Dedication to social services

When Sonila, a social worker in the Municipality of Kavaja, recalls her beginnings in this role, she remembers the mixed feelings of uncertainty and great responsibility. Each new case was an uncertain path. “I often had to rely only on personal experience and intuition. This made me feel insecure,” Sonila says.

Working in social services is never easy. She was faced with difficult stories, families seeking help, children waiting for quick solutions. Sonila felt that she did not always have the right tools to provide the support they deserved.

Thanks to the support from the European Union, various trainings are conducted in the TOK center, which gave Sonila the opportunity to give a different direction to her work. There she participated in a series of treatments: from case management to communication with families, from intervention techniques in difficult situations to social services legislation. “It was the first time I felt that I was getting the practical tools that I was missing,” she says.

Over time, she began to put her new knowledge into practice. Active communication skills and the development of individual protection plans became an integral part of her work. Today, Sonila is able to analyse situations calmly and seek support when necessary.

One case stands out in her mind: a family facing violence. In the past, such a situation would have scared her, but thanks to the training, she was able to prioritize the safety of the victim and cooperate closely with the responsible institutions. “This case ended with a positive resolution. Today I am convinced that without the training I would not have been able to manage the situation so confidently,” says Sonila.

From a worker who felt insecure, today Sonila is a structured and more self-confident professional. She knows that her professional development path is not over. “I am very excited to participate in further trainings with real-life case simulations, as well as ongoing support after them, which will be offered by UNICEF and World Vision in the context of the EU Social Care - she adds. Sonila’s story shows how much the work of a social worker can change when she has the right tools at hand. The trainings did not only give her new knowledge – they gave her security, confidence and the opportunity to be the support that children and families in need are waiting for.

The project “Multifunctional community-based social centre for all the citizens of Kavaja municipality” is implemented by DARC and the Municipality of Kavaja, in the framework of EU4SocialCare. This program is funded by the European Union, implemented by UNICEF Albania and World Vision Albania, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.