She Turns Challenges into Success Stories.
Halyna Chervona faces the same task every day. She has to help clients of the social protection centre in Bakhmut, the town in Donetsk Oblast (Eastern Ukraine) where she works, and solve their life problems. Over the past year, her approaches to work have changed dramatically. In 2019 UNICEF launched the "SPILNO. Social services for families in…, Do not solve problems for your clients, but help them cope on their own, Halyna Chervona meets us in a bright room full of toys and balloons. Usually, social workers engage with their youngest clients here. Halyna is waiting for 4-year-old Kyrylo. His mother died a year ago, and now his grandmother Iryna is dealing with paperwork to get custody of her grandson. They are facing some difficulties that Halyna is helping…, Mission – to help Kyrylo and Slava, Halyna says that not every problem can be solved straight away. Some families have to work for up to a year. A friendly woman entered the room as we were talking there, followed by a smiling boy. It was Iryna and her little grandson. image "My name is Kyrylo. I am four," says the boy, as he shows his age with his fingers. He has a brother called…, Family trees and honest conversations are more effective than tough talking, Sometimes Halyna has to use psychological techniques to get the necessary information. This is something she learned during the training. "Sometimes we have to use tricks: "I am thirsty. Can I go to the kitchen?" Then I go there and, unfortunately, I see and deal with a pile of dirty dishes and cigarette butts. If I just say, "Show me the kitchen…, One team and a "new reputation" for social workers, The project even affected the paperwork Halyna has to do. As Larysa Stryha - an expert at the "SPILNO. Social services for families in communities" project - says, when completing the report it is crucial to take into account not only the position of the social services but also the whole family. "Needs are assessed in collaboration with family…, Not to "burn out" at work, Still, working in social services is not easy. Every day Halyna has to face indifference, misunderstanding and despair. However, moments of success become more valuable. "I want to see some positives, but we have a lot of negatives in our work. Therefore, when there is even a small positive moment, we are happy. However, it takes a long time for…
Ukraine
