Social Work students get acquainted with needs of LGBTI community

6 June 2015 – PINK Embassy / LGBT Pro Albania in cooperation with the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Tirana held at the latter’s premises a workshop with more than 30 students majoring in Social Work. The workshop served as a practical exercise to evaluate more specifically the problems and needs of LGBTI people and the interventions and the help that social workers can give to them.

PINK shared with students four specific cases of discrimination, violence, exclusion from family and social circles and different threats. These cases have been recorded and addressed by PINK during its activity these past years. After learning about the different cases, students answered questions as to what procedure they would follow to evaluate the individual situations, which are the persons main problems and what working plan they would develop following the evaluation.

The students worked in four different groups in order to give their inputs and present the findings. The workshop served for students to identify not only the usual steps followed in order to assist a person who is victim of discrimination or violence, but also to understand more specifically some of the particular challenges that people face which come specifically due to sexual orientation or gender identity.

In their comments the students appreciated the workshop because it gave them an opportunity to know more specifically and realistically the needs and challenges of LGBTI people and to make some distinction with theory. It also helped them to understand the dynamics and complex problems that many LGBTI people face. Here are included the need to know better legislation, competences of different institutions, establish a network of contacts and support from different sectors, the need to protect and maintain confidentiality of information which is crucial for many LGBTI people, the challenges that come to communicate with people who come from disadvantaged backgrounds etc.

The students also appreciated the fact that through this practice they felt closer to the needs and problems of LGBTI people and to be more empathic and sensible.

PINK wishes to thank the Faculty of Social Sciences for the cooperation in holding awareness events and trainings with students majoring in social work or sociology.

Several weeks ago the same group of students attended a training organized by PINK on LGBTI rights, theoretical and academic concepts and offering friendly services to LGBTI people.

PINK invites all academic and independent institutions who see it as important to hold trainings and lectures on the LGBTI topic to contact us at the address amarildo.fecanji@crca.al