[MUSIC] Welcome to the second module of the online training class on social work during and after the pandemic. In this first lesson of the second module, will be focusing on general welfare support, which is usually the most formal systems of support. First, we will give an overview on the response and interventions that have been taking place since the start of the pandemic. Next, we will state some excerpts of testimonies by social workers working in general welfare support. And last, we will give a short summary and the way forward. The overview of responses and interventions is again largely based on the Belgian clinics which you can also read in the report mentions on the slides or in the additional readings for this lesson. Two things were a very big part of the jobs of social workers. It first became clear when during the initial stages of the pandemic, the lack of basics in food, places to sleep and psychological support became apparent. So, social workers responded with what they themselves would call humanitarian help, where they tried to provide emergency support with the help of additional funding and volunteers. For example, in the domain of housing, some social workers set up doorstep meetings where they would plan home visits with vulnerable people and youngsters in response to social isolation. And in the main of labor, some social workers drastically changed their ways of working in large in teams to working in bubbles. These are smaller groups that always consist of the same people so that they were able to keep supporting people in their job or when they were looking for a job. And in many instances the imminent crisis called for a reevaluation and reorganization of the work as they knew it, so that they would still provide or that they could still provide the necessary support. As mentioned before, a second large part of the job became digital services and digitalization. An increasing number of bureaucratic and welfare sectors turned to online servicing banks, fiscal administration, insurance, social security, police, labor unions, driving schools and schools in general are mentioned among the most pervasive. All of these assume a degree of digital literacy and quite specific administrative repertoires. This digital acceleration amplified the existing digital gap rather than creating a new one and included issues of connectivity, digital literacy, brokering and privacy. So what's next? Apart from exposing resilience and weak spots, we spotted unseen potential and as well as widening gaps in the solidarity landscape surrounding many vulnerable groups. In the face of these and other changes to the welfare mix, vulnerable groups articulated their future expectations, but which new practices will be continued and given a more or less than basis. So, it was found that certain organizations then not to complain about being instrumentalist for certain humanitarian tasks. As long as this opens the door to a new dialogue with for example, local authorities on the continuation of the necessary resources. In addition, the lasting basis of course also depends on whether vulnerable people will continue to appear on the radar as much as they have been in the last two years. So, in the second part of this lesson, we would like to show some testimonies, are quotes found regarding working with vulnerable groups in the midst of the pandemic. For which we found it important to highlight as lessons learned for the future. So for this, I would like to talk about a conversation that was part of the Swiss Red Cross, specialist contributions. Where members of the Swiss Red Cross headquarters reflected upon humanitarian work in the fragile context of the pandemic. This complements well, the statement before that a lot was possible in a short period of time and that people very soon found creative ways to help more vulnerable people. So, it was said that, in a crisis everything is stripped back to basic needs, and the help that is provided is also simple but tangible. There were a lot of bottom of initiatives. It's impressive what people can achieve when they pulled together in a crisis, we had to relearn and we should continue to do so. Another interesting takeaway from that conversation is this one. It's important that we work well together. When it comes to crisis and disaster management in particular, we should now work together to establish if we're equipped for the future. If we're effective and if we are now in a better position in terms of our response than we were a few months ago. It is mentioned that these initiatives and responses of the last two years are important learning points for the future. And that it is important to reflect upon them, who are the most vulnerable and where can we best deliver humanitarian added value over the months ahead? What tools can we use to best achieve our goals? Last, a brief summary of this lesson. I think there are two very important takeaways. First, social workers have been very creative and resilient during the last two years in order to be able to support those that are the most vulnerable. However, in this future, after this pandemic also calls for maintaining this focus and drive as gaps between vulnerable and less vulnerable groups has certainly gotten bigger. So second, it is important to have an open dialogue and collaboration between different actors within the social care landscape. [MUSIC]
