UNICEF organizes a training on methods of social work for care workersAshgabat, Turkmenistan, 5 October 2005 – The United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF, working in partnership with Turkmenistan’s Women’s Union, completed six days of introductory training for government officials on Wednesday that focused on the methodology and practice of social work. Some 60 government officials from all over the country, representing the Ministry of Interior, the Ministry of Social Welfare, local municipalities and residential institutions, came together for discussions and activities led by two international consultants, which dealt in particular with community-based social services and the practical aspects of providing family support. “It was a very good seminar. The main thing is that disadvantaged families and children are cared for. We learned new ideas and methods at this training and the main thing I would like to underline is that I met such professional colleagues from other provinces as well as from the United Kingdom,” said Oguljennet Garliyeva, a teacher from Mary province and one of the participants. This latest training follows on from two orientation workshops held last month, and also given to officials working in the field of child protection and family support, which dealt with how the Convention on the Rights of the Child supports the right of children to grow up in a family environment. This right to a family is one of UNICEF’s key approaches in preventing the institutionalisation of children. “Our Japanese embassy here in Turkmenistan opened at the beginning of the year and in this short time I have seen how UNICEF and other UN organisations are very active in this country. UNICEF is doing very well and I am happy to cooperate further,” said Mr. Yasumasa Iijima, the acting Charge D’Affaires of the Embassy of Japan, who attended the closing remarks at the six-day event. Japan is a major donor to UNICEF projects worldwide. Both September’s training and this month’s event are part of a long-term regional UN programme, known as the United Nations Trust Fund for Human Security. This event took place with the full cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Mahboob Shareef, UNICEF Representative in Turkmenistan, said he regarded the training as another constructive outcome of the joint collaboration between the Government of Turkmenistan and the United Nations Children’s Fund. UNICEF remains committed to working with the government to help it fulfil its national priorities and international obligations covering children’s rights.
For more information, please contact Mr. Brian Hansford, UNICEF Communication Specialist, at:
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