CYSCA trains social workers from Armenia
Published: Thursday July 23, 2009
Cambridge, Mass. - The Cambridge-Yerevan Sister City Association (CYSCA) concluded a training project for social-work professionals from Armenia. This was a USAID funded project called Community Connections, administered by World Learning, Inc., and developed and hosted by CYSCA.
Ten social work professionals from Armenia spent three weeks in the Greater Boston area immersing themselves in the American system of social work. During their stay, they visited 26 different sites and met with over 50 presenters.
Subjects ranged from education and licensure to social work in different areas, such as elementary schools, hospitals, foundations, domestic-violence-related organizations, hospices, nursing homes, senior centers, adoption, government, disabled children, the poor and vulnerable population, and universities. The group was very interested and enlightened by everything they learned and are planning to implement many aspects of their experiences upon their return to Armenia under concrete action plans that CYSCA facilitated with them.
The participants represented three groups of work: government agencies, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and education. They were a diverse group in every respect – age, background, and interests; yet they all bonded together and became friends and learned from each other as well as from those in the United States.
During their stay, the participants took part in a panel discussion jointly sponsored by CYSCA and NAASR on June 25. They presented information on the realities in Armenia. They spoke about the various successes and barriers they encounter in areas such as funding, community outreach, and the current global economic crisis as well as new approaches and methodology they learned in the USA.
Since its inception following Armenia's independence in 1991, social work has been a growing industry. The government has begun to recognize the need for social services among Armenian people and is working with local NGOs to provide necessary support and assistance to vulnerable populations. However, more work lies ahead.
The professionals in this group are well aware that although the foundation has been set and meaningful work has been achieved, there needs to be continuity of care with various individuals and groups in Armenia. Fortunately, the participants in the group represent various geographic areas of the country, allowing them to canvas more areas in their work.
They also shared their experiences about their site visits in Boston. Each participant talked about a particular site in relation to his or her action plan and how that visit is helpful in putting together and implementing action plans upon returning to Armenia.
Aftandil Markosyan, regional director of social work in the Tavush region, commented: "We are impressed with the work of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) in the USA and plan as a group action to create a similar organization in Armenia." The entire group expressed their gratitude and appreciation for a very full, structured, well-organized program.
A visit to the University of Connecticut School of Social Work brought together old acquaintances – teachers and students who are part of an ongoing exchange program with the Yerevan State University, led by Professor Nancy Humphreys, head of the school of social work at UConn. Since 1991, UConn has had a relationship with YSU, where Dr. Humphreys organized the first curriculum for social work.
Arusyag Safaryan, a member of the social work faculty at YSU, commented, "We are excited that as a result of our visit we have now planned to jointly sponsor an international social work conference at YSU in 2010."
Alisa Stepanian, CYSCA project manager, observed, "This is exactly what our program is intended to do – connect communities."
Reflecting on this CYSCA Community Connections program, the 18th since 1997, Program Director Jack Medzorian said, "We are proud to have been chosen by the USAID to implement this most important program and are convinced that our group, with their enthusiasm and newly acquired knowledge about social work in the USA, will ‘make a difference' in Armenia."