June 2013 PUSWP - Bethlehem participated at the conference "Our second step: towards the active participation and non-discrimination", which was held in Ramallah city - at the headquarters of Palestinian Red Crescent Society at the invitation of the Young Men's Christian Association and the Teacher Creativity Centre. 

 

 

June 2013- Intensive Training Course Palestine's Ahliya University celebrated the closing ceremony of an intensive specialized training course in “Skills of Social worker and Psychiatric”. This coursewas a collaboration of the Universities Social science department with the Palestinian Union of Social Workers and Psychologists in Bethlehem.

 

This event is considered the first in what both parties hope will be a prosperous future of collaboration between the union and the university.

 

Attendinh the ceremony was Dr. Sami Basha vice president for Planning and Development, Dr. Aziz Khalil Head of Art Faculty, Dr. Mohammed Ukkeh Head of Social Sciences Faculty and other lecturers in social sciences (Dr. Ibrahim AL Masry and Rula Shweki, and other lecturers from Bethlehem University (Dr. Bilal Salameh and Mrs. Minerva Qassis. Additionally, there was attendance from members of PUSWP Bethlehem: Mr. Raed Amireh Chair Person of the union and Mr. Mohammad AL Qaisy and Mr. Akif Azzeh.

Dr. Ukkeh thanked the union for their efforts in helping social workers to have better careers by raising their skills and offering them specially tailored trainings that reflecting the requirements of services in local associations. He also acknoelwdged the importance of the combination of the the union and the university in creating qualified social workers who are able to practice this profession at the highest standards.
Mr. Amira also thanked the university and the administration for their collaboration with local associations and he spoke about the role of the union in the community and its achievements and future plans that would enhance in raising the capacity of social workers and psychologists in Bethlehem area.
At the end of this ceremony, participants got their certificates with blessings from the administration of the university and the union. 

 

 

National Day of Palestinian Children Palestinian Union of Social Workers and Psychologists in Bethlehem celebrated with other local associations the national day of children in Palestine. We joined the march of children which started from AL Sahel Playground in Beit Jala finishing at Municipality Park where the days festival was opened with a speech from one of the children. Social workers from the PUSWP and Mental health sector at the UNRWA-Bethlehem conducted the workshops and the day was a huge, enjoyable success.

 

 

February 2013- Social Workers Workshop Palestinian Union of Social workers and Psychologists Bethlehem conducted a participatory workshop with social workers from Bethlehem district to discuss the role of the union regarding the professional and legal needs of social workers and psychologists. 30 social workers, students and professionals attended this workshop and participated in the presentation about the latest developments and achievements that PUSWP in Bethlehem had made on local and international levels.

At the end of this workshop there was number of questions and recommendations from participants which related to the need of such sessions and meetings, in addition to the importance of gathering social workers together in such meetings and brainstorm about activities that can be done for social workers to raise their knowledge and practice in the field.
This meeting is one of series of meetings that the union is conducting with SWs and professionals to raise their participation, role and needs in the community and other related social associations. 

 

Adopted Children Training Programme As part of the adopted children program voluntary social workers conducted  several trainingswith children at the union entitled:
“Child adaptation and adjustment in society”.
This activity is part of the strategy of the union to follow up the adoption program by volunteers in addition to develop the capacity and skills of social voluntary workers and trainees by encouraging them to participate in several professional, active workshops and trainings in specialized issues.
The conducted trainings included several activities such as icebreaking, storytelling, painting, dancing, singing, and other related educational activities.

 

 

Visits to local social and psychological associations in Bethlehem. Board members and General Conference members conducted 2 visits to local social associations.

The first was The Ministry of Social Affairs to congratulate Mr. Badran Bdeir for his new position as Manager at the Ministry of Social Affairs in Bethlehem city and to open new pathways for future collaboration between PUSWP and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
The second visit was to the Mental Illness Hospital - Social Services branch in Bethlehem to exchange points of view and new ideas for collaboration and work between the union and the social workers of the hospital.

These visits were part of our ongoing visits to the local community in order to strengthen the relationship between the union and the social workers in the area.