Page 6 - AHATA

a8 local
Monday 2 noveMber 2020

Social Work and Development at the University of Aruba:

“It’s a calling to assist others and

improve the community of Aruba”

to grow. Another sector
we are developing is the fi-
nancial one. Many people
struggle with their finances
these times which causes
social problems.
That is where we can come
in.” Willems sees that more
preparing for the social field when she decided to social services are required
work in general. Many stu- study again. “I felt I wanted because of the pandemic.
dents are still young when to go further and deeper “Now you see the cracks in
finishing high school and into helping individuals. a community and we need
like to stay in Aruba while With this program you learn social workers to repair
orientating what specific how to empower individu- them.” Her goal is to do her
direction in this area they als to shape themselves.” masters in the Netherlands
really want. A part use this They are constantly devel- and work with youth. “It is a
studies as a foundation be- oping the program as well calling, it really is. I always
fore doing psychology mas- as improve and adjust to did volunteer work and al-
ters in The Netherlands.” the current times. Hoek fur- ways wanted to help peo-
Willems adds, “It is indeed ther explains, “After finish- ple.”
very general so you get the ing you are able to work as
change to choose what fits a social worker for NGO’s, Preach and practice
best for you and we do a but with the Covid-19 crisis Hoek explains that the pro-
ORANJESTAD — In Octo- Flemish accreditation orga- lot of self-improvement too. occurring we are looking gram combines practice
ber 2020, the accredited, nization) gave their positive The program is a wonderful at HR departments of the and theory together. He
four-year bachelor degree advice on the quality of the experience.” private sector and gov- coordinates the internships
program, Social Work and applied sciences bachelor ernmental area too. If HR in the first year_ which in-
Development celebrated program Social Work and Cracks in society sees a problem the social clude volunteer work as it is
their 10th anniversary and Development. Hoek ex- Willems was already work- worker can help. Job satis- seen as a foundation of so-
they are doing more than plains, “The study entails ing in the human resource faction is a focus we want cial work. The second, third
great. “We are very happy and fourth year there are
with the results of this pro- internships and research is
gram. The last two years we done in the last year too.
saw a large increase in the Hoek follows his students
amount of students,” says four years long, they do
Ricky Hoek, Professional a lot of self-improvement
& Science Practice Coor- aiming to be a good per-
dinator/Lecturer.” Fourth- son and social worker. “The
year student Thalina Wil- number of students has
lems, mother of two, states, doubled in the past couple
“I am very, very happy of years, I see happy and
with my choice of study. motivated people. We also
With this social study back- receive great feedback
ground I can really make from our alumni who keep
a difference when people on promoting the studies
have problems and help and help us with adjusting
them better their lives.” the program to the work
Very important to mention field.”
is that this study fits flaw-
lessly with the needs of the
community. For more information:
http://www.ua.aw/ or
The program has both a join the university’s so-
professional and research cial media platform
orientation. On March 24th, Facebook and Insta-
2017, the NVAO (Dutch- Fourth-year student Thalina Willems with her family. gram. q