Project website: https://www.fsd.uni-lj.si/en/research_and_development/research-and-development/current_projects/2026041009203641/
Project type: market project
Code: 430-8/2026-SCSD/3
Beginning: 31.03.2026
End: 30.05.2026
Funding: Community of Social Work Centres in Slovenia
Collaborating organisations:
Community of Social Work Centres in Slovenia
Coordinator: Faculty of Social Work, University of Ljubljana
Leader: prof. dr. Darja Zaviršek
Associates:
Melisa Gutman
Sandi Horvat
Jožek Horvat Muc
Natalija Djoković Gjorgijevski
Katja Fidler
Summary:
Social work with Slovenian Roma women and men is based on understanding the theory and practice of social work, which takes into account ethnic differences, intercultural dialogue, and anti-racist social work. Slovenia, as a member of the European Union, is a multicultural society. Members of the Roma ethnic minority in Slovenia are considered the poorest Slovenian population, burdened by transgenerational disadvantage in the economic, social, educational, and health fields. Due to historically entrenched social distance, they are considered demanding clients. Only 17% of Roma children complete nine years of primary school. Social workers encounter Roma women and men at social work centers, in Roma settlements, and in family homes. The purpose of the training is to acquire specific theoretical and methodological knowledge for working with children and adults. The special knowledge that social workers will acquire includes: strengthening the advocacy perspective; deepening self-reflection in office and fieldwork; understanding the social context; knowledge of the 'child-centered approach'; topics of ethical conduct; experiential learning through the supervision method; empowerment of social workers; strengthening intercultural competencies; user perspective; ability to establish contact with families in the field; strengthening emotional regulation and crisis management; strengthening intersectoral cooperation. The training will include professional staff and colleagues from social work centers in the regions of Dolenjska and Bela Krajina, Posavje, and Kočevje, where a larger number of Slovenian Roma live (Novo mesto, Brežice, Krško, Kočevje, Črnomelj, Metlika). Mixed teaching methods will be used: lectures, discussions, workshops, supervision, joint field visits. The training will take place at various locations and also in the field, with a total minimum of 30 teaching hours, and the number of participants will be limited to a maximum of 34.