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April 6, 2007
First International Social Work conference in Siberia and the Russian Far East
SOCIAL COHESION IN THE SOCIETY, IMPERATIVE OF THE TWENTY FIRST CENTURY.
The first International Conference of Social workers in the Far East was held in Kyzil the capital of the Region of Tuva on 20-22 June 2006. This was the initiative of the Russian Union of Social Workers and social pedagogues and the Branch of the Association of Tuva.
This idea arose after a Russian delegation attended the IFSW conferences in Australia and Korea. They realized that Russia was not seen as Asian by many countries. The territory of Russia is 48% European, and 52% Asian. Russia is so big that for Asian social workers to travel to its European part may take up to eight hours flight. This is why the Union was very interested in hosting a conference for social workers in this remote area of Russia.
The conference attracted participants from nine countries including, Korea, China and Hong Kong, Mongolia, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and thirteen regions of Russia.
Tuva is one of the most remote and one of the poorest areas of Russia. Participants were invited to Tuva because they have a very developed branch of Social Workers and the Republic is situated in the centre of Asia. Social workers may receive a salary of approximately US$50 a month which is less than the pension of the clients they work with.
The conference was very successful with up to seven hundred participants attended and became familiar with the concept of Social Cohesion. As participants we realized that Social Cohesion is social solidarity, social support, social justice, social responsibility – all these notions which form part of social workers values and beliefs are embraced in this notion and definition. This is why all social workers from Asia and beyond found it easy to talk about social cohesion.
Social Services in Russia are well developed and despite social work profession only being 15 years old. Social workers are active in supporting clients of different groups – elderly, disabled people, children and families at risk. The presentations from Russian participants were of high quality and delivered with much passion. The status of social workers is a key issue as low status hinders the ability of social workers to provide effective services to their clients.
Of particular note was the excellent work being undertaken with the elderly in Kemerova, work with children in Moscow and work with disabled people in Kyrgyzstan.
We were reminded that social cohesion is also about meeting each other, building relationships and finding a common voice on the major issues that face us. The social and cultural programme of the conference helped us get to know each other and to discover the richness of Tuvan culture. As New Zealanders, where Maori are the indigenous people, we felt a connection to the ethnic Tuvan people who are indigenous to Tuva. The local Buddhist, Shaman, and even Russian Orthodox themes were woven into the conference event.
On a personal note we were attracted to the passion of Russian social workers for their work, the generous hospitality of the people of Kyzil and the stunning beauty of the Tuva region. We experienced the remoteness and beauty of the area during our trip between Moscow and Kyzil. It took us fourteen hours by car and five hours by plane to make the journey! Some of the participants had much longer journeys by land. The cost of travel was also an issue for most participants.
It is hoped that this conference will be one of many steps toward the development of social work practice in Siberia, the Russian Far East and the wider Asia region.
David McNabb and Pam Elgar
David is currently Chair of the Board of Competency for the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. Pam is of Maori descent, the indigenous people of New Zealand. She finds herself at various social work events with David.
David and Pam are married and currently traveling in Russia and expect to see many social workers at the IFSW Munich conference.
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