Reunion after the Ice Break: Sidelights on the Second Workshop

The second workshop of ISUSW 2021 was conducted Today. The successful holding of the first workshop helped ISUSW students successfully break the ice of communication. Following the content of Lecture7, the discussion of the second workshop is developing into a more in-depth and professional direction.

Subgroup 1 comprises two students from SDU, one from CUHK, one from THU, one from SWU, and one from RCSS. In this workshop, we are happy to find that the group members have formed a good atmosphere in the group after the icebreaking and the successful exchange of the first workshop. Shuling is a student from SDU. She assumed the role of team leader in Subgroup 1. She started with her research direction: social work for the disabled, and shared with the group members what she knew and had participated in online social work for disabled, Yutian shared the living conditions of the disabled she saw in Hong Kong. The subgroup discussed the reasons for the living conditions of different disabled people in other countries and regions. Subsequently, members of the subset discussed online social work services under the epidemic. Members from the different areas shared the changes and impacts of social work service methods that have changed due to the epidemic and the difficulties faced by this service method.

The discussion in subgroups was open and in-depth. The subgroup leaders actively communicated with the members of their subgroup, coordinated the order of speeches in the subset, and asked questions about students’ lessons from different Universities. Good interaction and communication within the subgroup helped the initially shy subgroup members get rid of their shyness and actively participate in subgroup discussions. The subgroup discussion ended soon, and the groups returned to the main conference room to start the second part of the workshop：Group A conversation and sharing.

Subgroup 1 was shared by Aleena as a representative. She did not participate in the first workshop because of the exam. Today is the first time she has discussed with her subgroup members. In the presentation stage, she carefully and comprehensively shared the discussion of the first subgroup with everyone, which perfectly demonstrated her professionalism.

Anthony shared the discussion content of Subgroup 2. He first focused on sharing the basic situation of the development of social work in India and the service content provided by the agency. Taking an online social work service project successfully carried out during an epidemic, he introduced to other trainees the problems faced by social work in India and the difficulties encountered in carrying out services under the epidemic.

After his sharing, Naomi from the third subgroup asked questions about the project he introduced. She wanted to know how the project obtained the client’s information and data. Anthony patiently answered her question，the government and NGO organizations provided them with this information and data.Anthony‘s answer gave Naomiand other students a more systematic understanding of the situationof social work in India.

After the above questions and answers in the second subgroup, Naomi, the representative of the third subgroup, started her sharing. The third subgroup member pointed out that online social work services have many advantages, but many areas do not have professional network support. Children and social workers in these areas cannot enjoy the convenience brought by technology in this way. At the same time, because of the epidemic, offline services must also be stopped. This is a severe problem that needs to be taken seriously. At the same time, the third subgroup also shared the convenience brought to the lives of persons with disabilities in the Internet age, believing that Internet tools can essentially help persons with disabilities solve the problems they face.

After the report of the third subgroup, Dr. Sun Yanyan, as a moderaor, asked Naomi a question worth thinking about: the impact of cultural differences on social work and how it is reflected in the members of the group. The students started to listen to the fourth subgroup‘s sharing with this question and their thoughts. Coincidentally, this question was in a sure fit with the content shared by the fourth subgroup of students.

GAO reported on the discussion of the fourth subgroup. They found that the development of social work in different countries and regions has their specific focus in various fields. For example, in Hong Kong, social work services for the disabled are often easier to recognize and help. Hong Kong’s social work services for the disabled are very advanced. In Australia, social workers provide more services and assistance to immigrants from other countries and homeless people. Coming to mainland China, the main areas of social work services are concentrated in the community.

The sharing of the four subgroups in the workshop ended, but the content and the questions gave the classmates a more diverse and in-depth understanding of social work. Sticking to one moment and one place, social work that is limited to a single perspective will not form a stable system and will not provide better services to those in need. Only by opening our eyes and hearts, listening to different voices, observing various phenomena, and thinking about the operating rules of social work under different cultural backgrounds can we help us in the perspective and background of the era of globalization, and promote social work to shine more brilliance.

Written by Xiufan Xiong (MSW student, SDU)

July 15, 2021