Summary of "VIII Congreso Internacional de Trabajo Social 2025 - #ANUATSE"
Summary of the Video: VIII Congreso Internacional de Trabajo Social 2025 - #ANUATSE
Overview
The video is a recording from the third and final day of the VIII International Congress of Social Work organized by the National Association of Academic Units of Social Work of Ecuador (ANUATSE), with academic and international support from the State University of Milagro and the Latin American Association of Social Work (ALAT). The congress theme is "Practices that Strengthen Intergenerational Solidarity: Contributions from Occupational Fields."
The video features two main segments:
- An in-depth interview with Dr. Boris Alexis Lima, a prominent Venezuelan social worker and academic.
- A presentation by Rosa Araya, a Chilean social worker and PhD candidate, on informal care and social support networks among older adults.
Part 1: Interview with Dr. Boris Alexis Lima
Main ideas and contributions:
Historical Context of Social Work in Latin America and Venezuela:
- Social work in Venezuela officially began in 1960, during a period of political awakening and economic modernization.
- Venezuela’s social work was influenced by North American models but also by Chilean academic traditions.
- The 1960s and 70s were marked by a reconceptualization and renewal movement in Latin American social work, with a focus on critical, scientific, and socially committed approaches.
- Venezuela’s unique socio-political context shaped its social work development differently from other Latin American countries.
Dr. Lima’s Academic and Professional Contributions:
- Authored foundational texts on social work methodology, epistemology, and education (e.g., Contribution to the Methodology of Social Work (1974), Epistemology of Social Work (1975)).
- Developed the "Method of Intervention in Reality," an approach emerging from his practical experience in rural and urban community work.
- Served as director of the School of Social Work at the Central University of Venezuela and coordinated the Latin American Center for Social Work (CELATS).
- Played a key role in creating the Latin American Master's Program in Social Work and Development, aimed at elevating postgraduate training in the region.
- Advocated for social work as a critical, scientific discipline with theoretical and practical dimensions, moving beyond traditional structural-functionalist paradigms.
- Emphasized the need for social workers to engage in social policy analysis, applied research, community work, and planning.
Role in Latin American Social Work Organizations:
- Active in CELATS (1976-1986), which supported research, training, and union development for social workers across Latin America.
- CELATS provided seminars, funding, communication platforms, and coordinated academic efforts to modernize social work.
- The organization faced challenges due to political repression and funding but was instrumental in spreading critical social work perspectives.
Development of the Latin American Master’s Degree in Social Work:
- Initiated to move beyond short-term seminars to systematic, rigorous academic training.
- Focused initially on training social work educators to multiply knowledge in their countries.
- Faced challenges in institutional acceptance and funding but operated primarily in Honduras.
- Curriculum included epistemology, social theory, political economy, research methods, social intervention, policy analysis, and project design.
- Highlighted difficulties with thesis completion due to geographic and legal barriers.
- Dr. Lima emphasized the importance of continuous academic development, including doctoral studies, for social work professionals.
Current Work and Message to New Generations:
- Post-retirement, Dr. Lima remains active in social policy consulting, project evaluation, and social research, focusing on vulnerable groups such as children, adolescents, older adults, and persons with disabilities.
- Encourages social workers to pursue advanced education and maintain a critical, innovative spirit.
- Stresses the importance of intergenerational solidarity and diverse roles within social work.
Part 2: Presentation by Rosa Araya on Informal Care and Social Support Networks Among Older Adults
Main ideas and concepts:
Context and Importance of Aging in Latin America:
- Chile’s older adult population is increasing rapidly (18% in 2022, projected 30% by 2050).
- Aging is multidimensional, involving physical, cognitive, social, and cultural factors.
- There are diverse aging trajectories and experiences, influenced by gender, socioeconomic status, education, and cultural background.
Care and the Care Crisis:
- Care is a lifelong process involving receiving and giving support.
- Latin America faces a care crisis due to increasing elderly populations and fewer available caregivers.
- Family restructuring (more older adults living alone or as couples without children) and extended working lives complicate care dynamics.
- Gender inequalities persist, with older women often facing greater economic and social challenges.
Types of Care:
Formal care: Provided by the state or private sector, often
Category
Educational
