TTK UAS social work students gained valuable experience working for a month at the reception point for Ukrainian refugees in Rakvere.

Altogether 16 students were actively involved in helping the Ukrainian refugees to adapt to their new situation. The students worked in shifts helping, among others, children and giving out packages from Foodbank. However, most of the time was spent helping the refugees with registration, filling out forms, and translating.

Jaanika Kirsi, a lecturer of social work at TTK UAS, said that this was a great experience for the students in providing social services in a time of crisis. “In preparation, the students took part in a training course in psychosocial crisis management organized by the Ministry of Social Affairs. This experience gave them real practical knowledge of how social welfare is organized in Estonia in a crisis situation and also a first-hand understanding of cooperation with the local governments and the Estonian Social Insurance Board.

The refugee reception point of the Estonian Social Insurance Board in Rakvere was closed on March 22.