Strengthening social welfare infrastructure is a priority in sub-Saharan African countries where HIV/AIDS, other health and social problems, limited resources, and poverty are significant barriers to achieving health, economic and quality of life goals. Social work offers opportunities to empower communities and families while providing support to vulnerable populations including vulnerable children. While some countries have had experience with diploma and certificate programs in preparing practitioners for professional social services, workforce development in this area is critical. Badly needed are quality degree granting programs that will equip practitioners to work with individuals and families, community systems as well as to educate both professionals and para-professionals to address a variety of human service needs.
With support from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the HIV/AIDS Twinning Center and its partners at the Tanzanian Institute of Social Work (ISW) and the University of Illinois at Chicago’s Jane Addams College of Social Work/Midwest AIDS Training and Education Center (MATEC) are working to develop an infrastructure that supports Emerging Schools of Social Work in Tanzania to set up and implement efficient, credible, locally accredited, and sustainable Social Work programs across 10-12 schools in the country (Tanzania Emerging Social Work Education Partnership).
Through these social work partners, AIHA Twinning Center is seeking to partner with colleges, universities and technical institute faculty throughout Tanzania to jointly design a program that will strengthen and standardize social work education, help launch new Masters and Bachelor Level social work programs and facilitate the provision of quality social work services to children, individuals with special needs, families and communities in Tanzania. Concurrent with supporting the establishment of undergraduate level programs, Twinning Centre is also supporting the establishment of graduate level programs in the country on a faculty-exchange basis between local universities and their international partners. This program will allow existing and emerging social work programs to share experiences, share resources, identify needs and develop ways to support students and faculty.
With the foregoing, the Twinning Center seeks a volunteer to mentor and support TESWEP partners to move the activities set forth in their work plan forward.
If you are interested in serving as a catalyst for sustainable change and want to make a meaningful contribution to the global fight against AIDS, go to: http://www.twinningagainstaids.org/volunteers.html and APPLY!
The VHC provides each volunteer with airfare, housing, a generous living allowance, medical evacuation insurance, and covers expenses for vaccinations and visa/work permits.
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