My Life and Thoughts as a Student Social Worker in Guyana

Some days work is in an office where you are afforded the opportunity to interact with many different people with varying issues, other days work is in the community visiting homes and families with further diverse issues and situations.

Welcome to the life of a social worker in Guyana!

A wise person once said that “the only way to do great work is to love what you do.” As social workers the only way to improve and enhance individuals and communities is to be passionate about the work you do. Social workers work with people to support them through challenging times. Social workers are looked upon to improve the quality of life and enrich the well-being of individuals and communities. Our role is an enormous one, one that requires much strength, kindness and passion.

Social workers are instrumental in mending and bringing families closer together. Our work can improve life at home and strengthen communications between parents and their children. School social workers counsel students about their problems, teenage pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse, bullying and other issues that affect the way they behave, both in school and at home.

I am not sure if I can call myself a social worker, though I am a trained and certified counselor and tester and currently reading for my degree in Social Work at the University of Guyana. Both my professional and academic experiences can classify me as a social worker, or not. For me, one of the biggest challenges facing social workers in Guyana is identification. I would recommend that social workers be issued with a license after completing their tertiary education or based on years of experience in the field. In some developed countries, social workers are registered with the appropriate regulatory body. I also believe that if this is done more persons might have confidence in the profession and want to join; conversely practicing social workers will show more ownership and thoughtfulness.

As a counselor and tester, I understand the importance of proficiency and attentiveness in my job. Voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) is an important part of the continuum of HIV prevention, treatment and care services. VCT is one of the main times when a comprehensive individual risk assessment is taken, making it the best opportunity for accurate referrals to more intensive services. VCT uses short, client-centered counseling that can be effective in increasing condom use and preventing sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). My work contributes to the overall national programme and targets. Having all this information at the back of my head makes my job a lot tougher but stimulating. My days at the office differ. There is no such thing as “predicable days” when you work as a social worker. Different people from different walks of life stroll into your place of operation daily. You are required to always be prepared to assist as best as you can. Some days dealing with some issues can leave you feeling powerless and emotional - as humans dealing with human issues it is only normal. Other days you feel victorious and satisfied that you were able to assist someone in crossing an obstacle that was holding them back.

As social workers, although you might not always see the results of the work you are doing at the time, rest assured that little by little you are making a difference in someone’s life. Knowing that I am able to enrich lives, and by extension families and communities, continues to propel my passion and love for the profession.

As a student at the University of Guyana exposed to different aspects of the profession, I do believe that more can be done to develop the field. Though systems and procedures exist to ensure the efficient delivery of services in the field of social work, there is room for improvements. Important  data, needed for the improvement of regulations and key services, is lacking.  There is the need for the formation of new policies and programmes for the advancement of the profession in institutions and communities across the country. As mentioned above, there is the need for a regulatory body and for continuous training and programmes for improvement.

While the unfavourable remuneration does not attract many to this line of work, it is a career that enables us to feel good about ourselves. By playing a key role in improving the lives of others, social workers build their own self-confidence and can feel proud for being involved in such an admirable profession.

Shane Paul, Guyana Business Coalition on Health Awareness (GBCHA) and

the Society Against Sexual Orientation Discrimination (SASOD)