Implementation of innovative approaches and European standards in social sector was discussed in Mykolaiv
The project is carried out by Mykolaiv City Charitable Foundation META “From Joint Vision to Joint Actions” under the support of the International Renaissance Foundation and with participation of the Executive Committee of Mykolaiv City Council and City Mayor Volodymyr Chaika.
Representatives of Oblast and City Administrations for Family and Youth, Administrations for Employment and Social Protection of Population, Education and Healthcare, Services for Children’s Matters, representatives of local and international public organizations and charitable foundations, lecturers and students of Vasyl Sukhomlynsky Mykolaiv State University and Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University participated in the event.
This was already the fourth discussion, focused on citizens’ realization of European identity and European prospects for development of the city and the region. Previous discussions on the topics “Values of Mykolaiv Residents and Europeans: “Parallels” and “Perpendiculars”, “Policultural Parallels of the South of Ukraine”, “Youth of Europe and the South of Ukraine: What Unites Us” were devoted to other pressing aspects of the public and socio-cultural life of Mykolaiv residents.
For a more constructive discussion of the topic, Project Coordinator Lyubov Varyukhina proposed to consider approaches, standards and innovations in provision of social services to children of vulnerable categories. The discussion was started by Maryna Doktorovych, Deputy Head of Chair of Social Pedagogics and Social Work of Vasyl Sukhomlynsky Mykolaiv State University. She familiarized the participants with social work models that are implemented in European countries, namely, with Anglo-Saxon, Roman and Scandinavian models. Volodymyr Kuzminskyi, Director of the Ukrainian Representative Office of the International Charitable Organization “EveryChild” (city of Kyiv), gave a speech on the topic “Criteria for assessment of effectiveness of activity of local self-government bodies in the area of provision of the rights of children”. His speech aroused a great interest on the part of the participants of the discussion.
Representatives of local bodies of authority presented their work in the area of provision of social services to children of vulnerable categories. Representatives of city and oblast public organizations and charitable foundations spoke about achievements in working with children. The participants of the discussion had the most active debate about such an innovative method as art therapy that was presented by Ya. Kovalchuk, Head of Mykolaiv Oblast NGO “Dialog”.
An unscheduled spontaneous event took place upon the end of the discussion – a master class by Volodymyr Kuzminskyi, Director of the Ukrainian Representative Office of the International Charitable Organization “EveryChild”. Using his own experience, Volodymyr Kuzminskyi gave advice to the attendees on the most effective methods of implementation of development strategies for social services for children of vulnerable categories.
Summing up the held discussion, the participants made a conclusion that Mykolaiv region has positive trends in both in application of standards in the social sector and in provision of social services.
The event was held within the framework of a project “Information and Education Campaign “European Mykolaiv City Open to the World” that is carried out by Mykolaiv City Charitable Foundation META “From Joint Vision to Joint Actions” under the support of the International Renaissance Foundation and with participation of the Executive Committee of Mykolaiv City Council and City Mayor Volodymyr Chaika. Partners of the META Foundation in implementation of the project are the following: Marko Kropyvnytsky Central Library, Mykolaiv Oblast NGO “Dialog”, LASKA Foundation, RUSAL’s Center of Social Programs in Ukraine, Scientific-pedagogical Library of Mykolaiv, and Petro Mohyla Black Sea State University.
