Dr. Esther Kronsbein's two-semester course was more than just "thinking outside the box" - it was more of an intensive encounter with other perspectives. In cooperation with the Mainz-based children's aid organization HUMAN HELP NETWORK e.V. and its two partner organizations in Uganda and Rwanda, students on the HSRM's bachelor's degree program in Social Work worked on international Social Work projects. The result is a comprehensive evaluation of four projects, two in Rwanda and two in Uganda. In addition to combating poverty, e.g. through income-generating measures and education, these projects pay particular attention to psychosocial support, e.g. everyday support, conflict resolution and dealing with psychological crises. There are also health-related aspects such as sexual and reproductive health (SRH) training and access to healthcare.
As part of the evaluation, the project participants described the extent to which the work of the multi-professional teams on site meets their needs - and where there is still room for improvement. In three cooperatives, questions were also asked about group dynamics, focusing on the extent to which Social Work can contribute to overcoming conflicts and creating sustainable structures of solidarity. The students drafted the guidelines for the survey in group work.
But first they had to get to know the context. In the first semester of their theory-practical experience project, the students discovered the theoretical basics of international social work, post-colonial approaches, social work in the Global South, criticism of development thinking and the power imbalance in North-South partnerships - but also the history and important aspects of the current situation in Uganda and Rwanda.
An excursion to Rwanda in October 2025 provided insights into the everyday lives of local people. The students experienced both the work in the cooperatives and the personal living conditions of individual cooperative members in the form of home visits. They had the opportunity to exchange ideas with local experts.
The second semester of the project was dedicated to the evaluation of the survey and the preparation of an evaluation report. The students mastered the challenge of writing up their results in English and presenting them to the local professionals in an online conference with flying colors. The evaluation results can thus be incorporated into the current considerations on project development between HUMAN HELP NETWORK e.V. and its partners in Rwanda and Uganda. In turn, the students were able to experience practical transfer.