Social Assistance Navigator: How Teens Learn to Help Others
2026-08-12 15:17
August 12 – International Youth Day!
Today, on International Youth Day, we are sharing the results of a social navigation training session held for teenagers. The ability to recognize challenging situations and knowledge of the procedures for seeking psychological, legal, and social assistance are the most important foundations for the safety of young people in Pridnestrovie.
In today’s world, the ability to lend a helping hand when needed, point someone in the right direction, or find the necessary information is a skill of immense value. The “Heart” Charitable Foundation held a special training session on social assistance for teenagers, aimed at developing volunteer and counseling skills among young people.
The experts at the event were specialists from the “Women’s Initiatives” who shared their professional insights with participants on how the support system in Pridnestrovie works and how to effectively help people facing difficult life situations.
What did the training participants learn?
During the session, the students delved into the topic of the social navigator and explored its key components:
What are social services? They are a set of measures designed to help people overcome life's challenges and ensure their safety and independence.
Who can seek support? The teenagers discussed who most often needs care and support: older adults, people with disabilities, low-income families, single parents, people who have lost their jobs, or those facing emergencies.
Main areas of assistance: Social, medical, psychological, and legal services, as well as information on how to obtain government benefits, subsidies, and emergency assistance.
Where Can I Go for Help? Resource Map
An important part of the training was an overview of the organizations and agencies to which people can submit their requests:
Government agencies: the Ministry of Social Protection and Labor, the Public Services Portal, state administrations, the Social Assistance Service, Social Insurance and Social Protection Centers, and Child Welfare and Guardianship Departments.
Civil Society Organizations: Professional civil society organizations and foundations, such as the “Women’s Initiatives”, the “Resonance”, the “Interaction”, the “Heart” Charitable Foundation, the “Miloserdie” Charitable Foundation, and others.
"The Customer Journey" and Counseling Principles
The experts placed special emphasis on the process for working with people who need help the so-called “customer journey.” The students learned how to structure a conversation properly:
Listen to the person and clarify the nature of the problem.
Identify the current need.
Find reliable information and forward it to the appropriate organization.
Make sure the recommendations are understood correctly.
Professional principles remain the guiding principles in any counseling session: respect, kindness, complete confidentiality, a person-centered approach, non-judgment, and genuine empathy.
Initiatives like these help young people not only broaden their horizons but also become informed advocates for useful knowledge in society, making social assistance more accessible to everyone.
This material is funded in whole or in part by Sweden and the Kvinna till Kvinna Foundation, which do not necessarily endorse the views expressed herein. The author is solely responsible for the content.