International Training Programme for Social Workers and Social Service Practitioners
Topic:
Social Work in Crisis Contexts: Practical Actions and Community-Based Support
Training Format
📍 Online via Zoom
👥 Limited to 40 participants
🕒 Duration: 3 live sessions (90 minutes each) – participants may register for individual sessions or attend the full series
🌍 Time zone: CET
Session 1
📅 8 July | 19:00–20:30 CET
Session 2
📅 15 July | 19:00–20:30 CET
Session 3
📅 22 July | 19:00–20:30 CET
Participation & Contribution
Participation is free of charge for social workers and social service practitioners working in countries affected by war, armed conflict, or humanitarian crises.
For participants from other countries, participation takes the form of a solidarity contribution that helps support social workers and communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Places are limited to 40 participants — register early to secure your spot.
Please see details below.
Crisis situations place extraordinary pressure on individuals, communities, and support systems. In these contexts, social workers often play a key role in responding to urgent needs, supporting people under stress, and helping communities remain connected.
This international training programme brings together practical approaches, community-based responses, and shared learning experiences for social workers and practitioners working in crisis and humanitarian settings.
Through international exchange and practice-focused sessions, participants will explore practical tools, psychosocial support approaches, and strategies for strengthening community responses in challenging contexts.
Explore the Sessions
SESSION 1 (90 min)
Social work in crisis contexts: key elements
In crisis situations, people often experience confusion, stress, and uncertainty. The role of the social worker is to provide practical support, help people understand priorities, and support them in taking the next steps.
This session explores how social workers can identify immediate needs, provide emotional and practical support, and create simple pathways for action in rapidly changing situations.
Participants will also explore how to strengthen community support by building on existing resources, connections, and local responses.
SESSION 2 (90 min)
Building Structured Community Response
In crisis situations, support networks are often disrupted, and people can become disconnected from their usual sources of help. Social workers play an important role in rebuilding connections, strengthening support networks, and helping communities organise practical responses.
This session explores how social workers can act as connectors — linking people, services, and community actors to create more accessible, coordinated, and sustainable support systems in challenging contexts.
SESSION 3 (90 min)
Supporting stability and daily functioning
In crisis situations, people often experience stress, uncertainty, and disruption in their daily lives. Social workers play an important role in providing practical support, creating a sense of safety, and helping people regain stability and a sense of control.
This session explores practical approaches for supporting daily functioning, strengthening coping, and helping people move forward step by step in challenging situations.
Meet the Trainer
Dr. Ana Rădulescu
Associate Professor, Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, University of Bucharest
President of the Association of Social Workers in Romania (ASproAS)
Dr. Ana Rădulescu is a social worker, international trainer, and expert in strengthening social services in times of crisis and uncertainty. With extensive experience in European and international initiatives, she has worked at the intersection of practice, policy, research, and emergency response, supporting professionals and institutions in building more resilient and responsive services.
Her work includes crisis and disaster response, humanitarian emergencies, and war-related contexts, with a strong focus on workforce resilience, leadership, and effective social service systems under pressure.
With experience ranging from frontline practice to European policy development, Ana brings together real-life field experience, strategic vision, and practical tools that help professionals navigate complexity and create meaningful change.
Participation and solidarity contribution
Participation is free of charge for social workers and social service practitioners working in countries affected by war, armed conflict, or humanitarian crises.
Limited to 20 participants
Participants from other countries are invited to join through a solidarity contribution supporting social workers and communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Limited to 20 participants
Financial contributions raised through this initiative will support the implementation of the following projects led by the Association of Social Workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo:
Project: Community Activities for Children
affected by poverty, violence or family instability often experience fear, isolation, emotional distress and lack of safe spaces. In many situations, children have limited access not only to material support, but also to emotional safety, social interaction and opportunities for normal childhood activities.
The activities may include:
creative workshops;
storytelling and group activities;
educational support;
hygiene and health awareness sessions;
emotional support activities adapted to children’s needs;
distribution of basic support items such as food packages, hygiene products and essential supplies for children in vulnerable situations.
Social workers will help identify children in vulnerable situations, organise activities together with volunteers and community members, and monitor children who may require additional support or protection.
The purpose is not only to provide activities, but also to create safe environments where children can feel protected, listened to and connected to their community.
Project: “Safe Women Corners”
Many women experiencing violence, neglect, poverty or social isolation live in situations where asking for help is difficult. Fear, stigma, emotional distress and lack of information often increase isolation and vulnerability.
The initiative proposes the development of “Safe Women Corners” — regular support and dialogue sessions facilitated by social workers for women facing difficult life situations.
These meetings aim to create supportive environments where women can:
– speak safely about their experiences;
– receive emotional support and active listening;
– discuss health, hygiene, safety and wellbeing;
– strengthen social connection and mutual support among women;
– access basic relief support such as food packages, hygiene products and essential items when urgent needs are identified.
The sessions are based on trust, confidentiality, respect and community solidarity. They are designed not only as spaces for discussion, but also as opportunities to reduce isolation, strengthen resilience and support women in identifying possible sources of help and protection.
Solidarity contributions for participation and additional donations supporting this initiative can be transferred to:
ASproAS – Asociația Asistenților Sociali din România
IBAN: RO 09 RZBR 0000 060 023 398 280
Bank: Raiffeisen Bank
Country: România
Reference: Congo Social Work Initiative
All resources collected through this initiative will be transferred to the Association of Social Workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo through accessible and appropriate transfer mechanisms adapted to the local context.
Learn more about the work and initiatives of the Association of Social Workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo and stay connected through their channels:
