My work with individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds

This year I have developed my skills working with culturally and linguistically diverse communities whilst I've been living and working in India and Sri Lanka.

I spent 3-months working with a local community in Jaipur, India. I worked with a group of women and children in a local slum, and with boys who had been rescued from child labour at an out of home care facility. Majority of these participants did not speak English. I learnt to communicate by learning basic Hindi and having an interpreter attend my classes.

This experience reminded me of something important I learnt when I was studying to be a social worker - the client is the expert in their own life! I learnt that I can never fully put myself in someone else's shoes. In order to work with anyone well, I have to do my best to understand their way of life, never judge, let them set their goals, and help them achieve their goals by using an approach that works for THEM. This was a valuable lesson I learnt which I will carry with me into my future social work practice.

I am currently completing a 2-month internship with an NGO in Sri Lanka. 

Here I am working with families (primarily children/young people and their mothers). We are doing Family Therapy Play where I use attachment-based play therapy approaches to help family members to strengthen their relationship, trust, communication and understanding of each other. I will also be starting a culturally-adapted Seasons for Growth program, and another round of Wild Warriors yoga for young people. These communities also do not speak English. I am supported by Tamil and Singhalese translators to communicate with participants.

Here I have learnt about the importance of being able to adapt programs to meet the needs of different cultures and have worked with a colleague to ensure all presentations and programs are appropriate for the parents in this community. 

I have also navigated many of the challenges that present themselves when working with an interpreter, many of which I will utilise as I work with interpreters moving forward.