In April 2026, we participated in an Erasmus BIP exchange programme held in Hradec Králové, Czech Republic. The programme, titled “Social Work – Power to Change”, was a collaboration between five universities: Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, University of Latvia, University of Hradec Králové, and Mykolas Romeris University. In addition to the five-day mobility week, the programme included three online meetings via Zoom and international group work.

During our first online meeting, we were divided into four groups: Green Giraffes, Purple Gazelles, Yellow Dolphins, and Blue Penguins. The groups included both bachelor’s and master’s students of different ages and backgrounds. Each group worked on a pre-assigned theme before and during the exchange. The topics were: “Social Work and Industrialization – Changes in the Macro Perspective”; “Social Work and Community Power to Change in the Mezzo Perspective”; “Social Work and Policy Advocacy – Power to Change?”; and “Social Work and EU Migration Law – Power to Change?”.

The five-day exchange in Hradec Králové included lectures, visits to third-sector organizations, and group work related both to the visits and to our pre-assigned themes. Visiting different organizations and discussing our observations together was one of the most meaningful parts of the programme. These experiences sparked many thoughts and discussions about the field of social work. Although the school days were long and intensive, they were also highly rewarding, filled with meaningful conversations, new perspectives, and international connections.

Outside the academic programme, local students organized social activities for us, including a city tour and a bowling evening. The university also arranged a day trip to Prague, where we took part in a guided city tour led by a person who had experienced homelessness in the city. The city tour was based on a personal life story, offering a powerful insight into the realities of homelessness, as well as the support systems and social services in the Czech Republic.

Similar Challenges Across Europe

One of the key observations of the week was that social work across Europe faces many of the same challenges. Through visits to Czech NGOs, we learned about organizations working with various vulnerable groups, e.g. people recovering from mental health and substance abuse challenges, migrants, and victims of violence. These organizations play an essential role in filling the gaps in public services by supporting people who are at risk of being excluded from society. In many ways, their work felt familiar and reflected the role of the third sector in Finland.

We also noticed that the challenges faced by social workers themselves were strikingly similar to those in Finland. Limited resources and increasing workloads affect employees’ wellbeing, and throughout the week, discussions about professional burnout and the importance of setting boundaries in social work came up repeatedly. During our group work, we also reflected on the bureaucratic nature of social services, where professional work is often evaluated through compliance with legislation and documentation, sometimes at the expense of client-centered work and quality of encounters. Reduced funding and growing administrative demands seem to strengthen this system-focused approach in many countries.

Funding challenges within the third sector were another common theme we discussed during the visits to the NGOs. We learned that European Social Fund Plus (ESR+) support also plays an important role in the Czech Republic, and many organizations described their funding as being built from “multiple small streams.” We discussed how financial uncertainty affects not only service users, but also employees, who often need to be highly creative and adaptable to continue providing meaningful support despite limited resources. These conversations highlighted the value of NGO work and raised important questions about the wider societal consequences of funding cuts that are currently taking place in Finland as well.

Despite the shared challenges, the exchange also reminded us of the strengths of the social work profession. Across Europe, people entering this field often share a strong sense of justice, a desire to help others, and a commitment to defending human dignity and social values. If their knowledge and frontline experience are genuinely valued in social and political decision-making, social work has real potential to create meaningful change in society.

The Importance of Community-Based Social Work

Another key theme that emerged was the growing importance of mezzo-level social work. In a context where both public services and NGOs are facing increasing financial pressure, relying solely on individual-focused interventions does not seem to be the most sustainable long-term solution. This highlighted the need for stronger community-based approaches alongside individual support services.

During the exchange, we learned how strengthening communities can increase both individual and collective agencies. Community-based social work, such as supporting integration, creating inclusive spaces, and strengthening local networks, can help people respond to challenges together rather than facing them alone. Across all participating countries, the question of limited resources in social work remained present, which made it clear that alongside individual client work, there is an increasing need for both community-level practice and broader structural advocacy.

Working with communities may also reduce overlapping work within highly individual-centered service systems and support a more meaningful and effective use of limited resources. One of the key ideas of mezzo-level social work is that when communities are empowered to support their members, the need for more intensive and costly individual interventions may decrease. At the same time, a sense of belonging to a community can itself be a powerful source of wellbeing.

A particularly inspiring example of community-based work was the visit to Casa Pessoa. Casa Pessoa is a socio-cultural community center open to everyone. For many visitors, it serves as a safe space where people can feel accepted, experience a sense of belonging, and participate in activities on their own terms. Much of its activities rely on volunteers, passion, and creative problem-solving. It also demonstrated how resourcefulness, such as generating income through renting nearby space, can sustain NGO work. The visit reminded us how much need there is for spaces that bring people together and strengthen social inclusion, especially during times of increased polarization.

Power to Change?

Given the theme of the exchange programme, the central question in our discussions was whether social work can truly have the power to create change. It encouraged us to reflect not only on daily client work, but also on the broader societal impact of social work and its potential to influence systems, policies, and communities. We discussed how meaningful societal change often begins at the grassroots level, from bottom to up. Social workers are in a unique position to see how policies function in everyday practice, where systems succeed, and where they fail. Social workers can act as a voice for those not seen or heard in society. By bringing these experiences, observations, and evidence from practice into public discussion and decision-making, social workers can contribute to structural change and more effective policy development.

Another important insight was that sustainable change is only possible when we address the root causes of social problems instead of focusing solely on their consequences. If social work only responds to visible symptoms, the same problems continue to repeat themselves. Real change requires identifying what lies underneath — whether that is poverty, exclusion, trauma, inequality, discrimination, or violence — and building interventions that target these underlying causes. For example, supporting victims of domestic violence is essential, but long-term reduction of violence also requires addressing the behavior and underlying factors of perpetrators. In other words, treating the consequences alone is not enough if the causes remain untouched. Mezzo-level work, including community-based approaches and multi-disciplinary collaboration, can make more effective use of resources in tackling the underlying causes of social problems.

Conclusions

By the end of the week, one message had become clear: social work is also inherently political. Social work does have the power to create change, but only if its knowledge, frontline experience, and understanding of structural inequalities are genuinely recognized and valued in society and policy-making. Social workers encounter realities that are often invisible in public discourse. This makes social work much more than individual support — it also produces valuable knowledge about society, inequality, and the real-life impact of political decisions. The experiences, observations, and data gathered through social work should not remain only within client work. It is essential for evidence-based leadership, social policy development, and political decision-making. When resources are limited, it is important to invest not only in individual interventions, but increasingly in community-based and structural social work that can create more sustainable long-term change.

Through group work, lectures, and organizational visits, the week offered a rich learning experience. At times, the social intensity of the programme also required moments of quiet reflection and recharging — especially for us Finns. At the same time, it was fascinating to observe group dynamics, different communication styles, and cultural ways of interacting, while also reflecting on our own professional identity, previous learning, and personal growth.

Although the week was intensive and at times emotionally demanding, the learning and experiences it offered could not have been gained in any classroom or online meeting alone. The exchange continues to give something even after returning home. Many of the conversations and experiences have stayed with us and continue to resurface in new professional contexts. As students studying mostly through remote learning, connecting with peers in the same field, both nationally and internationally, was a very valuable experience. We genuinely encourage anyone considering international exchange opportunities to take the leap — with curiosity, openness, and a willingness to learn.

Artificial intelligence (ChatGPT) was used as a language editing tool in writing this blog text.

Information about Erasmus BIP

The BIP exchange is an excellent opportunity for adult learners to gain international competence in a flexible format. A short physical intensive period combined with virtual learning makes participation possible alongside work and family life. The programme offers practical learning experience, multinational collaboration and new perspectives that can be applied directly in one’s own work. The Erasmus+ grant makes participation financially accessible, and the credits earned from the course support progress in the degree. Read more www.savonia.fi.

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Authors

Salla-Mari Hänninen, Alli Pulkkinen, Suvi Rantamäki, Heli Kleimola, Jaana Saavalainen & Petriina Tarasoff, Students in Master’s degree programmes, Savonia University of Applied Sciences/Master School

Pirjo Turunen, Principal Lecturer, Savonia University of Applied Sciences/Master School

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References

European Social Fund Plus

Mykolas Romeris University | MRU | mruni.eu

University of Hradec Králové – Czech Universities

University of Latvia

Welcome to Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences

https://www.ops.cz/vzdelavani/clubcafe-pessoa

List of Ngos, Charities and non-profits in Czech Republic