Arunachal Pradesh University’s (APU) Social Work Department Assistant Professor Ngurang Mana represented India at the Joint Conference on Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD 2026), held in Nairobi, Kenya, from 26 to 29 June, where she presented her ongoing PhD research. Mana presented her study titled ‘Prospects on the Educational Reintegration of Adolescents Recovering from Substance Use in Arunachal Pradesh’, which examines the educational experiences of adolescents recovering from substance use, and proposes pathways for their reintegration into mainstream education. The research calls for coordinated interventions involving rehabilitation centres, educational institutions, families, communities, and government agencies to support sustainable recovery and educational continuity.
The conference, organised jointly by the International Association of Schools of Social Work, the International Council on Social Welfare, and the International Federation of Social Workers, in collaboration with the Global Agenda Taskforce and the Kenya National Association of Social Workers, brought together participants from more than 100 countries. It was held under the theme ‘Harambee: Social Workers Unite for Sustainable Shared Futures’, drawing on the Swahili word for collective action. Speaking about her experience at the conference, Mana said it offered an appropriate platform to present findings on substance use among adolescents in Arunachal before an international audience, and to exchange ideas with scholars and practitioners working on similar issues.
She added that such platforms enable knowledge transfer and collaborations that can inform evidence-based responses to social challenges in the state. She spoke also about the need to strengthen recognition of professional social work in Arunachal, noting that the field is grounded in academic training, research, and ethical practice, rather than informal or voluntary service. She said professionally trained social workers are equipped to address issues including substance use, mental health, child protection, school reintegration, community development, and disaster response.
She added that there is a need to create institutional opportunities for qualified social workers in government departments, educational institutions, healthcare settings, and community organisations in the state.
