A report on the 2016 Social Work Day at the UN
by Ashley Barnes MSW ’16 and Kailey Lopian MSW/MPH ’18
Editor’s Note:
Ever wondered about how one becomes an international social worker? Read on!
Two University at Buffalo (UB) School of Social Work students attended this year’s Social Work Day at the U.N. They share their experiences, what inspired them and what they learned. As part of our commitment to macro practice and international social work, UB contributed to the students’ travel expenses.
We thank Monmouth University School of Social Work for its role in coordination of this event!
33rd Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations
Theme: Refugees and Displaced Persons: Ensuring Dignity and Worth
UN Headquarters in NYC, view from Roosevelt Island
(CC BY-SA 3.0)“The International Federation of Social Workers @IFSW and the International Association of Schools of Social Work @IASSW_AIET are pleased to announce that the 33rd Annual Social Work Day at the United Nations is scheduled for Monday, April 4, 2016.
Social Work Day at the UN is a gathering place for people around the world who are working to make a difference. For 33 years students, practitioners, and educators have been convening at the UN to learn more about the UN, innovative projects and issues related to International Social Work and the critical role Social Work plays in the international arena.”
from Monmouth University School of Social Work website.
Ashley Barnes: International social work is something I am passionate about.
What draws me to to it is the personal connection I will have with those whom I will be serving. As someone from a very mixed background, I know firsthand how important international social work is. Growing up in my community (the South Bronx), social workers were not always positively received. There were a lot of barriers to engagement; often social workers did not know how to effectively engage with people from different ethnic and religious backgrounds.
Over the course of my academic career, I was invested in learning as much as possible about international social work.
SocialWorkSynergy 