One in nine Ontario children live in poverty, says Dusko Miljevic, and that’s a situation the master’s student of social work wants to change.
“They are our future and they all deserve a fair chance,” he says.
Miljevic says he always knew he wanted to work with people and finds a career in social work appeals to him even more than his undergraduate studies in psychology.
“It’s similar, but social work offers more opportunity to pursue advocacy for societal change.”
He says he originally intended to work one-on-one in a clinical setting, but a practicum placement with the Community-University Partnership at the Glengarry Non-Profit Housing Organization opened his eyes to the full spectrum of practice.
There he spent time helping residents fill out forms, providing referrals for landlord-tenant disputes and other services, and promoting literacy to children through the Homework Club.
“Just giving some of these kids one hour of my time can make such a difference,” Miljevic says. “Taking the opportunity to engage and connect is so worthwhile. It really makes me feel good.”
His research project exploring the extent to which children’s lives are affected by poverty earned him an Ontario Graduate Scholarship, allowing him to focus on his academic efforts.
“I take more pride in my education now,” Miljevic says. “I do want to make a difference.”
And he says, the School of Social Work is giving him a chance to make that difference.
“The faculty here are very good at challenging students, encouraging us to question everything about how society functions,” he says. “They have helped me to see how I can grow as a professional, always centred around understanding the client’s reality.”