CFSI’s partners in Viet Nam will be better able to address the future psycho-social dimensions of disasters following a regional social work conference focused on climate change and disaster risk reduction.
Dr Bui Xuan Mai, Dean of the Social Work Faculty of the University of Labor and Social Affairs, Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, and Mr Le Chi An, Head of the Social Work Unit of the Faculty of Social Work at Ho Chi Minh City Open University – both of whom are partners in CFSI’s Social Work Education Project (SWEP – Viet Nam) – will examine ways to integrate psycho-social responses to disasters into Viet Nam’s university curricula after taking part in the 2013 Asia Pacific Social Work Conference entitled “Social Work in climate change, disaster risk, reduction and response: Building capacity and global partnership” held at the Philippine International Convention Center in Pasay city from June 4-6, 2013.
“In Viet Nam, they do not care about the psycho-social aspects when they are dealing with disasters. And people have many psycho-social problems during and after disasters,” Dr Mai said. “People suffer trauma, grief and fear. So we will develop recommendations to include this in the curriculum.”
In a country beset by typhoons, floods, and land and rock slides, Dr Mai said they would focus on three key areas for adaptation in Viet Nam. Firstly, how to integrate the psycho-social dimension of disasters into the existing social work curriculum; secondly, they will make recommendations for this aspect’s integration into the mental health curriculum; and thirdly, as part of SWEP – Viet Nam initiatives, they will work towards the development of a specialized course to be incorporated into their community development work.
“This is new,” said Mr An. “We realised it was very important to have this topic included in our social work curriculum. We can take this knowledge back and teach. I will make a plan to develop a course specialising in coping and preventing disaster with an emphasis on psycho-social aspects. We will also make a recommendation for more research into this area.”
SWEP – Viet Nam has been operating since 2010, with the aim of better protecting and assisting disadvantaged populations within the country by strengthening and further developing human resources in social work. It has three main areas of focus: Strengthening national leadership and coordination in social work; promoting improvements in social work education, training and practice; and facilitating the development of networks and institutional partnerships for sustainability.
“SWEP has helped in developing resources and capacity in the field of social work in Viet Nam,” Mr An said. “Firstly, we raise awareness of social work in the government; secondly, we improve knowledge and skills. Awareness of the social work profession is important. For a long time it was thought of as a charity activity – such as giving people money. Now there is a new perception, and in terms of the government, there has been inter-agency integration of social work within the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA).”
“I think SWEP – Viet Nam has a very, very big impact on such areas as policy, the services system, capacity and education,” Dr Mai said. “It is important. The MoLISA managers have changed their minds, knowledge and beliefs, and hence their behavior. It will make the policy better and will improve services, so more people will benefit; human rights will be better. SWEP – Viet Nam is also helping to drive changes in broader society as well.”