Kateryna PERCHULA is a fourth-year student majoring in Social Work at SumDU. She juggles studies and work. Her profession takes on extra importance during the full-scale invasion. She helps war victims.

Why did you choose Social Work among other curricula?

Social Work is a fairly young specialty and completely unknown to me. I was interested not only in the novelty but also in the aim to help people.

You combine study and work. Is this a specialty job?

Yes, I currently work at the Rokada Charitable Foundation as a social worker. Our organization provides intersectoral assistance, which means support in various areas for comprehensive problem solving. This includes: legal, psychological and social assistance. Besides, the foundation provides aid in transporting people with disabilities, etc.

I work in case management. My job, together with the team, is to provide comprehensive assistance to people who turn to us for help. We manage their case from beginning to end. Every case is a case that needs to be solved.

My work includes assistance in registration of disability and legal statuses. We also help in employment and cover some needs with financial assistance.

You mentioned that the foundation works at the site of enemy hits in the city. Have you ever worked at an airstrike site?

Rokada has a mobile brigade that goes out for emergency response. One of these was on 19 September when Russian bombs hit the geriatric boarding house.

Our team immediately moved to the site. We could help in transportation of people with disabilities because we have a specially equipped car. We provided the most necessary resources: water and blankets. Psychological aid was provided for victims. Consultations were also held regarding the further residence of victims.

Thanks to the experience and knowledge acquired at the university, I can be useful in such difficult times.

Do you think that social work specialists will be needed for Ukrainian recovery? What will be their role?

In 2021, when I chose my specialty, I did not realize how important my profession would be in future. With the beginning of a full-scale invasion, social work became one of the leading branches in helping the population.

Many people suffered from military operations. They lost relatives and property, received severe injuries. Social workers provide support for children, internally displaced persons, veterans and other categories of population.

In particular, internally displaced persons will need help in integrating into new communities or returning to their native regions. Social workers will facilitate restoration of social ties, job search, housing, access to social services and medical care.