Global Insights, Local Impact: An Austrian Social Worker’s Immersive Journey in Arizona

December 15, 2025

Here at CIP, we believe that true global understanding happens on the ground, within communities. This is the essence of our exchange programs, and this fall, Verena Scharf embodied that spirit perfectly during her five-week CIP program with our network office in Phoenix, Arizona.

Verena, a social work faculty member and workplace supervisor from Vienna, brought with her a wonderfully diverse background and a deep commitment to social justice. From the moment she learned about CIP, she was ready to learn and expand her professional experience while getting to know new people and contemplate how to improve communities all over the world.

From Vienna Faculty to Tucson Field Researcher
With a professional background spanning refugee advice centers, street work, and specialized counseling for girls and women, Verena is crisis-proof, resilient, and a true hands-on professional. She arrived in Arizona ready to apply her expertise and learn new perspectives, particularly in the areas of migration, vulnerable populations, and community support.

Her primary assignment involved rigorous research for the University of Arizona in Tucson, housed within the Southwest Institute for Research on Women (SIROW). But her work extended far beyond the academic campus. Verena immediately embedded herself in the local community, engaging with programs working directly with some of the region's most vulnerable populations:

  • Community Engagement: She spent time with organizations supporting a variety of groups facing housing insecurity,and addressing crucial migration issues.
  • Border Dialogue: She embarked on tours of the US-Mexico border, gaining direct, complex insights into migration challenges.
  • Housing insecurity: She helped to address this issue through food distribution events and regular engagement with individuals experiencing homelessness in her local community.


A Non-Stop Immersion in American Life
Verena’s dedication to understanding American society went beyond formal assignments. In a whirlwind five weeks, which wrapped up just after Thanksgiving, she engaged in a curriculum of cultural and social immersion curated just for her.

She intentionally navigated the city by bus, often using the commutes as opportunities to talk with locals, including many facing housing insecurity, whom she credits for providing candid perspectives. Her calendar was packed with events that offered a window into the diverse American experience:

  • Culture: Attending documentary showings, female storytelling events, and US Basketball games.
  • Academia: Getting invited to BSW classes and scholarship award ceremonies at the university.
  • Social Justice: Meeting with local Indigenous leaders and engaging in conversations about reducing discrimination, a personal passion of hers.
  • Networking: Meeting local social workers for coffee and lunch to share professional challenges and methodologies.


Mutual Exchange: The Value of International Expertise
The impact of Verena's exchange was felt strongly by her hosts. Her supervisor, Dr. Josephine D. Korchmaros, recognized the unique value she brought to the institute: "It was great to have Verena here contributing her expertise to SIROW and providing useful cultural exchange around public health issues and programs as well as social work practice."

Verena's passion for social work is rooted in her belief in "working on changes from the bottom." She is an expert in professional relationship building, counseling, and self-reflection. In addition to serving as a lecturer in Vienna focusing on Social Inequalities and conducting research on social practice, she is the newest member of CIP's alumni organization, the Council of International Fellowship (CIF). She will be helping to design and implement social work exchange programs in Austria as a member of that country's CIF branch.

Verena’s exchange is a powerful reminder that global understanding is a two-way street. Her time in Arizona not only expanded her professional experience but also enriched the Tucson community by bringing fresh perspectives and deep expertise to vital local issues.

Are you ready to share your expertise or host a global leader? Learn more about the Council of International Programs and how you can get involved in building bridges of understanding.