Education

I will try to compare and contrast the social work practices in Canada with those I practiced in Ethiopia while also discussing the Canadian social work practices in connection with the integration of refugees. Social work is a professional activity that involves helping individuals, groups, or communities to enhance or restore their capacity to function in society and creating conditions favorable to this goal. With the objective of addressing social problems, social work is a universal profession practiced with consistency in its values, knowledge, and approach.

There is a clear difference in how social workers in two countries function despite social work being a global field. By comparing social work practices in Canada and Ethiopia, a few new issues have come to light about the Canadian social work practices in relation to refugees’ integration. In Canada, there are many programs for the integration of refugees, which include different housing assistance and education assistance programs. Refugees can benefit immensely from these programs.

Social work in Canada is guided by a strong ethical principle. In Ethiopia, there is no system for implementing ethical principles and taking corrective actions when misconduct occurs. In Canada, I learned that regulatory bodies for social workers and social service workers' guides are available, such as the Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) and the Ontario College of Social Workers and Social Service Workers (OCSWSSW). In Ethiopia, I observed that the social work education curriculum is not uniform across various educational institutions. Social workers' jobs are likely to be taken over by other social experts and health professions such as nursing and psychology.

These include providing freedom of movement, fostering economic self-reliance through sustainable livelihoods, and supporting refugee integration into national and regional systems. Even though the Canadian practices are not exactly similar because of the situational differences, they are compatible in providing shelter support, housing administration and other supports from their arrival up to integration in Canada.

I learned that practicing social work in Canada offers a relatively favourable environment for integration work. In Canada, social services provide support to refugees by considering the needs of the individual being served. In Ethiopia, social workers do not pay much attention to individual needs, and most of the support is basic and lifesaving. However, in Canada, social welfare programs are focused on solving the social problems of individuals, and the government has clear requirements for all services. Technology has also helped people to get services, and the rights of service users are heard. In Ethiopia, on the contrary, the rights of clients are minimal.

As observed, social work implementation in Ethiopia focuses on fulfilling social service users’ material needs, with limited attention to individual-specific psychosocial wellbeing. As a result, the approaches and practices differ significantly. What surprised me most in Canada is a strong emphasis placed on individuals’ wellbeing. The government has clear eligibility criteria for all social service beneficiaries.

Even though refugees in Canada are assisted towards employment opportunities, most refugees reported having a great deal of difficulty finding jobs. Factors mentioned include a lack of experience, social networking skills, and the need for Canadian credentials.