Focusing on beneficiary voices in social work: University of Bern professor presents at YSU

Emphasizing the relevance and urgency of the topic, Professor Emanuela Chiapparini noted, "When we talk about poverty, we have to talk to those living in poverty—to understand what they truly need." 

Drawing on the Swiss experience, she explained that although poverty rates are relatively low in Switzerland, the issue remains pressing. However, unlike in some other countries, people experiencing poverty in Switzerland often hesitate to speak out about their situation due to feelings of shame. This presents a significant challenge: a low level of service uptake. As a result, many individuals do not seek support from social services and remain outside the reach of available assistance.

In such circumstances, the approach of beneficiary involvement has gained strong political significance in Switzerland. Social workers take a proactive role—approaching low-income families directly, engaging in conversations, identifying actual needs, and facilitating access to support systems.

"This is not just a project. This is a political decision made at the national level. Government officials actively support all programs aimed at beneficiary inclusion," Professor Chiapparini emphasized.

Professor Chiapparini is in Armenia for four months conducting research on opportunities for beneficiary engagement. Her goal is to hold discussions with policymakers to understand their perspectives and to visit NGOs to assess how this model is perceived and implemented. Initial visits have revealed that while the approach is not widely known, it is being applied in various initiatives.

Her visit to Armenia is also driven by personal interest. She spoke of Mariam Mazmanyan, a YSU graduate who studied at the University of Bern. Mariam, through her work, studies, and volunteer efforts supporting displaced persons from Artsakh, made a strong impression on the professor.

"In Switzerland, people typically don’t devote their free time to such efforts. At most, a few hours of volunteering—not days or weeks. Mariam’s example was truly remarkable to me," she added.

YSU lecturer Yuliana Melkumyan also underlined the significance of this collaboration, stating: "Swiss universities usually do not participate in Erasmus+ programs, so we are glad that this initiative with the University of Bern has been realized thanks to Professor Chiapparini. We are ready to further develop this collaboration through faculty training and student internships."

Professor Chiapparini’s lectures have sparked considerable interest not only among students but also faculty members at YSU. This is further evidence that the idea of beneficiary engagement has the potential to take root in Armenia’s social work system.