in the fight for better housing led to a stronger identity as a social political advocative organization, on the top of the everyday work with clubs and communities for children and families. As a consequence of the project The Settlement added community development to its portfolio.
New Times - New Identities 2 Danish society was characterized by powerful technological and economic development in the second half of the 20th century. This also helped to change people’s lives socially and culturally. Production conditions changed, and so did the jobs which had hitherto been linked to the old industrial society. There was an overall increase in welfare with new opportunities to participate in community life both educationally and to participate in democracy. For working class people and the working class neighborhoods, this was both an opportunity and a challenge. Women’s increased participation, employment and educational opportunities especially was difficult for the male-dominated working class culture as women found new ways of learning and of participation. The development was characterized by two different currents. For the strong and well-educated, especially women, the development meant emancipation and new opportunities. For the weak citizens without education and work, often men, the new times led to loss from well known social and cultural norms and previous work artisan work. Possessing skills no longer needed in the newly emerging workforce meant that these citizens became marginalized and unemployed. This situation presented new challenges for community work. Earlier you had been able to relate to a rather homogeneous audience in the form of a clear working class culture with clear standards and rules. Now you would have to deal with more individualized communities with no given standards
April 2014 Social Dialogue 33
FEATURES
and where there was a further marginalization as a result of the exit of the more resourceful citizens to other parts of the city.
Everyday Education One can also say that the community was overtaken by events and the time and that the remaining citizens therefore came to base their social and cultural life of non-simultaneity living conditions. The immediate symptom of the new situation of the community was that more and more citizens were unemployed and a spread of a general despondency. From being a neighborhood with local pride and strong community norms, the neighborhood was now marked by abandonment and behavioral problems especially among the youth in the form of alcohol and drug abuse and crime. We therefore considered that there was a need for a broader effort that could help people to catch up with and become familiar with the society they, due to lack of resources, had been disconnected from. We could see that it was not enough to qualify citizens educationally to meet society's educational requirements. We had also to help to improve the quality of everyday life in the community, so that people and the local communities could regain a strong identity and self-esteem. Based on the special experiences and resources of the citizens in the neighborhood, we would work to develop new communities and tasks that could enable people to match the demands of the society. Methodically, this concept is based on three main tasks:
An Interpretation and Understanding Task Here the project staff creates the in-depth interpretation and understanding of local social and cultural situation. A little schematic analysis can be done on 4 levels: a) Mapping of objective living conditions b) Knowledge of reactions and handling conditions c) Insight into local cultures d) Understanding the impact on the subjective level The interpretation level is very important to develop a learning process that provides security for the individual participant.
A Dissemination and Communication Task Based on the analytical work there is an important communication and dissemination task for the project manager. In this process you have to deal with important motivational and learning work, bonding internally in the community and an important bridge building outwardly towards the rest of society.
Creation of New Practical Contexts Helping citizens to move from non-simultaneity of concurrency is a step by step process that requires the possibility that individuals may move at a pace similar to the citizen's resources and psychosocial situation. It is therefore important that at a practical level we work towards creating employment and community opportunities that meet the individual's situation. Due to the development of society as mentioned Vesterbro had ended up in a marginalized situation. Almost all shops in the neighborhood side streets by now had closed down. As an educational tool to help people for a stepwise approach to the regular labor market we therefore decided to take over the closed shops in a street and to furnish them with purpose, which partly could provide new facilities for the community and also could create new learning and jobs for the unemployed citizens. (Photo from stockfreeimages.com)
Slum in the Borgergade-Adelgade neighbourhood of Copenhagen in 1950s (Photo from Wikimedia Commons)
34
The Side Street Project Prior to the establishment of the stores we made a survey of community residents to hear what features they wanted in stores. This led to the opening of the following stores: ．A cafe with inexpensive everyday dishes ．A laundry with hair salon , at this time there was no bath in residents' apartments ．A bicycle workshop ．A care and charity shop for vulnerable families ．A pottery workshop ．An organic store ．An Internet Café The Side Street project was opened in 1986. Today, 28 years later it still exists www.sidegaden.dk while the community Vesterbro today has changed completely character. After a thorough renovation in the 90s, it is now one of the city's most trendy neighborhoods inhabited by journalists, artists and academics. However, there is still a residual group of marginalized people, especially among immigrants and citizens with mental and social problems. For these citizens, the Side Street Project is still a good tool to either enter the labor market or to have a meaningful employment outside the actual labor.
Including the Excluded? The millennium called for a new public management in the social services which the Settlement and the Side Street Project could play an important role within the business community in the municipality. Not only in the establishment of the clubs for children and teenagers, but also in the activities concerning helping people back to or into job market, in which the shops in the Side Street Project had been very successful. And the kids clubs had likewise been able to bond with groups and individuals among the teenage girls and boys in the neighborhood, and keep them away from the streets and in to the clubs. For decades the municipality have given full economic support to the Settlement’s clubs for the kids and young people and to the free range and outreaching activities done by volunteers and paid employees. A major part of the children, mainly girls and boys from migrant families, did not pay a fee, and the Settlement sought private funding to cover these children’s fee - a practice that had lasted for years. For a time the municipality wanted to change routine in collection of membership fees, and wanted to centralize this collection instead of letting the club take care of these themselves through their contact to the parents or through private funding. So the municipality mailed the payment slips direct to the parents and consequently parents and kids announced that they had to give up membership, as they could not afford to pay the fee.
After several months of negotiation the Settlement succeed to convince the authorities to accept that the service which the Settlement offer the kids of the neighborhood cannot always fit into the boxes of a municipal administration. The case show the tendency to day: It is harder for volunteer organizations to get public funding in providing and setting up social help and support in close contact and cooperation with and for marginalized groups of citizens and at the same time to stand on our freedom to be a critical and alternative voice. The Settlement has chosen to ride on two horses. The one with activities based on volunteers and independence of municipal authorities. The other with activities paid by the municipality, in a contract based upon outsourcing and public tendering, as clubs, job training programs, educational programs for migrant women and mentorships. The Settlement’s role in community development is today framed by a partnership, set up by the municipality, in the local areal renewal of central Vesterbro, in which the Settlement is a board member.
Individualization Challenges Communities One track in this development is, that the municipality has taken over tasks and services, which the Settlement, together with the local citizens, started up on a volunteer basis and which today is fully paid and central managed by the municipality. Another track is the Settlement’s focus on developing social economic enterprises, based on the market, private customers and volunteer support from the civil society. And on more individualized services as the social counseling office, offering legal aid, case management, psychotherapy and debt counseling, run by a large group of volunteers with professional background and coordinated by 5 paid employees. These developments meet a demanded need among marginalized and poor citizens, whose chance to get a relevant and needed help from the public job centre or social services are poor.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 35
FEATURES
Social Workers:
Front Line Actors for Disaster Risk Reduction
Margareta Wahlstrรถm, UN Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Disaster Risk Reduction
Introduction The United Nations General Assembly requested the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) to facilitate the development of a post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction (DRR). Consultations of all stakeholders started in early 2012. These consultations, in combination with UNISDR reporting mechanisms, growing literature and relevant General Assembly deliberations provide a wealth of knowledge and guidance for the further development of the post-2015 framework for DRR. One of the lessons being learned from these processes is that policy on DRR, whether global, national or local, needs to draw more on the experience and insight of those most at risk. DRR will only be well achieved by including and hearing the voices of those who represent the most-at-risk populations, by their active participation, and by ensuring transparency to them of what is being done at higher levels of Governments. Social workers worldwide assist the individuals, groups and communities of the poorest and vulnerable to disaster risks.
36
In low income countries, where disaster risk is greatest, such persons mostly lack social security of any kind and are thus particularly at risk to disasters .
Social workers are
often powerful advocates of better development policy. They witness daily the interaction between the most vulnerable and their environments and usually complement their social work with community organization, lobbying and political action for positive social change. UNISDR strives to use the accumulated knowledge on disaster risk reduction, to date, to provide guidance and support for the preparation and deliberations of the upcoming Regional Platforms and meetings for DRR1 upon which the future post2015 framework will be built -through the formal preparatory process for the 3rd World Conference for DRR (Sendai, Japan, 14-18 March 2015). This paper outlines where a greater contribution by social workers would have a favorable impact on the quality of this ongoing work and of the new post-2015 framework for DRR that will soon emerge. Social workers are uniquely placed to
n
help to represent the interests of the poor and most vulnerable in the development of the framework, and their advocacy and active participation is vital to its successful implementation.
Post-2015 Disaster Risk Reduction and Social Workers As the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA 2005-2015) draws to a close, and in developing the post-2015 framework for DRR, it is important to recall progress towards its achievement to date.
On the one hand, many countries have made
some progress across all HFA Priority Areas. In particular, an improvement in development conditions in many low and middle-income countries, including an enhancement of capacities in early warning, disaster preparedness and response, have contributed to a downward trend in mortality risk, at least for those weather-related hazards where early warning is possible. However,
disaster-related
growth but has also led to a massive increase in hazard exposure, as new private and public investment have been concentrated in hazardous areas, such as cyclone and tsunami prone coastlines, flood prone river basins and in earthquake prone cities. Intensive risk has accumulated in hazard-exposed areas and is now transmitted around the world through global supply chains, representing a systemic global economic risk for business, governments and society at large. Social workers in whatever society are active in most of their communities, promoting problem solving, social change and the empowerment of people to enhance their well-being. Professional social work is focused on problem solving and change, wherein social workers act as change agents, addressing the complex interactions between people and their environments. Social workers address the barriers, inequities and injustices that exist in the society, responding to crises
economic
loss
and
damage
continues to increase. Economic globalization has spurred
and emergencies as well as to everyday social problems. With the poor being the most vulnerable to disaster risk, DRR has become fundamental in the social worker’s daily dynamic,
April 2014 Social Dialogue 37
FEATURES especially in developing and low-income countries. Social workers almost always combine their efforts to help individuals and groups with more holistic community organisation and social and political action to impact social policy and economic development. Social workers are especially powerful policy advocates because they are the front line workers who know the face of poverty, hazards, exposure and vulnerability better and are thus best placed to help design better policies to promote its risk resilient socioeconomic development policies and programmes. They see daily the vulnerability to disasters of the most disadvantaged members of societies and communities. Their beneficiaries’ homes, livelihoods, access to health care, clean water, schools and other services are all particularly at risk. Poorly
planned
and
managed
urban
development,
environmental degradation, poverty and inequality and weak governance mechanisms continue to drive rapidly-increasing loss and damage associated with extensive risk. This has devastating impact on exposed and vulnerable low-income households. Extensive risk is increasing even in countries and areas that are not exposed to major hazards, highlighting how both development and disaster risk reduction have not been sustainable and effective; this is particularly detrimental to low income communities. The creation of a more resilient humanity and environment requires strong international and local commitment, and goodwill to engineer the necessary changes to current development practices, processes and patterns. Policy and action need to go beyond the reduction of existing risk and prioritize the prevention of new risk accumulation. Risk management must be part of sustainable development policies and practices in order to tackle existing challenges and seize potential opportunities. Such policies cannot be successfully developed without the strong and active input of those working closest with the populations most affected. Those working in the front lines,
The Opportunity at Hand The elaboration and adoption of the post-2015 framework for DRR comes at a critical time, when two other major instruments that are relevant to the increase and management of risk are under discussion, namely climate change and the post-2015 sustainable development agenda and goals. This synchronicity is a major opportunity to define and agree upon an overall cohesive, coherent, and as much as possible harmonized post-2015 paradigm. This should enable the management of the risks inherent to development and that manifest through disasters, climate change and variability, financial and economic crises, and other consequences for the economy, society and the environment. From that perspective, climate change mitigation and adaptation need to be seen as part of broader risk management strategy.
and their community organizations, are highly effective activists for change in development policies that affect the poor. Moreover, they are often among the flag-bearers for that degree of political influence (usually modest) that the poorest, most disadvantaged in their societies manage to wield.
Challenges in managing risk have been well tested in practice at local, national and regional scales through the experience of HFA implementation. The post-2015 framework for DRR is hence, in a strong position to introduce the necessary changes to enhance current risk management practices in development planning and investment -a guiding tool for supporting the successful implementation of the future sustainable development goals and the climate change agreement. Managing risk effectively requires action from a variety of actors of local, national, regional, and global as well of a
38
public and private nature. Given the varied nature and scale of action, legally binding instruments and policy instruments, while necessary, are per se, neither sufficient nor suitable to provide detailed regulation and guidance. Indeed they need to be complemented and articulated by voluntary and explicit commitments and actions by stakeholder groups – such as community leaders, social workers, local governments, parliamentarians, business, and science groups – who want to assume the leadership and responsibility and thus contribute positively to managing the risk inherent to development. These commitments, often discrete and unnoticed, are emerging and deserve full appreciation and recognition as a significant contribution to the post-2015 framework for DRR. Against this background, a number of interlinked and mutually reinforcing elements and questions emerge as instrumental to effectively manage risk, and need to be captured in the overall outcome of the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction.
Expected Outcome, Strategic Goals and Priorities for Action The reduction of disaster loss and damage per se, as an outcome of the existing HFA, reflects a vision of disasters as external events and DRR as a sector that protects development. The expected outcome of the post-2015 framework for DRR, therefore, should not be described only in terms of reduced loss but rather in positive and aspirational terms such as secure, healthy, wealthy and resilient nations and communities. This would create a direct and mutually reinforcing link to the SDGs and specific targets. At the same time, it would increase the political and economic imperative for managing disaster risks, changing the perception of investment in risk management as an additional cost to one of an opportunity to create shared value. To achieve this outcome, the post-2015 framework for DRR needs to embrace three complementary and strategic goals, namely: 1) risk prevention and the pursuit of development pathways that minimize the accumulation of disaster risk to
The post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction Countries and stakeholders have indicated that the post2015 framework for DRR needs to: build on the experience from Hyogo Framework for Action, be practical and action oriented, strengthen accountability, be relatively short, and
the future ; 2) risk reduction, i.e. actions to address existing disaster risk; and 3) strengthened resilience, i.e. actions that enable nations and communities to absorb loss and damage, minimize disaster impacts on the social and economic aspects of individuals and communities and sustain development gains.
capable of addressing future natural and technological risk scenarios, hence far reaching. The post-2015 framework for DRR should also build on the inheritance of experience and principles enshrined in the preceding frameworks. The enhancement of clarity in responsibility, accountability and monitoring of implementation may benefit from moving to a framework structured around specific and strategic public policies, which can be complemented by stakeholders’ commitments. Overall, the identification of the substantive elements of the post-2015 framework for DRR may be guided by a question: considering that managing risk may require a variety of instruments and initiatives at local, national, regional and global level-what is it that is currently missing or unclear, but which, if agreed upon by the specific means of an global nonlegally binding framework, would enable more effective risk management? Each stakeholder group, including social workers and community organizations, should take this question as their entry point to ensure their perspective fully enriches the emerging framework.
Accordingly, the priority areas of the post-2015 framework for DRR needs to be defined in terms of critical public policies that address disaster risk in publically owned, managed or regulated services and infrastructures, and in the environment, but also that regulate or provide incentives for actions by households, communities, businesses and individuals. In order to make progress towards the expected outcome and strategic goals, public policies on risk management need to be underpinned by appropriate governance frameworks that incorporate actions not only by national and local
April 2014 Social Dialogue 39
FEATURES
governments but also by civil society, the private sector, the
Although formally not part of the post-2015 framework for
science and academic sector and others.
DRR, the voluntary commitments should be compiled and recognized as part of the overall outcome of the Conference,
Social workers, represented as they are in most of the
and in particular in the political declaration of the World
communities whose members are most at risk of disasters and
Conference, due to their value in guiding implementation
usually working with the very most vulnerable members of
and cooperation. To be practical and actionable, voluntary
those already vulnerable communities are a key additional
commitments should provide targets, indicators and means
group of stakeholders whose contribution to this governance
of verification and commit to periodic self-assessment of
approach will have important significance in the post-2015
progress.
effort to reduce disaster risk, worldwide. Already agents of change in these most high-risk communities,
The Political Declaration
the commitment of social workers to ensuring that their efforts
The political declaration of the World Conference is
to assist the most-at-risk are not literally washed away will
indispensable to give guidance on
surely make a considerable difference in the daily lives of
a number of crucial points, in particular on how the overall
those who could benefit the most.
outcome of the Conference needs to be interpreted, and how its components are connected. It is important that the
The voluntary stakeholders
commitments
of
The consultations have called for a strong participation by civil society including social workers, science, local authorities, local communities, media, business, and others in the development and implementation of the post-2015 framework for DRR. Moreover, the implementation of the HFA has been enriched, enhanced and accelerated by the development of voluntary commitments, plans, actions, and monitoring tools by key stakeholders such as the private sector’s “Five Essentials for Business in Disaster Risk Reduction”, and the local governments’ “ten essentials” and “self assessment tool” to make cities resilient. The formulation of more voluntary commitments at the regional and global levels by all stakeholders through the Regional Platforms, and their integration into the Conference’s overall outcome will constitute an enriching and powerful drive for the implementation of the post-2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. In particular, the voluntary commitments would represent the proposal by stakeholder groups for concrete actions to implement the post-2015 framework for DRR at regional and/or global levels. They would constitute an expression of leadership, provide a very solid basis for the implementation of the post-2015 framework for DRR, and indicate how all stakeholders could work together and generate the necessary shift “from shared risk to shared value”, captured in the 2013 Global Assessment Report on DRR.
40
Political Declaration build on the deliberations of the regional platforms, in which representatives of civil society have participated, in order to ensure harmony between global and regional levels and specificities. Proposed substantive elements for consideration in the political declaration include welcoming and appreciating the significance of the stakeholders “commitments”, as an essential sign of leadership, goodwill, needed cooperation and concrete action to articulate and implement the post2015 framework for disaster risk reduction. The importance of enhancing accountability at local levels may also be stressed.
Conclusion The emerging post-2015 framework for DRR takes much greater account of the importance of different groups of stakeholders. Social workers’ contributions are increasingly recognized for their front line quality, informing policy development and implementation based on daily experience working with those most vulnerable to disaster risks. There is great potential for social workers to be more involved
Of particular value would be the development of voluntary commitments by social workers in the different regions to be agents of change for disaster risk reduction in their communities. Such a commitment would be heard loudly in hundreds of thousands of the most disaster-affected communities around the world and would no doubt be recognized in the political declaration to be made at the end of the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction, in March 2015.
than ever in the global, national and local movements to reduce risk and build resilience. The coming new framework for post-2015 work is the current focus of attention, particularly the World Conference for DRR to be held in Japan in March 2015. In the year that remains before the conference, social workers and their organizations could contribute, importantly, to the refinement of guiding principles, as well as goals and priorities for disaster risk reduction post-2015. Social workers need to be well represented in the coming Regional Platforms that will discuss and refine understanding on the issues mentioned in this paper. Social work, while universal, is highly adapted to the culture, history and circumstance of each nation and locality, thus the Regional Platforms will provide at least a region-specific context in which to discuss the issues.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 41
FEATURES
Working with Children and Youth Living in the Streets of Durban:
Participatory Methodologies Vishanthie Sewpaul
This article describes extensive and
One of the major concerns that arose in our early work with
intensive research & SW intervention
them was the recurring report of abuse, and about being
with children and youth living on
rounded up and removed from the streets, especially during
the streets of Durban over a 10-year
major events, by the metro police. We tried to advocate on
period. The work was made possible
behalf of the children and youth by having meetings with the
through funding from the South African-
City officials.
Netherlands Partnership for Research and Development (SANPAD) and the National Lotteries Board in South Africa.
When I was the Chair of the Local Organising Committee for
The human resource capacity was, and continues to be
the 34th IASSW congress that was held at the International
provided by different groups of social work students who
Convention Centre in Durban in 2008, I was informed that
complete their field practicum through the project under my
as I objected to children being removed from the streets
supervision and guidance.
“the ball was in my court” – that I had to do something to ensure the safety of the delegates. This presented a dilemma. I
While we began with using participatory methodologies to
understood the need to protect delegates while being acutely
understand the children’s and youth’s views about services
aware of the need to respect the dignity and rights of the
available to them, the focus of research and intervention
children in the process. After much thought and sleepless
evolved over time.
We undertook intervention research,
nights, the idea that sparked was to use the strengths of the
informed by critical theory that asserts that research must
experiences of the children and youth living on the streets,
be used for emancipatory purposes and to engender socio-
and get them to be our friends and ambassadors. We thus
political change. We integrated multiple focus group meetings
combined an exceptionally successful global conference
that were mixed and separate for boys and girls; their drawings
with social responsibility as we trained and engaged the
depicting life on the streets; narratives of their journeys onto
children as ushers, street helpers, and workshop and plenary
the streets and the transitions made; narratives of experiences
presenters. So normalized is their experience of discrimination
of living on the streets; skills training and capacity building
and exclusion, that they had anticipated that they would be
in specific areas; income-generation; extensive casework and
treated differently from the conference delegates. For months
therapeutic group work; and photographic documentation of
afterwards they spoke about “eating the same food as all the
their experiences of life on the streets.
important overseas professors”. Given that the rubbish bin is one of their resources on the streets, this was an amazing experience for them.
The youth, Thulani, who was the
respondent to the keynote speaker at the Opening Plenary session, was found crying the following day. On enquiring, he said: “Vishanthie, I am crying not because I am sad but because for the first time in our life, I feel we are being treated like human beings”. He proceeded to say: “It may be too late
(Photo from Urban Times)
42
Respect the dignity and rights of the children (Photo from Wordpress)
for us but what can we do to prevent young children from
Thulani’s desire to prevent young children from migrating
coming to the streets”. Unfortunately, Thulani died two years
to the streets was echoed by others. After several hours of
later while trying to defend a younger child on the street.
consultation with the youth and supervision with the students the idea that emerged was to produce a video that to be
The accounts of experiences of abuse and violence by the
used with children at risk. Social work teamed up with the
metro police were dismissed as anecdotal and unreliable, and
Department of Performance Arts at the University, and based
we were frustrated about NOT BEING HEARD. As politicians
on the narratives of the youth produced a video where the
and policy makers tend to take numbers and statistics more
central message is: STREET LIVE IS DANGEROUS, IT HURTS
seriously, we undertook a survey on the experiences of life on
AND IT KILLS. The youth living on the streets act in the movie.
the streets. In accordance with our participatory ethos, the small groups that we were actively engaged with, helped us to
The video is available on:
develop the survey instrument through several brain-storming
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqKxyPlevVIGA23lo-
sessions, to gain entry to the broader population of children
iLVUA
and youth living on the streets and to collect the data. Upon analysis of the quantitative data we fed back the results to
The video has, and continues to be, used in schools in an
them and asked them what they wanted to do with the results.
effort to undertake primary preventive work, particularly in
The graph reflects that a large majority was physically and
impoverished township schools. The most recent workshop,
verbally abused and just over a quarter was sexually abused
on 25 February 2014, was with a group of learners from eight
by authorities that were supposed to protect them.
schools.
During the schools-based workshops learners in
small groups address the following questions and report back. We combine the education with fun that appeal to learners • What are the major problems that people in your community experience? • What are the resources that exist in your community? • Who are the people that you can go to if you need help? • Do you think the video will help prevent children from (Photo from Urban Times)
leaving home to go and live on the streets?
They decided to hold a workshop with all service providers and
The responses of the learners and teachers are exceptionally
relevant stakeholders. They visited each of the organisations,
positive; all ask for more of such education and all recommend
hand delivered the invitations (drawn up with assistance of the
that it be more widely implemented in other schools. Formal
students – Ingrid, Chris, Emma and Sithembele), and explained
research into this is being undertaken.
what the workshop was about. They found the experience very
Durban, South Africa (Photo from Layover)
validating and empowering. At the workshop, we sat back as they served as Programme Directors, poignantly conveyed messages of their experiences and what they thought should be done. The media was present to highlight their concerns, and recast them as ambassadors rather than as enemies.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 43
PEOPLE
Vishanthie Sewpaul How Long Have You Been Involved in Social Work Education in Your Country? What Were Your Career Goals When You Started Your Work?
I managed to get to university against the odds and I am now
I began teaching at the then University of Durban-Westville
I studied at during apartheid and the former University of
(UDW) in 1986.
When I began my social work degree
Natal (UN), an historically privileged White university that
and upon graduation my key goal was to be the best social
I was not allowed to study or work in. I began teaching at
worker I could be and to make a difference in the lives of
the UN in 1992 and reached the ranks of Professor in an
people. Such a desire was borne out of my background.
institution that I was previously barred from on account of
I come from humble beginnings having lost my father
the colour of my skin. In 2013, I was the 1st runner up for the
when I was five months of age, raised with six siblings by
Women in Science Award (Social Sciences and Humanities)
my mother, who was a domestic servant. Growing up as
by the Ministry of Science and Technology in South Africa,
a child, the only capacity in which I knew Whites was as
and over the years I have gained national and international
master and servant, with my mother reinforcing the message
recognition.
that Whites were to be respected as demi-gods. My personal
students and other people that I work with, most of whom
biography and growing up under apartheid, where the
share similar backgrounds of disadvantage to mine.
message of black inferiority was reinforced in the broader
believe, as Steven Frayne says, that success is determined
political domain, left me with a deep sense of inferiority and
by opportunity meeting preparedness ... perhaps with a bit
internalised oppression, which I was consciously taught to
of serendipity.
a Senior Professor in the School of Applied Human Sciences at the University of KwaZulu Natal (UKZN), Durban, South Africa. UKZN is the outcome of two merged institutions, the former UDW, a designated ethnic Indian university that
It is a narrative of hope that I share with my I
work against with the aid of Freirian-Gramscian strategies as part of the Black Consciousness Movement in South Africa.
I did not set out to have a career in academia, and I am
My biography has a profound influence on my choice
essentially a social worker at heart. However, having passed
of emancipatory pedagogical, research and community
the Master of Medical Science (Social Work) with distinction,
engagement strategies, and the human rights and social justice
I was encouraged to apply for an academic post and was
issues that I choose to pursue. Challenging and confronting
successful with the first interview that I had. With academia
structural determinants - such as race, class, gender, sexual
I have managed to balance my direct practice goals with
orientation and geographic location - of poverty, inequality,
those of research and teaching, and with regional and
exclusion, discrimination and marginalisation remain my
international engagements, and I have a far broader reach
raison-d’etre for becoming a social worker. It is as much the
than if I had remained a social work practitioner. As a social
engine that steered me into social work, as it is the engine
work academic I have been involved in the cutting edge of
that keeps me there.
policy development in social work education and practice
44
in post-apartheid South Africa, and I have always been involved in direct practice, having done work in the areas of mental health; addictions; grief counseling; infertility and reproductive technology; adoption; HIV/AIDS and work with children and youth living on the streets. The latter
Why, in Your Opinion, Has Been the Most Memorable Experience/ Achievement of IASSW During the Period of Your Involvement?
constitutes my current community engagement initiative,
My most memorable experiences have been co-chairing the
which I describe in this volume.
Global Standards Committee and organizing the IASSW 2008 Global conference that took place in Durban, South Africa.
How Long Were You Involved in IASSW and What on Reflection was Your Contribution?
The former provided invaluable lessons on: negotiating diverse and competing geo-political and professional interests on a global level; the importance of listening to diverse points of view; and attempting to integrate them into a coherent whole. Given the diversities of opinions, arriving
I have been involved in IASSW since 2000. I was initially
at consensus was no easy feat. I had to think of creative ways
elected to represent the Association of South African Social
of formulating a document that would be specific enough to
Work Education Institutions on the IA Board.
I served
have salience, yet broad enough to be applicable across the
two terms in this capacity and was subsequently elected
globe. It was an exercise that heightened my capacity for
as member-at-large.
Since becoming President of the
critical reflexivity, as I contemplated the potential influence
Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa, I serve
of my own subject position; the possibility of reinforcing
on the IA Board as one of the Vice-Presidents. I served as
Western hegemony despite my overtly stated goal of working
Chair of the Nominations Committee; the Katherine Kendall
against it; and anticipating the potential pitfalls of developing
Awards Committee; Co-chair of the Global Standards
the Global Standards.
Committee on Social Work Education and Training; Chair of the Local Organisng Committee for the IASSW 2008 Global
Organising the IASSW 2008 in Durban was one of the
conference, and I am the current Co-chair of the Global
biggest risks that I had ever taken, and constituted one of
Social Work Definition Committee.
the main challenges of my professional life. The success of the 2008 conference reflected the power of vision, believing in what one wants to achieve, setting one’s goals, and taking every reasonable step - in the face of huge resource constraints - to realize them. I remember the first publicity that I had to organize for at the Adelaide conference. In the absence of funds all that I could do was personally produce laminated bookmarks, just to imprint in people’s minds that the conference was to take place in Durban four years down the line. The narrative of the road to a successful conference, that combined academia with a social responsibility initiative, a fabulous fun-filled beach party, and one that generated a handsome profit, is not within the scope of this
April 2014 Social Dialogue 45
PEOPLE
volume. The experience reinforced my belief that ideas do change the world, and that it takes a team to do so! The two women events-organizing team, that the Local Organising Committee worked with, reflected the power of excellence and technical skills. While we shared the vision, the dreams
Tell Me a Little About the Way Your Involvement / Contribution in IASSW Has Influenced Your Personal and Professional life, If At All?
and the clear objectives, they had the networks, the strategies
It has been an affirming and validating experience; it
and technical know-how to make things happen.
certainly contributes to enhanced status and prestige for all Board members. Being nominated and elected to an
During the course of my involvement in IASSW I had the
international Board, presumes a high level of expertise.
pleasure of seeing an organization become more inclusive
This need not necessarily be true as there are a number of
to represent the voices of colleagues from the Global South.
factors that determine who gets to be represented on the
This was due primarily to the leadership of Professor Lena
IASSW. There are several outstanding colleagues, across
Dominelli, the then President of IASSW. Lena expanded
the globe, who do not get to sit on international boards. I
access to resources to facilitate greater attendance and
am no smarter than them, but unfortunately the positions
participation on the Board, and she validated people of
on the board, in themselves, tend to get rarefied, and those
colour and what they had to offer. It was a pleasure to work
sitting on international boards come to be seen as sources of
with a colleague who lived by the values and principles of
authorized truths. It is this perception that one has to guard
non-discrimination, inclusion, fairness and justice that she
against, as this might lay the foundation for authoritarianism
wrote and talked about. I remain indebted to her for the
and potential abuse of power of international NGOs.
role that she has played in several areas of my professional development.
Lena epitomes validation, as one of the
Through my engagement with IASSW, I developed enduring
most important empowerment strategies of the social work
professional links and cherished friendships with colleagues
profession.
across the globe, which are invaluable. These were made possible through participation in the IASSW Board meetings
IASSW has had a number of achievements over the past
and conferences. While some of my greatest reward and
few years: the production of the Social Dialogue, which is
recognition came through my work on the IASSW, it has
a comprehensive magazine with wide-scale online reach;
also been the source of disappointment on different levels.
the successful work of the Census Committee and the
On a personal note, I had twice been nominated for the
production of the Directory of Schools of Social Work; the
presidency of IASSW. The first time I lost by 19 votes to
Global Agenda which has been widely supported, with
a colleagues from China and the second time by seven
the setting up of observatories in different regions and the
votes to a colleague from India. While I recognize the geo-
production of a special edition on the first major theme of the
political spaces within which IASSW operates, such political
Global Agenda; the Global Standards that were followed by
understanding does not preclude the experience of painful
a number of academic publications, which generated much
disappointment, and a bruising to the ego. I am no less a
debate, and which is being used to benchmark institutional/
person for having tried; it is unfortunate that we set up win-
national standards against; and the current review of the
lose processes and subscribe to the same language, when we
Global Definition via a period of lengthy consultation.
know that the world will be a better place in creating a winwin for all. Such is our taken-for-granted assumption about
46
the relationship between liberal democracy and justice
commodification of education as we proceed with external
that we do not reflect on its potential pitfalls in respect of
reviews of programmes and the setting up of regional hubs
the individualistic competitiveness that it generates and
of excellence; our possible cultural reproduction at the
on structural constraints on choices. I accept that life is
expense of protecting the fundamental rights of persons; and
about taking risks, that nothing great is achieved by being
our relative silence in the face of the growing online sale
mediocre, and that we need to have the courage to walk
of social work qualifications, driven by the profit motive.
into and through our fears. There is, as our late great Nelson
While the participation of the IASSW in the United Nations
Mandela, proclaimed no virtue in playing small.
is appreciated and the roles of the IASSW representatives on the UN are lauded, the role of the IASSW, particularly
How Important Or Significant Are International Organisations in Social Work? What, If Anything Should Be There Focus As It Moves Forward?
in relation to the organizing of the UN Social Work Day needs more critical interrogation. It has remained primarily an elitist event designed mainly for students and colleagues from North America, with the voice of colleagues from the Global South being marginalised. There are core issues with regard to poverty, inequality, racism, classism, sexism and
Despite the diversities of social work across the world and
neoliberalism where it is morally indefensible to exclude the
the undoubted power of context in determining the content,
voices of colleagues from the Global South.
process, strategies and outcomes of social work education, research and practice there are some core shared aspects to social work. It is these shared realities, and a common identity that international organisations in social work help to affirm. Their import is both pragmatic and symbolic, and IASSW’s achievements are substantial as reflected above. The weight of a statement, standard or definition is perceived to be far more powerful and legitimate when claimed at the global level, than if they were declared at the local level.
These can be seen in the formulation of the Global
Standards; the Global Agenda; the Global Definition; and the IFSW and IASSW Statement on Ethical Principles. The potential pitfalls of these, are that they become valorized and the gold standards against which all else is measured. Yet, neither the processes nor the outcome of these documents is politically neutral. They reflect geopolitical power relations and hegemonic discourses and practices that are reproduced through international NGOS. As members of the Board we need to become more reflexive about our potential role in reproducing hegemonic discourses and geo-political power; our possible complicity in reinforcing neoliberal
April 2014 Social Dialogue 47
PEOPLE
Dr. Lengwe-Katembula J. Mwansa Professor, University of Botswana, Botswana
How Long Have You Been Involved in Social Work Education in Your Country? And What Were Your Career Goals When You Started Your Work? I have been involved in social work over 30 years mainly teaching and organizing. My initial career goal was to become a practitioner in social work but later on this goal changed when I was awarded a fellowship by the University of Zambia as a Staff Development fellow to study for a Masters in Social work and later on obtained a PhD in 1986. Since then I have been teaching and organising.
in Africa. By virtue of my position as a regional (Africa) President, I also became a Vice President of IASSW. The revival and eventual success of ASSWA could not have happened without the generosity of the members of interim committee (2000-2005) and the executive members (20052010). They were extremely committed and inspirational to the cause of ASSWA and spared no effort to do their best. I am greatly indebted and grateful to them. Among other achievements is the establishment of a repository for ASSWA’s materials at the University of Witwatersrand. This
How Long Were You Involved in IASSW and What On Reflection Was Your Contribution?
will greatly facilitate research and custodianship of materials.
I was involved in International Association for Schools
Why, In Your Opinion, Has Been the Most Memorable Experience / Achievement of IASSW During the Period of Your Involvement?
of Social Work (IASSW) for almost ten years (IASSW). My first contact with IASSW was in 2000 when I was chosen by the Association of South Africa Educational Institutions (ASASWEI) then Joint University Council (JUC) to revive a regional social work organization for Africa which had become moribund for quite some time. After a great deal of consultation and preparation, I spearheaded the formation of a continental body which was named; Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA). It was launched at a 6th Pan African Social Work Conference in Nairobi, Kenya, Africa at a 6th Pan African Social Work Conference (at a combined conference) organized by the International Federation of Social Welfare 10th – 14th April, 2005. I was elected as the founding President of the Association of Schools of Social
48
We also established a website and regional bodies (chapters) to ensure visibility and growth
The most memorable experience was the launching of ASSWA in Nairobi, Kenya in 2005. For a long time, schools of social work in the Africa region have had no official forum for discussion of strategies for capacity building, the exchange of ideas on education and training; strengthening the pedagogy or sharing experiences in common issues such as HIV/AIDS, NEPAD, orphanhood, domestic violence, and poverty which impact significantly on
the very fabric of life on the continent. There has been no plan of action for concerted efforts to develop relevant curricula, or regional standards, and thus professional training which perhaps did not respond to the emerging issues of individual countries, region or the continent in a timely fashion. So the formation of ASSWA was a momentous and proud occasion which marked a new chapter in the life of social work on the continental. Africa then came back to the IASSW fold after a considerable absence from the international scene. Today the organization is alive and I believe working well.
How Important or Significant Are International Organisations in Social Work? What, If Anything Should Be There Focus As It Moves Forward? International organizations are extremely significant in terms of Exchange of ideas, new technologies, and information on curricula and essential aspects of tertiary level education and training of professional social workers. Social work is an enterprise found in various environments and it is interesting to learn how other professionals are employing social work
Tell Us a Little About the Way Your Involvement / Contribution in IASSW has Influenced Your Personal and Professional Life, If At All?
enterprise to evolve solutions to human needs.
My participation in ASSWA and IASSW gave me a rare opportunity to interact with great scholars, women and men of tremendous vision and courage in Social work who were inspired by a sense of social justice and making the world a better place. I also came to appreciate the dilemmas and challenges of African development and the dire need for new leadership. Like numerous observers of Africa have indicated, and for me with a great sense of humility and admiration of our founding fathers of the continent especially those associated with the attainment of political independence, Africa needs a new crop of leadership. The people of the continent can only ignore the question of leadership in Africa at their own peril. I have also come to realize the imperatives of developing capacity among educators in order to respond to the needs congruent with emerging issues affecting African societies.
It is also necessary to
facilitate ongoing communication and the development of a network of educators and trainers in the field of social work operating through formalized channels of access.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 49
REPORTS
Global Insurance Companies Rally for Sustainability Peter Noble
is the chief corporate governance officer for TAL Dai-ichi Life Australia Pty Limited, the second largest life company in Australia. He has been with the company for six years after spending his earlier career practicing law with international law firms. He obtained his Comm LLB from the University of New South Wales and at the moment is an Adjunct Associate Professor in Law at University of New England. He is married and has three adult children.
Sustainable world (Photo from Red Hot Marketing Blender)
In his free time, he runs a small cattle property and is an amateur organic garlic grower. He also maintains an interest in the meat processing industry, his family business, sitting on the Board of the Australian Meat Processors Corporation.
On November 13, 2013 the inaugural Annual General
The purpose is to enable the global insurance industry to
Meeting of the Principles of Sustainable Insurance (PSI)
better understand, prevent and reduce environmental, social
was held in Beijing. The members of the PSI, who are large
and governance risks, and better manage opportunities to
Insurance companies, account for about 12% of Global
provide quality and reliable risk protection.
Written Premium. The PSI contains four principles which are set out below: The fundamental premise of sustainability is that a business or any organisation for that matter will be more sustainable
Principle 1
in the long term if it takes account of, and responds to,
Each member will embed in its decision-making environment,
environmental, social and governance (ESG) risks and
social and governance (ESG) issues relevant to its insurance
opportunities . . . hence the term “sustainability�.
business.
The PSI was formed in Rio+20 following 6 years of negotiations
Principle 2
among leading insurers around the world. The PSI is part of
Each member will work with its clients and business partners
the United Nations Environmental Program Finance Initiative.
to raise awareness on ESG issues, manage risk and develop
The PSI is governed by a board which reports to the members
solutions.
in General Meeting. Earlier in the week the direction of the PSI was set by the board which was subsequently adopted by
Principle 3
the members in the form of a vision and purpose.
Each member will work with governments, regulators and other stakeholders to promote widespread action across
The vision is of a risk aware world, where the insurance industry is trusted and plays its full role in enabling a healthy, safe, resilient and sustainable society.
society on ESG issues.
Principle 4 Each
member
will
demonstrate
accountability
and
transparency in regularly disclosing publicly its progress in implementing the principles.
50
For most companies the issues raised by Principle 1 are
As part of the development of the Strategy the Board of the
thought to be quite difficult especially where the ESG matters
PSI conducted a survey to determine what were the 5 most
run into Commerciality. There is a reticence therefore by
important issues facing the Insurance Industry globally.
corporations to embrace the Principles.
The top 5 global issues as ranked by respondents were:
However, the issue of Society and Commercial pressures was
1. Adaptation and resilience to extreme weather events
considered at one of the breakout groups during the UNEP
2. Mis-selling and treating customers unfairly
FI Round Table sessions held on Tuesday and Wednesday
3. Insurance access and affordability
November 11 and 12. To bring the Initiative alive in this session
4. Trust and reputation
especially since the Round Table was held in Beijing, China,
5. Regulatory risks
a reference was made to three leading stories in the Chinese Press that morning. Human Rights is an often misunderstood
With these issues in mind the board decided at the AGM to
term but it , in a business sense, does encompass, for example,
bring the Initiative alive and approved the Global Resilience
the culture of an enterprise as well as the effect on others in
project.
society by the enterprises’ activities. This project was chosen as the first for the Initiative because The first was a story which dealt with the rapidly increasing
research has found that for every dollar spent in disaster
admissions in the casualty departments of Beijing’s hospitals
mitigation activity ten dollars are saved in disaster relief and
due to the rising pollution. The second was a story noting that
repairs.
Chinese corporations were becoming less productive because employees were less engaged.
So the project is a policy leadership initiative for natural peril disaster resilience and safer communities. The aim of
Modern enterprises are now seeing the need to respond
this project is to implement national engagement strategies
to environmental and social issues because people are
which support mitigation investment for countries vulnerable
demanding that they do. In Beijing’s casualty department you
to natural perils.
can see these issues playing out. The responsibility for cleaner air lies widely.
Adaptation and resilience to extreme weather events is the 1st priority ESG issue for the insurance industry to address
In Australia we are finding that new employees are attracted
globally.
to enterprises with a clear societal agenda and prefer one with such agenda to one without.
The key outcome would be, in countries exposed to the risk of natural perils, that resilience and pre-disaster mitigation is
Surprisingly for the Chinese in the session and some other
moved to the centre of government policy.
nationalities they had not considered that employee
It is pleasing to see the large insurers moving positively to
engagement was part of an ESG agenda.
securing a better future for us all.
The third article which was the lead story of the day concerned the results of the Communists Party’s third plenum. Clearly the Party had called out in its decision making more transparency. Governance in the ESG sense is about the right information to the right people for the right decision at the right time. Transparency is critical in this process.
April 2014 Social Dialogue 51
REPORTS
(Photo from Sydney Adventist Hospital)
Global Definition of the Social Work Profession Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that facilitates social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. Principles of social justice, human rights, collective
Core Mandates The social work profession’s core mandates include facilitating social change, social development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people.
responsibility and respect for diversities are central to social work.
Underpinned by theories of social work, social
sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledges, social work engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.
Social work is a practice profession and an academic discipline that recognizes that interconnected historical, socio-economic, cultural, spatial, political and personal factors serve as opportunities and/or barriers to human wellbeing and development. Structural barriers contribute to
The above definition may be amplified at national and/or regional levels.
the perpetuation of inequalities, discrimination, exploitation and oppression. The development of critical consciousness through reflecting on structural sources of oppression and/or
Commentary The commentary serves to unpack the core concepts used in the definition and is detailed in relation to the social work profession’s core mandates, principles, knowledge and practice.
privilege, on the basis of criteria such as race, class, gender, disability, culture and sexual orientation, and developing action strategies towards addressing structural and personal barriers are central to emancipatory practice where the goals are the empowerment and liberation of people. In solidarity with those who are disadvantaged, the profession strives to alleviate poverty, liberate the vulnerable and oppressed, and promote social inclusion and social cohesion.
52
The social change mandate is based on the premise that social work intervention takes place when the current situation, be this at the level of the person, family, small group, community or society, is deemed to be in need of change and development. It is driven by the need to challenge and change
Principles The overarching principles of social work are respect for the inherent worth and dignity of human beings, doing no harm, respect for diversity and upholding human rights and social justice.
those structural conditions that contribute to marginalization, social exclusion and oppression. Social change initiatives recognize the place of human agency in advancing human rights and economic, environmental, and social justice. The profession is equally committed to the maintenance of social stability, insofar as such stability is not used to marginalize, exclude or oppress any particular group of persons.
Social work embraces first, second and third generation rights. First generation rights refer to civil and political rights such as free speech and conscience and freedom from torture and arbitrary detention; second generation to socio-economic and cultural rights that include the rights to reasonable levels of education, healthcare, and housing and minority language rights; and third generation rights focus
Social development is conceptualized to mean strategies for intervention, desired end states and a policy framework, the latter in addition to the more popular residual and the institutional frameworks. It is based on holistic biopsychosocial,
on the natural world and the right to species biodiversity and inter-generational equity. These rights are mutually reinforcing and interdependent, and accommodate both individual and collective rights.
spiritual assessments and interventions that transcend the micro-macro divide, incorporating multiple system levels and inter-sectorial and inter-professional collaboration, aimed at sustainable development.
It prioritizes socio-structural
and economic development, and does not subscribe to conventional wisdom that economic growth is a prerequisite for social development.
(Photo from Google)
A social worker listens to and learns from Indigenous peoples around the world, acknowledging their indigenous knowledge. (Photo from Convention on Biological Diversity)
April 2014 Social Dialogue 53
REPORT
In some instances “doing no harm” and “respect for diversity”
country or area carry their own values, ways of knowing,
may represent conflicting and competing values, for example
ways of transmitting their knowledges, and have made
where in the name of culture the rights, including the right
invaluable contributions to science.
to life, of minority groups such as women and homosexuals,
redress historic Western scientific colonialism and hegemony
are violated. The Global Standards for Social Work Education
by listening to and learning from Indigenous peoples around
and Training deals with this complex issue by advocating that
the world. In this way social work knowledges will be co-
social workers are schooled in a basic human rights approach,
created and informed by Indigenous peoples, and more
with an explanatory note that reads as:
appropriately practiced not only in local environments but also internationally.
Such an approach might facilitate constructive confrontation
Social work seeks to
Drawing on the work of the United
Nations, the IFSW defines indigenous peoples as follows:
and change where certain cultural beliefs, values and traditions violate peoples’ basic human rights. As culture is socially constructed and dynamic, it is subject to deconstruction and change. Such constructive confrontation, deconstruction and change may be facilitated through a tuning into, and an understanding of particular cultural values, beliefs and
．They live within (or maintain attachments to) geographically distinct ancestral territories. ．They tend to maintain distinct social, economic and political institutions within their territories. ．They typically aspire to remain distinct culturally,
traditions and via critical and reflective dialogue with members
geographically and institutionally, rather than assimilate
of the cultural group vis-à-vis broader human rights issues
fully into national society.
Knowledge Social work is both interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary,
．They self-identify as indigenous or tribal. Source: http://ifsw.org/policies/indigenous-peoples
and draws on a wide array of scientific theories and research. ‘Science’ is understood in this context in its most basic meaning as ‘knowledge’. Social work draws on its own constantly developing theoretical foundation and research, as well as
(Photo
theories from other human sciences, including but not limited to community development, social pedagogy, administration, anthropology, ecology, economics, education, management, nursing, psychiatry, psychology, public health, and sociology. The uniqueness of social work research and theories is that they are applied and emancipatory. Much of social work research and theory is co-constructed with service users in an interactive, dialogic process and therefore informed by specific practice environments. This proposed definition acknowledges that social work is informed not only by specific practice environments and Western theories, but also by indigenous knowledges. Part of the legacy of colonialism is that Western theories and knowledges have been exclusively valorised, and indigenous knowledges have been devalued, discounted, and hegemonised by Western theories and knowledge. The proposed definition attempts to halt and reverse that process by acknowledging that Indigenous peoples in each region,
54
(Photo from
(Photo from I (heart) School Counseling)
Practice Social work’s legitimacy and mandate lie in its intervention at the points where people interact with their environment. The environment includes the various social systems that people are embedded in and the natural, geographic environment, which has a profound influence on the lives of people. The participatory methodology advocated in social work is reflected in “Engages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing.” As far as possible social work supports working with rather than for people. Consistent with the social development paradigm, social workers utilize a range of skills, techniques, strategies, principles and activities at various system levels, directed at system maintenance and/ or system change efforts. Social work practice spans a range of activities including various forms of therapy and counseling, group work, and community work; policy formulation and analysis; and advocacy and political interventions. From an emancipatory perspective, that this definition supports social work strategies are aimed at increasing people’s hope, self-esteem and creative potential to confront and challenge oppressive power dynamics and structural sources of injustices, thus incorporating into a coherent whole the micro-macro, personal-political dimension of intervention. (Photo from canstockphoto.com)
The holistic focus of social work is universal, but the priorities of social work practice will vary from one country to the next, and from time to time depending on historical, cultural, political and socio-economic conditions. It is the responsibility of social workers across the world to defend, enrich and realize the values and principles reflected in this definition. A social work definition can only be meaningful when social workers actively commit to its values and vision.
Photo from UptownRadio)
April 2014 Social Dialogue 55
CAMPUS
Summary of Report from Laos Bui Thi Xuyen, MSW
Social work supervisor, Church World Service (CWS) 047 Saphanthong Road, Ban Saphanthong, Sisatanak district Tel: +856-21-313-837 Email: xdangers@laotel.com / xuyendangers@yahoo.com
I. Background information about Laos:
The Lao People 's Democratic Republic or Lao PDR has a socialist system of government. Laos is a landlocked country, bordered by China, Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia. Laos is rich in natural resources and has a long culture and tradition. Laos is one of the poorest countries in the region despite the rapid growth of trade particularly in the areas of mineral resources and hydro-electricity with its neighbors. Lao population is 6.5 million people consisting of over 40 ethnic groups. The education system is still developing.
children, youths and adults. I saw the local resources both human and material. I set the expectation low, I encountered some youth problems and tried to find some ways to help. These direct services were very valuable building trust for other work I had opportunities to engage in later. B. 1997 -1998: Beginning with a training team with joint funding from Save Children Fund UK, UNICEF and Church World Service a three month course in Social work and social issues was started focusing on, Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances (CEDC),Child Rights, Child labor, human trafficking issues. The course was called " Core Skills Training on CEDC for 30 government staff of four agencies " from the
II. 1995 to 2005: The groundwork (10 years): A. 1995-1997: Working informally as a volunteer at Children Culture Center (CCC) in Nong Buathong village in Vientiane capital with children and youth and local volunteers. I consciously applied social work principles: respect the local people, accept them, their culture, habit, the way of doing things. We started with small activity. I saw the potential in
56
Ministry of Labor and Social welfare, the Lao Women’s Union, the Lao Youth Union, Trade Union and two police officers in Vientiane capital. Later this course were also held in 2 regions in Southern and Northern provinces of Laos. C.1998- I help to establish the Donkoi Children Development Center in Donkoi village of Sisatanak district of Vientiane capital focusing on after school programs in a public primary school as a pilot project to be an example to show how a
professional social worker could work in a school setting and
Social Development (BSSD). During this time, the idea of
as a place for the trainees of the Core Skill Training course to
bringing in the foreigners to teach was not feasible, so I let it
come and practice. The cultural aspect was very important, I
go to wait until they were ready. I consciously respected their
started "where they are", the first activity is a carpenter’s club,
capacity and their culture.
then a garden club. Then a weaving club and rice planning and harvesting activities all followed.
B. How I become social work advisor of FSS: The FSS asked permission for me to be the social work
D. 2001-2004: Other Children Development Centers in two
advisor of FSS where we helped set up the library, working
other districts: Nahay center, Udomphone center, Phonsinuan
with students and mentoring some young lecturers. At first,
center in four primary schools were developed with similar
a Training of Trainers (TOT) workshop in Social work, a very
philosophy, methods and activities according to the availability
basic one week long course "Introduction to Social work ",
of material and human resources. My role is the social work
was held for 20 lecturers of FSS run by me and my social
supervisor and I also help with fund raising.
work student who studied social work in Vietnam. Together with the FSS I helped to organize two conferences to
I introduced basic social work to other organizations such as:
introduce the BSSD curriculum to the whole university, to
the Gender and Development Group, and the Health Youth
all the government ministries and to the wider international
Center. I introduced the after school activity model to many
community in Vientiane, Capital of Laos.
other groups, to International NGOs and their government
Our organization (Church World Service - CWS) had the
counterparts such as Norwegian Church Aid (NCA) for their
opportunity to provide scholarships to 16 Social work students
counterparts in the provincial education offices and schools
in the very first course of the BSSD, 1 scholarship for one
in Savanakhet, and Northern provinces, to the deaf school, to
lecturer to the Philippines to study a Master of Social Services
the blind school and to the hospital for orthopedic patients in
and Development (MSSD). Later we funded three other young
National Rehabilitation Center.
lecturers to attend a short course in International Community Development in the Philippines. Each year I continued to raise
E. 2004-2005: I worked with the National Drug Rehabilitation
funds to bring lecturers and SW students to Vietnam to attend
Center (Somsanga) in Vientiane Capital with 700 drug abusers
the World Social Work Day and study tours in social work
at the request of UNODC and the Center's authority. Most
agencies. The dean of FSS also went to the Open university in
of the residents are youths from 17 years old to 35 years old.
HCMC in 2006.
Together with a psychologist, I introduced social work,child rights, family therapy to doctors, nurses and police officers and worked directly with drug abusers with many creative
We offered children’s centers and other social work centers as Field work placements to BSSD program.
methods from meditation to writing to art and craft. We also worked with families of drug abusers.
In 2007, the first social work subject " Introduction to social work” was taught at FSS by a social worker who graduated
III. 2005-2008: Introducing Social work subject to the Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) National University of Laos (NUOL):
from the Open university in Vietnam and a young lecturer of FSS whom I had mentored C. 2008: I stopped working at FSS, but I continued to support FSS in different ways such as introducing the organization
A. Preparation period:
Save Children Norway (CSN) to work with FSS. It supported
With the experiences of working in The National Drug
FSS with more scholarships for lecturers to study social work
Rehabilitation center, I realized long-term university training
and community development in Thailand and with funds for
is needed. I invited lecturers to see a 'model' of an after school
the field work program as well as activities to strengthening
activity program in a public primary school in the Donkoi
the knowledge of the UN Convention of the Rights of the
Children Development Center, so the FSS's lecturers could
Child. CWS continued to facilitate and sponsor study trips
see how a professional social worker worked. After that the
to Vietnam for lecturers and SW students and graduates,
20 faculty members of FSS and the Vice presidents of NUOL
accepting social work students as volunteers and interns
also visited the National Drug Rehabilitation Drug center to
(Field work) in the Child Development Centers in our school
observe how we work with drug addicts.
settings. CWS continued to give scholarships and mentor many social work students who volunteer at child centers/
Then a presentation of Overview of Social work was held at
school, hospitals and disabled centers.
Faculty of Social Sciences (FSS) National University of Laos (NUOL). Other activities followed introducing social work
D. In 2010 FSS upgraded the BSSD to a full department called
books and attending the meeting of FSS when the lecturers
Social Work and Development (SWD).
were planning a curriculum for Bachelor of Sociology and
April 2014 Social Dialogue 57
CAMPUS
FSS also introduced a Master’s degree program on Sustainable
agencies where they have the opportunity to be good
development. Many students in this course are vice chiefs of
supervisors if they can be equipped with field instruction
Districts and many hold key positions in many ministries. I
courses and exposure trips to other good universities in the
think it is good for future social development students to do
region.
field work under the supervision of these officials Another
opportunity
is
advocacy
for
more
public
Since 2010, each year about 80 students have graduated with
understanding of the roles of social workers, so that, when
BSSD (Bachelor of Sociology and Social Development). As
social work students graduate, they will be placed with
of September 14, 2013 there are about 419 Social workers /
appropriate positions and duties.
development workers in Laos who received a 5 year training at FSS, NUOL.
An alumni association of social work graduates would give opportunity for former students to come back and be proud
IV. Where Do the BSSD Graduates Work?
about their alma master. This alumni has a great potential to organize a national social work day, so social workers will have chance to come together
I can only say where those work for whom CWS provided
and learn from each other, support one another like this day
scholarships and a few more, but not the whole population
in VN. Thanks to Madame Nguyen Thi Oanh who started this
of 383 graduates.
day 16 years ago, now it becomes a tradition for VN social workers. A Social Work Day alive and thriving like today will
Some are working in hospitals, in resettlement in remote areas
inspire students, young and old social workers. We do need
in the central of Laos, some are working with issues of anti-
each other, don’t' we?
human trafficking in International organizations, several are working with Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare; some are
On 25 March 2010, VN has issued the very important national
working with a street children project of another International
policy (Decree 32) in recognizing social work profession with
organization; some are with disability centers. Four are
the code of Social work practice 2012 -2020 by the prime
actually working with the FSS and one with the Personnel
Minister Office. In July 2012 another policy of "Developing
Department of NUOL. Several are with the Ministry of Home
Social Work in Health Sector 2012-2020 " by the Ministry of
Affairs. The newest place where two BSSD work graduates
Health is another milestone for social work profession that we
have the opportunity to work is in the National Commission
all will treasure for social work history in Vietnam. How these
for Mothers and Children (NCMC), the special program
policies are being implemented in VN is a great opportunity
under the Prime Minister Office of Laos. The challenge is that
for all of us to learn from and hopefully Laos will examine and
those who work in all the places mentioned do not yet have
perhaps could use the Vietnamese example.
professional social work supervisors. I have heard that many graduates did not find social work job or ended up doing other work.
VI. Some Personal Views If I May:
For Those Universities Already Have a Big Numbers of SW Graduates: In the process of social work practice, we always talk about evaluation in the course of implementation, I think it will
It is very good that Laos now has social work education at the
be beneficial if we can have opportunities to reflect and to
national university level.
plan for future so we can have better curriculum, teachers and students and eventually better social work graduates to
There are some constraints, but opportunities for improvement are possible, such as for including more social work subjects. Some case work, group work and community work courses need to be introduced. The field instruction manual that is being prepared has potential for more qualified supervisors. Those students, who have graduated, are working in various
58
provide better services to our countries.
For New Universities Who Wish to Offer Social Work Course for the First Time: VN now has many social work experts in theories and many also have rich experiences and very dedicated practitioners, so maybe we could take advantages of these educators to help in curriculum planning and developing. Another opportunity is investing the existing lecturers to go out to learn social work at direct service level and also in high levels of social administration and training, or recruit new social work graduates and have experienced professional professors to train them and mentor them. In my experiences for Asian schools of Social work for Bachelor level, I think a curriculum with GENERIC focus is more practical and with LOTS of FIELD WORK in necessary. The new breed field Instructors do need to be nurtured, mentored and supported I would think quality needs to be emphasized in social work training, therefore training to produce a small numbers of good social workers is preferable to bigger numbers of Social workers who are not so good.
graduates with government agencies such as Ministry of Social Welfare and Labour, Health, Education, Justice, and private agencies including business/companies each year. Advocating for the presence of social workers in these offices is an important job of the university. In a country with strong culture and Buddhist culture such as Laos, we need to pay attention to their philosophy of 'bo pen nhang' (no problem), their calmness, their 'taking it easy ' and use the cultural 'tools' in education and social work training. For example, I work in a school setting, a drum is a must for each school as drum is always used in festivals, celebration where Lao dancing is inspired by the rhythm of the drum and it make everyone very happy. The 'bacci' (tie cotton string ceremony in praying for best) is often used in our workshops. We may like to use this in therapy, in solving social problems. For professional growth and to help each other as well as quality practice, and to protect of social workers, a National Association of Social workers should be the next step. Slowly we can also join the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), International Council of Social worker (ICSWS), the Asia Pacific Association for Social Work Education (APASWE), the International Association of Schools of Social work (IASSW).
We also should remember that students often look up at lecturers and supervisors as role models therefore we need to equipped ourselves with good knowledge, skills, dedication and a strong code of ethics. If there is passion that will be great because we need to motivate, to inspire the students so they can go out to practice what they have learned and stay in the profession and find rewards and happiness. It would also be beneficial if we can send students out to do volunteering work even when they are in first year. If they have not got a paid job after their graduation, encourage them to do volunteer work until they get the job that get pay.
VII. Some Suggestions for New Social Work Graduates: Please remember social work is a profession to enhance the quality of life, so if the first job available is not a 'social work job' or not even related to SW, take it! And be a good social worker in that setting to help enhance lives of the people around you, your office, your companies. Who knows you maybe become a personnel director of a huge company later. Please carry the "National Policy of March 25, 2010" with you all the time when you go to apply for a job. If there is no job for you, offer to become a volunteer. Show them how
For All of Us in General: Due to passion and dedication, we do have some burnt -out
good you are. I think if you are good they cannot reject you any more!
social workers sometime, so we may like to think or plan for sabbatical or other incentives for social workers to avoid burn- out among social workers. You might think of how to network and introduce your SW
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List of Conferences
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Backword In the morning light we hear again
This we know:
The rhythms of life still throbbing on.
The elements, plants, animals and people
Yet all of us march to different beats.
Are players in a drama in which we all have a part,
Some point to a better, brighter day,
Which is written and acted every day,
A new millennium when the times are righted
Which is filed with songs of pain and joy,
And the bugs will bite no more,
Which goes on and on ‘till the end of time When the whirling world will spin no more.
Others see more somber scenes Where war and famine plague the land,
So here we live in Everyplace
Smog smears the finest views
Not the centre of the world
And forests will all be lost and gone.
And in Everyplace the world goes around And around and around and around,
But like other festivals held in our town
And Everyplace deserves a space
Bouddi 2000 assures us all
Where trees and flowers grow
That life is here to be affirmed
And you can watch the sun and birds
That guts and fortitude still abound
Present their morning show
And laughter and love can still be found
And at your individual theatre in the round
In the houses all around.
Join in the drams and the comedies The vision and the sound.
We are everyday heroes We have known: times of sickness and times of health,
And Everyplace can be‌.
Times of poverty and times of wealth,
A Sacred Place.
Times of joy and times of grieving, Times when life had little meaning.
This is the place where the world turns around!
We have stood face-to-face with death
This is the place where the world turns around!
And now we value every precious breath.
This is the place where the world turns around! (First published in New Community Quarterly, 10(3) 39:35)
We are not observers of the spectacle of life From the remote bleachers of some Olympic stadium. We are not viewers of life on a television screen. We are not voyeurs of the lives of the rich and famous. We are voyagers on our own odyssey. We are readers of the maps and signs. We are mediators of meanings. We are creators of culture. We are carvers of new symbols.
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IASSW Membership If you would like to join IASSW Membership, find out more at: http://www.iassw-aiets.org/categories-and-fee-structure
Project Funding − Call for Proposals IASSW Grants for Projects in Social Work Education IASSW invites proposals for projects, designed to advance social work education internationally. Grants of up to US $4.000 are available for proposals that can be expected to contribute to the implementation of the IASSW Mission Statement, and to the enhancement of cooperation among schools of social work world-wide. This is continuous aspect of IASSW activities but the final submission date for the next round of bids is 30 of November 2014. Proposals with filled Cover page (can be downloaded from IASSW Websire) for Project Application should be sent by e-mail to: anna.metteri@uef.fi, with a copy to the IASSW office: rashmi@iassw.net For more information and guidelines for submission, visit: http://www.iassw-aiets.org/project-funding
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April 2014 Social Dialogue
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