Integrative Social Work Practice with Refugees

Assist. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Özada Nazım and Lecturer Buse Erzeybek from the Department of Social Work of Faculty of Health Sciences, Cyprus International University (CIU), attended the international meeting titled "Integrative Social Work with Refugees" hosted by the University of Nicosia Social Work Program in South Cyprus.

Erzeybek stated that the meeting was initiated under the leadership of "Hope for Children", one of the important non-governmental organizations in South Cyprus, and added that "The meeting was also organized in cooperation with Columbia University, where the first school of social work in the world was established."

Providing information about the purpose of the meeting, Erzeybek stated that the participants exchanged information on topics such as discussing and researching the work of international organizations and academic institutions, developing academic curricula, and strengthening social services evaluation tools.

Erzeybek said that information was shared on university academic curricula and practices, and added a presentation was made on bi-communal social work practices in North Cyprus, related research and their results.

Speaking about his own presentation, Erzeybek said, "we tried to convey the importance and role of social work in societies that experienced conflict and what can be done to make them live together again." 

Stating that the meeting was of great importance in terms of sharing the bi-communal studies carried out for the first time in the country in the field of social work, Erzeybek noted that they also agreed to cooperate with the academic staff of Columbia University and the University of Nicosia Department of Social Work for planning professional practices and providing academic contributions.