SWEDEN-INDIA Project – January 2013

Sweden-India Project is a cross cultural training programme in social work. Students from different universities of Sweden choose this training programme and have field visits, seminar and  group conferences  to understand Indian social work, social problems,  intervention strategies and methods at individual, group and community level. While they go through this programme, culture becomes framework in which they study the above. They are here on 15 week field study. They are doing their undergraduate programme in social work. The programme has 7 semesters. They are either in their 5th or 6th semester. They will get 15 credit points on successful completion of this project.
This project started in 1994. Currently 4 universities are participating in this project. So far, approximately 700 students have gone through this training.

They visit urban, rural, tribal community projects dealing with problems related to economically, socially marginalized communities and groups. They attempt to understand these dimensions at micro and macro level. Seminars and group meetings are designed to make this learning, observation relevant to Swedish and other International social work programme.

Following students are participating this semester

Group-A

1. Agnes Sundberg: 22 years old, From Mid-Sweden university. Worked as children club leader, ,had a summer job as a nursing assistant along with medical delegation. Has travelled and worked in other cultures.
2. Ms. Cecilia Larm: 22 years old from Orebro university. Familiar with Khurdish, Chilean and Turkish culture. Keen on working in the area of International social work. This India exposure will give her better understanding of social work in other cultures
3. Shilan Caliskan: 22 years old from Orebro University. Parents moved from Kurdish part of Turkey in 89. Very interested to work with International  Social work, compare social problems between two cultures.
4. Sara Gustaffson: – 23 years old, from Orebro University.  Travelled in South East Asia. During this time, she met fellow travelers as well as local people to understand culture. She wants to learn about social work in other countries and broaden her understanding.
5. Sandra Svensson: 24 years old, from Mid Sweden University.  Specialised study for international, intercultural social work program. Has worked at social welfare office , as a treatment assistant for people with psychological problems.  First field practice was with working with adolescents between 17-19 years old.
6. Ms. Leyla Abic: From Orebro University. Originally from Kurdistan. Moved Sweden when 15 days old. She views this experience as developing self and also have the opportunity to see theory and practice in another culture. To see social problems and address it another culture will be a valuable learning.
7. Josefin Widen Wadell:  21 years old ,From Mid Sweden University.  Worked as an assistant for forensic psychiatry  care within psychiatric settings. Very keen to get global perspective of social problems and intervention.  Also had worked as treatment centre in the group program helping the residents who had Down’s syndrome.
8. Jonna Sohlberg:  21 years old from Mid-Sweden University.  Had first field placement at a social service office working with children and family team writing investigative reports of prospective foster home parents and financial aid. Have also worked with substance abuse and dependence team and assisted people with alcohol problems.
9. Frida Berzelius: 21 years old from Orebro university. Travelled a lot around and studied German language in Germany. Lived abroad and got perspectives. She wants to see social work practice beyond the European models that she has studied about.

Group-B 

1. Linda Taki: 22 years old, from Orebro University.  Worked in school and kindergarten. Very keen to understand Indian tradition, culture and add knowledge about how Indian social work is handled here.
2. Yacoub Masso: From Orebro University.  Worked with people who have been diagnosed with psychological problems, work with people to help them manage their everyday life. Wants to see differences and similarities between cultures, especially in social work.
3. Tova Matsson:  21 years old From Mid-Sweden university. Has worked in various places with variety of job profiles. Travelled  widely and lived in London and Barcelona. Wants experience and understand how cultures work differently and meet people.
4. Tina Forsberg:  From Mid-Sweden University. Have worked with people with disability in a daily activity centre, in a home for elderly people, and currently volunteering at a Red Cross youth association. This centre provides a chat forum through which they can talk about anything that affects them and trouble them. Have travelled a lot before.
5. Jessicka Norberg: 21 years old, from Mid Sweden University. Worked as assistant nurse, in care home for elderly. Lived and worked abroad.  Involved in a project for children in a boarding school in South Latvia. Lived and worked in London.
6. Hanna Matsson:  21 years old, From Mid-Sweden University. Has done different courses at university level, including tourism and destination and youth sex and internet and course on Liberalism.  Lived in Korea for a year and learnt Korean language.
7. Ms. Berna Sahin: 25 years old from Orebro University. Moved from Turkey when she was 2 years old. Was a member of a non profit organization called United Sisters,  to empower women to be independent. She wants to understand how society impacts people , theories to field practice in social work and experience new culture.
8. Ms. Muna Mohamad: 22 years old from Orebro University. Parents immigrated from Somalia in the 90s. She wants to get a better understanding and different perspectives of how social workers work in different cultures and gain an objective approach about practical work.
9. Sara Sorling: 24 years old from Orebro University. Travelled mainly in Europe and some parts of Asia. Did volunteer work with disabled people ( especially the ones with cerebral palsy and learning disability). Lived abroad for a while learning English. Wants to understand how social workers in other cultures approach people and their problems.