Press-release on conference
“Bridge of Social Work, From East to West”, 22-23 August,
2013, Antalya Turkey
On August
22-23, the “Bridge of Social Work: From East to West” took place in Antalya,
Turkey. Social workers from eight post-Soviet countries such as Tajikistan,
Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia and Azerbaijan came
together at the conference in Turkey which is the bridge from Asia to Europe.
The
conference was an avenue for all Post-Soviet countries which are members of
IFSW but belong either to IFSW Europe or IFSW Asia including those post-soviet
countries which are not members of IFSW to meet. The conference provided an
opportunity for them to meet, share experiences, and discuss their models of
social work practice as well as their achievements, challenges and issues in
establishment of social work after the collapse of the Soviet Union.
The
conference was opened with welcoming speeches of Mr. Mustafa Akaydin, the Head
of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality and by Mr. Murat Altuggil, Head of Turkish
Association of Social Workers. Key note speeches were delivered to conference
participants by Ms. Aytakin Husyenli, Executive Director of Azerbaijan Social
Work Public Union and Deputy of Executive Committee of IFSW Europe and by Mr.
Riza Elitok, Head of Antalya Branch of Turkish Association of Social Workers.
During
the conference all participants made presentations about the history, current
trends, challenges and future plans of social work in their countries. During
the conference Mrs. Salome Namicheishvili, Chair of Georgian Association of
Social Workers and Executive Committee Member of IFSW Europe conducted a
session on “Social Work Ethics” where she highlighted importance of ethics in
practice of social work.
At the end of official part, Ms. Huseynli and Mr.
Elitok, carried out an session on the outcomes of the conference. The
participants mentioned that this kind of meeting of Post-Soviet countries needs
to be continued in the next years since there are a lot of the common in
development of social work of these countries. Meanwhile, participants
expressed that since all participant countries come from the same background,
Soviet background and plus having almost the same speed of development of
social work, there are many things to learn from each other.
At the
end of the conference, participants were given certificates of participation
and gifts by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality. The conference was organized by Antalya Metropolitan
Municipality, Antalya Branch of Turkish Social Workers Association and
Azerbaijan Social Work Public Union. The conference, such accommodation, food
and all social activities were financed by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality.
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