President of the Asian and Pacific Association for Social Work Education Visits RUPP
Dr. Tatsuru Akimoto, President of APASWE made his second visit to the RUPP SW Department. The SW Department received exciting news that its proposal "Professional Social Work and Its Functional Alternatives in Cambodia" had been accepted for a research project sponsored by APASWE. RUPP joins with faculty in Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka for this cross-country project. A joint meeting is planned for November, 2012.
RUPP Poster Presentations About Community Service Learning
Year 2 students shared about their experiences at their Community Service Learning placements over the past year. Eleven non-governmental organizations partnered this year with the SW Department to offer educational experiences for the Year 2 students to expose them to social services. For Years 3 and 4 another approximately thirty NGOs joined as field learning partners.
US Embassy Hosts 3rd Annual Video Conference
RUPP students shared why social work is important in their country and some of their challenges. Here are a few comments from the debriefing after the conference among UW students:
"Inspiring to hear about a similar focus and commitment for social justice in Cambodia".
"Interesting about the challenges to the new profession and amily members' perceptions about social work as a legitimate major".
"There are so many non-governmental organizations".
"Interesting to hear about need for systemic change and meeting basic needs".
SWD Celebrates 3rd Annual International Social Worker Day
Messenger Band Singers Serenade
Kunthy Ros (left), SWD faculty, introduces two singers from the Messenger Band, an all-girls band who create and share songs about self-determination and challenges of being a garment worker. We were truly fortunate to have them share two songs at the ISW event.
Sinthay Neb Shares About Being an Advocate
The theme of the event was "Social Workers as Advocates Within Development" and keynote speaker, Sinthay Neb, director of the Advocacy Policy Institute, stated his thoughts "a social worker does not initiate to create products or goods but a social worker initiates solving problems for social change.....".
Soknym Sau Winner of the 2012 Sil Sineng Memorial Award
Soknym Sau, supervisor at Seedlings of Hope receives the award from Lo Leang, SWD faculty. Mr. Sau has been a committed supervisor for Year 3 practicum students, encouraging them to engage in reflective practice and facilitating their learning. The SWD is truly appreciative of the time and efforts field supervisors like Mr. Sau put into supporting the education of the social work students. It's key to the success of the program.
Visiting Mentor Sharon Berlin Meets with Faculty
Sharon Berlin, Helen Ross Professor Emeritus from the University of Chicago, Social Service Administration, has been volunteering as a mentor with the Partnership for the past 4 years supporting faculty who teach micro-practice courses. ere she is meeting with Ms. Thuon who teaches the introduction to mental health course.
“The instructors that I've worked with over the last few years inspire me with their devotion and enthusiasm. Their work to provide high quality social work education to Cambodians is one of the most promising developments in the country”
Partnership Welcomes Peace Corp Volunteer
Christine Holmes, MSW, recently began her Peace Corps assignment in Cambodia with her primary assignment at the regional teacher training school. The Partnership is excited to have Christine join as a volunteer to support the Academic Committee of the Social Work Department.
The SW Department welcomes its new freshman class of students, twenty-two students with the majority coming from outside of Phnom Penh
UW Welcomes the 6th RUPP Faculty to the Seattle Campus
Saveun Nhim who has been a program manager for field learning at the RUPP SW Department for the past 2 years recently arrived in Seattle to begin the two year MSW program. When he graduates in 2013, he will return and become a faculty at the SW Department.