CHARITY AS A HISTORICAL AND SPIRITUAL-MORAL BASIS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

Charity is a special type of social interaction which differs from the other types due to its optional institutional ties. On the one hand, charity is determined by an objective social factor, namely – the existence of those who need assistance – the needy and the objectively existing need for help from one party, and on the other hand – the subjective desire of the other party to provide such assistance. The phenomenon of charity is a stable concept. Its essence remains unchangeable under various social conditions and time periods, however, its forms of manifestation change and adapt to the specific socio-cultural conditions. This is confirmed by the fact that charity has transformed from a purely subjective private phenomenon and a traditional approach within Christianity, to the functional direction of public policy and later public activity in the functioning of public organizations. This transformation was also reflected in the forms of manifestation of the moral and value component, which was part of interpersonal relations and charity. It has partly lost its significance and partly shifted to the professional requirements for the profession of a social worker and other persons who provide assistance or services to others. Charitable activities very often help to find effective ways to solve problems in the social sphere, which the state cannot, due to certain circumstances, promptly solve, covering both specific individuals and entire levels of society. A study of the local history of charitable and social work provides a real-life context and concrete examples for shaping the professional identity of future social workers. The local aspect of social work is revealed, first of all, through the work of charitable organizations and individuals who created or funded these institutions, or took an active part in their activities. It is noted that charitable activities contribute to the psychological changes in the consciousness of students. In particular, such changes in the minds of students are characterized by changes in the level of their social responsibility, status, role positions and values. Understanding charity as a historical and spiritual-moral basis of social work can help increase its effectiveness, expedite recovery from difficult life circumstances, and at broader levels – to prevent and preclude the emergence of difficult life circumstances as a mass phenomenon.