The Ministry of Labour, Social Security and Migration is implementing a project to create 550 new full-time social workers.

As part of this initiative, a special training programme for social workers working with children has been launched in cooperation with UNICEF. The training is aimed at developing the basic skills needed to provide support to children and their families and includes both theoretical study and practical training. This is an important step in creating unified social services and improving the quality of professionals' work with various vulnerable groups, including children in difficult life situations.

During the 5-day intensive participants will be able to learn: basic principles of social work and current situation in Kyrgyzstan, key interpersonal communication skills at different stages of work; values and tools for social support of families and children in difficult conditions; methods of preventing professional burnout.

The training programme will take place throughout the country and will be extended to different regions in order to reach the maximum number of social workers. This training is supported financially by the European Union and the US Embassy in the Kyrgyz Republic, a critical step to strengthen protective measures for children in Kyrgyzstan and to improve the quality of services provided to families in difficult circumstances.