Hu Shu Fen received the “Excellent social worker supervisor award” at the 2021 National Social Workers Recognition Ceremony. Her work motto is “To maintain curiosity towards different cultures, and keep on learning and improving oneself.”
Why did you choose to become a Social Worker?
Hu mentions the reason why she started the job is that she didn’t pass the teacher certification test. As a result, Hu decided to become a social worker.
Hu often faces new immigrants in her work. She has to be prepared to accept different cultures and ideas.
Hu says after listening to the new immigrant’s life story, she became very close with the new immigrant sisters.
Your experience as a social worker
Counseling needs patience. Hu Shu Fen mentions there not all cases would go smoothly as imagined. When most of the new immigrants face a family problem, they often endure the pain to keep the “family” going on. These new immigrant sisters are unable to leave their Taiwanese family, neither are they able to return back to their original family.
A social worker's job is to be by their side, and help them go through their toughest time in life.
Hu also mentions she is happy that many new immigrant sisters also joined the social worker group to help others.
The challenge of a new society, a new issue
Hu Shu Fen mentions that Taiwanese society is paying more attention to new immigrant-related issues in the past ten years.
Many children of new immigrants grew up abroad and came back to Taiwan to receive education in elementary school. The social worker’s job is to help these children get familiar with their life in Taiwan. He mentioned that they once used picture books to help children about the culture of their parents.
Hu also says, as a social worker, she also accompanies new immigrants who are in their old ages.
New immigrants are fighting for their own rights
In the past few years, many new immigrants have received Taiwanese citizenship, and have the right to vote. These new immigrants have also started to develop their own ideas because of the diverse courses and training provided for new residents.
Hu Shu Fen shares that she once met a new immigrant from Thailand, who received training from the government, and later became a teacher.
And Hu said a sincere attitude is important for a social worker.
Perseverance and belief
Hu Shu Fen is a social worker who really cares for new immigrants. She believes that it is necessary to always keep an open mind for foreign cultures. The important thing is to care for people without judging them. We should all learn Hu Shu Fen’s attitude toward new immigrants.
