IZ KRUGA VOJVODINA presented its work on the protection of the mental health of youth with disabilities and women with and without disabilities exposed to gender-based violence at the event organized by the Association Sociativa and the Association of the Youth organizations OPENS on March 22, from 10:00 to 13:00 in the premises of the Youth Center OPENS on the occasion of The World Social Work Day.
The theme of World Social Work Day 2024 is ‘BUEN VIVIR: Shared Future for Transformative Change‘. This year, it takes place on March 19. The theme is rooted in the Global Development Agenda and highlights the need for change in the application of social work, which implies employing an innovative approach based on the wisdom of the indigenous communities in harmonic coexistence with nature. The theme serves as a reminder of the transformative role the social workers have in initiating positive changes and nourishing prosperous communities.
In line with this year’s slogan, the association Sociativa and the Association of the Youth Organizations OPENS organized the event that is an incentive to jointly, through changes, make a better future. On the forum – Connecting in the Community to Comprehensive Support, the participants could hear reports from numerous experts in social work, psychology, and the health domain on the topic of networking and connection in the community in the prevention and protection of mental health. The representative of IZ KRUGA VOJVODINA insisted on providing accessible services to persons with different disabilities, particularly sensory disabilities.
At the Service Bazaar after the forum, institutions and organizations that work with multiple marginalized groups promoted their activities. Members of IZ KRUGA VOJVODINA Tatjana Stojsic Petkovic and Olga Vrtunski shared promotion materials and publications. They talked to other participants about problems of youth with disabilities, gender-based violence, and existing support services for these categories of people in Novi Sad.
Exchanging experiences is valuable and necessary at all levels to improve the social work practice and policy and to inform the public about existing protection services in the local community. Hence the need to mark the International Day of Social Work with the theme of connecting and networking in the community via the organization of a panel and a bazaar, and point out the challenges but also examples of good practice in providing protection.
