In 2021, “Armenian Caritas” Benevolent NGO supported “European Ways” NGO (Germany) in organizing and conducting training on “Trauma therapy in conflict and post-conflict regions’’ project on which participated psychologists from Armenia and Artsakh 4 psychologists, social workers and volunteers. The trainings were launched in Aghveran. The project aimed at the development of professional’s qualification in mediation, supervision, and emotional burnout. During the project the participants participated in 6 thematic trainings conducted by the international trainers from Ukraine and Russia. The participants were awarded with certificates.
This was very outstanding as in 2020, the 44-day lasting war significantly affected on emotional and social status. Besides the losses typical to the war, the problem of physical security and pupils’ encouragement decreased.
The mentioned problems required fast and proper intervention that would improve social-psychological well-being. The first response helping the suffered Artsakh was “Social Workers” association of Armenia” led by M. Antonyan, the president of the association.
The association’s programme in Artsakh aimed to develop the skills of employees, the effective implementation of the social services, as well as to support the professionals in the field of social, educational and healthcare to overcome the stress. It targeted to develop social workers skills, who would be able to work with post-war traumatic situations and use their skills to support the government, Diaspora and international donors for participating in all the changes necessary for Artsakh’s life.
In this context, the study “Artsakh War 2020: Losses, challenges and confrontations developing skills ” implemented in 2021, was conducted to find out the demographic picture of Artsakh war-affected families, their socio-economic needs, their fear and their future plans.
Home visits in Artsakh were carried out for social interviews.
The next stage of the project was the professional group of social workers.
In 2021, training courses were held with 50 groups. Some participants were chosen to work in the Ministry of Labor and Social Security.
Since September, Mesrop Mashtots University officially launched a master’s program on social worker education with the enrollment of 20 students, which was the first step towards the formation of a professional social workforce in Artsakh.
The social work is a professional activity and academic course that helps individuals, groups of people or communities to solve social issues which hinder the implementation of the principles such as social honesty, social integrity, social participation and social solidarity.
The above mentioned standards become much more vulnerable during the post-traumatic situations. The problem becomes much more difficult in the conflict areas during military actions, when people have to face to completely new situations, where they can have personal and territorial losses.
The current situation has necessitated supplementing the social protection system in Artsakh with community-based social-psychological services for family empowerment, which would be able respond to the problems, contributing to the increase of families’ viability and resistance. Thus, the role of social work in Artsakh is highly required.
Narine S. Beglaryan
The Ministry of Social Development and Migration of the Republic of Artsakh Social worker at “Social- Psychological Support Center” freshman at Master’s degree on “Social Work”
