Qualification enhancement courses for social workers and government officials

Within the collaboration between the NGO “Chirikli” and the State Institute of Family and Youth Policy of Ukraine, short-term training courses were conducted for three groups of employees from the structural units of district state administrations and social workers on the topic “Mediation in Roma Communities and Intercultural Communication.” These courses were conducted as part of the implementation of the Roma mediator program and the “ROMED2” program.

A total of 60 participants took part in the qualification enhancement courses on the topic of “Mediation in Roma Communities and Intercultural Communication” and received certificates of qualification enhancement.

Some of the main topics covered in the educational program included:

• Roma culture
• Mediation in Roma communities, intercultural communication
• Effective communication skills
• Effective intercultural mediation
• Mechanisms of interaction between Roma mediators, social workers, and local authorities

All participants of the courses highlighted the necessity of conducting such courses and the invaluable benefit of the acquired information. Many participants mentioned that their negative stereotypes about Roma were dispelled, and they gained a new perspective on Roma communities. They also emphasized the importance of the work carried out by Roma social-medical mediators and the need for collaboration with them.