Dilys is a professional who loves and has experience working with children, young adults, and refugee families in varied sectors.
Her interests include child protection/welfare, family welfare/ intervention, healthcare, human rights, inequality, migration issues, research, social change, humanitarianism, disability related issues, and all work with vulnerable groups.
Here is what she has to say in an interview with Edward Asare
Edward: What’s your name, educational, and career background?
My name is Dilys Sharona Quartey. I hold a Joint degree in Erasmus Mundus Master in Social Work with Families and Children from ISCTE University Institute of Lisbon, University of Stavanger, University of Gothenburg and Makerere University. I also hold a First Class honours Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work with Sociology and a Diploma with Distinction in Social Administration from the university of Ghana. I possess over five years work experience in the human service sector.
Edward: What or who is the inspiration behind what you are doing?
Dilys: My mum has always been my number one inspiration. She has the biggest heart, is smart and a go-getter. After raising four (4) children she bagged a first class honours professional Social Work degree at 43 years and a Master’s specialization in Counselling Psychology at 56 years. As a living example she makes me believe anything is possible if you have the passion for and zeal to work towards it.
Edward: What is peculiar about what you do and how do you stand out from others?
Dilys: As a professional Social Worker my skills set qualify me to work within diverse human service organisations and with all age groups. I have always been passionate about helping the most vulnerable populations. My academic qualifications were more to cultivate and utilise my passion and endowed skills to do what I love professionally.
Edward: What can people expect from you this year and what tips or advice do you have for people that want to do what you’re doing?
Dilys: This year I intend to keep giving life my very best and put a smile on as many faces as I can. Social Work like other human service work is both emotional and physical. It’s work you do with your heart, mind and body. So, one needs to have a genuine passion for it, dedication, willingness to continually learn and grow as well as the desire to work hard for others. Social Workers are essential and needed more now during this global pandemic.
Edward: Who are some of the people you have worked with or would love to work with and why them?
Dilys: I have worked with people of all ages and gender. Particularly children in the social welfare system and schools, persons with disability, persons with substance use disorders, persons living with HIV/AIDS, persons who have experienced violence and trauma, families and communities in crisis etc. I love working with vulnerable populations knowing I am making a significant contribution to their lives and society as a whole, and I want to continue doing so.
Edward: What was the hardest moment for you on your journey that almost made you give up and why did you keep going on? It doesn’t have to be connected to your present status.
Dilys: The hardest moment for me on my professional journey was feeling emotionally drained and at a loss when I have tried so hard for my client(s) and realized that I can’t always do what is right for them due to certain governmental and organisational mandates, or coming to the realisation that I can’t save everyone all the time and at some point I simply have to let go. It helped to realise these situations were beyond my control and it didn’t mean I was not trying hard enough.
Edward: Is there anything else you want to put in the public domain besides the above?
Dilys: I believe that we are all endowed with skills that when harnessed and cultivated would benefit our society. We owe it to ourselves, our society and the next generation to aim to be a little better everyday than the day before and dare to give life our very best. Giving up may seem easy but its never an option, there is always light at the end of the tunnel no matter how dark your journey may seem. You are special and unique and can make the world a better place in your own special and beautiful way
Keep rising Dilys
