Page 13 - ARUBA TODAY

A13
Monday 5 March 2018

Open House at University of Aruba, 24th of March:

Let’s meet Social Work & Development!

seling, but you can also
work with governments,
work on community pro-
grams or create company
policies.
You can be a core, medi-
cal or company social
worker, it is so broad! My
passion for this work is to
feel that you make a differ-
ence in someone’s life, it is
not all about money! Clem-
entia agrees:
“This profession may not be
that rewarding for the pay
check at the end of the
month, but the fact that
you can help transform the
life of somebody, give them
a second change and help
them get insight into the
challenges they have so
that they can enjoy a bet-
ter quality of life: that role
of the social worker is un-
payable rewarding.”
We cannot underestimate
the fact that there is the
One Happy Island part, but
also a lot of social issues
from child abuse to domes-
tic violence to poverty to
abuse of alcohol and drugs
By Linda Reijnders of social service agencies. velopment. It is very broad and managing social ser- or gambling.
ORANJESTAD – The date That’s said that our students indeed and students get vices. The 4rd year the “Even suicidal issues, de-
of 24th of March is a spe- do their internships in all to choose what they like courses move away from pressions, mental health
cial one for the University the agencies that you can based on their interest and individuals and communi- problems are growing, so
of Aruba. Not only is it their think of in Aruba. We have specialization. They have ties to look at the macro we need a category of
Open House Day, but last students at SABA, a senior three opportunities to ex- level of policy and advo- social help workers to help
year on this exact day the home where they work plore where their interest is cacy. give those individuals the
NVAO (Dutch-Flemish Ac- with elderly people, at the strongest.” “We want our students coping strategies, the skills
creditation Organization) hospital as a medical social not only to graduate and they need and the hope
gave their positive advice work student, at PAAZ as a 4 years program knock on somebody’s door that they can live a better
on the quality of the HBO- mental health social work- They have a competency but be able to work inde- quality life.”
bachelor program Social ers, at SVGA where our stu- based program meaning pendent and have their Clementia emphasizes that
Work and Development, dents work with people that the combination of knowl- own business”, says Cle- the faculty welcomes ev-
Faculty of Arts & Sciences. have limitations, at Social edge, skills and attitude mentia. There are 16 part- erybody to come and talk
4th year student Tracey Affairs which is the govern- are integrated. The 1st year time lecturers teaching the to students and lecturers
Werleman and lecturer ment department where enhances a lot of knowl- students. on March 24th. “We need
Clementia Eugene are very they work in different fields edge courses like psychol- to interest men and foreign
clear about their passion like youth, welfare, older ogy role, critical thinking, Unpayable Rewarding students too.
for social work and Aruba persons, and we also have and sociology, introduction Tracey: “A lot of people And we will, so they can see
Today is happy to share students at Heart Centered to social work, academic think that social work is only that social work is changing
their words with you. Leadership Foundation reading and writing. on a micro level like coun- to another dimension.”q
which is a foundation that The 2nd year courses in-
Clementia: “We have 36 works towards empowering clude more skills like coun-
students in our program young people at risk, either seling, social work, geron-
now for all 4 years. The stud- at their job or at school. We tology and social practices
ies offer a generalist orien- also have students work- on children and youth,
tation, upon graduation ing at the schools as social while the 3rd year you learn
our students are capable workers and at CEDHM, to do social work in groups,
of working in a wide variety Centre for Women and De- community empowerment