Contributing to Social Development through Community Work Approach

1. Contributing to Social Development through Community Work Approach Nino Žganec, Anneke Touwen, Mirela Despotović, Hay van der Sterren, Ana Miljenović University of Zagreb, Faculty of Law, Department of Social Work, Croatia, nzganec@pravo.hr ATConsult, Netherlands; anne.touwen@atconsult.antenna.nl Center for Civil Initiatives, Zagreb, Croatia; mirela@cci.hr HAN University, Netherlands; Hay.vanderSterren@han.nl Social Action in Europe :Sustainable Social Development and Economic Challenges Conference : Brussels 10 - 13 April 2011

2. War consequences in Croatia • Destruction of: • Human lives • Cities • Sense of community • Deterioration of: • Social services quality

3. The role of social services • Mitigation of consequences of war • Orientation to basic needs • Reduction of professional activities

4. After the war • The need for restoration of modern social services • Emphasis on psychosocial approach (social casework, SW with groups) • Lack of community work • Changes in education of social workers in Croatia

5. Contributing to Social Development through Community Work Approach • Joint project titled: Community Development Work in Croatia, education for students and professionals in social work (2009- 2011) • Three partners: HAN University, Netherlands, University of Zagreb, Croatia and Center for Civil Initiatives, Croatia – Matra project (grant oftheDutchMinistryofForeignAffairs) • The project goal: to stimulate community empowerment and citizen's participation in Croatia by building up professional capacity for community development work

6. Project components • A) To improve the education in gender-sensitive community development work in the Social Work Study Centre of the University of Zagreb, through the development of a curriculum community development work for MA studies and extending the curriculum for students at BA level with new theory and methodologies. • B) To provide further education in community development work to professional social workers and the development of a summer school to provide this education also in the future. • C) To develop a new practice in community development work in pilot projects, in two Croatian cities - Karlovac and Petrinja, and through this provide practice experience for students and professionals.

7. Results • Significantchangesintroducedincurriculumofsocial work education (new literature, new teachingmethods, gendersensitivity, transfer ofpracticeandknowledge, new postgraduate program, new summerschool) • New practice in community development work in pilot projects, in two Croatian cities - Karlovac and Petrinja

8. Results • provided further education in community development for professional social workers and community leaders • - developed new practice in community development work in two pilot projects in two towns in Croatia (Karlovac, Petrinja) • - students and professionals provided with practical experience in two pilots (best practices)

9. 10 three-day training in different topics of community development work for CCI staff and professional social workers • provided training in CD work to community leaders (40 members of working groups) • CCI staff were trained in leadership training and provided training to women-community leaders in both pilot areas (30 women)

10. Pilots´ community work • Petrinja • Aim: To decrease tensions among different cultural groups • Activities: • Sport tournaments • Neighbours´ Day • Building community center • Cleaning actions in neighborhood • Karlovac • Aim: To improve urban environment of a district • Activities: • Rebuilding of basketball terrain • Youth Assisting Elderly in everyday activities • Raising funds for kindergarten fence

11. Petrinja – a future community center A joint action of citizens, businesses and authorities needs to be in place to complete the building

12. Completed community center in another town (Gvozd) ......... In order to become a joint gathering facility in a community.

13. Next steps… • What are the prerequisites for strenghtening of community work? • What role has CD as tool in local social policy? • What is the role of legislation? • Possible international partnership? • Differences in CD between “east” and “west” • Student exchange? • Importance for social work?