Mother Teresa : The Global Icon of Selfless Social Service

Life of Great Mother Teresa
Mother Teresa was a true follower of humanity. Many people considered Mother as the "reincarnated form of Lord Jesus". Mother Teresa devoted her entire life in serving the needy and abandoned people of the society.

The original name of Mother Teresa was Agnes Gonxha Bojaxhiu. She was born in Skopje, the capital of Macedonia, on 26 August, 1910. In 1919, when she was eight years old, Agnes lost her father, a noted politician in Albania. At the age of twelve, she felt strongly the "call of God". Her religious foundation developed further and in 1928, she left Skopje to join the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ireland. The institution was popularly known as Sisters of Loreto. There, she received the name Sister Mary Teresa. After a training of around six months in Dublin, the capital of Ireland, Teresa was sent to India. On 24 May, 1931 she took her initial vows as a nun.



Contributions
For around next 15 years, Mother Teresa taught at St. Mary's High School in Kolkata. She also became the principal of the school. On 10 September, 1946, while traveling to Darjeeling, North-Bengal, for the annual retreat Mother realized "the call within call". She felt as if the Jesus was asking her to come out of the walls and serve the down-trodden people.

The feeling was so intense that on 17 August, 1947, Mother dressed in white, blue bordered sari left the Convent. In December 1950, Mother for the first time visited the slums of Calcutta. Although she had no funds, she started an open-air school for slum children. Soon she was joined by many voluntary organizations, which provided Mother, a crucial financial support. She founded the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, India in 1950. Although her mission started in India, she succeeded in bringing the people of all societies under one roof, i.e. humanity.

By 1996, she was operating 517 missions in more than 100 countries.[53] Over the years, Mother Teresa's Missionaries of Charity grew from twelve to thousands serving the "poorest of the poor" in 450 centers around the world.

Teresa's Missionaries of Charity continued to expand, and at the time of her death it was operating 610 missions in 123 countries, including hospices and homes for people with HIV/AIDS, leprosy and tuberculosis, soup kitchens, children's and family counselling programs, orphanages, and schools.

Awards
She won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and India's highest civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, in 1980 for her humanitarian work. Mother Teresa had first been recognised by the Indian government more than a third of a century earlier when she was awarded the Padma Shri in 1962 and the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding in 1969 for her social works. .

In 2010 on the 100th anniversary of her birth, she was honoured around the world, and her work praised by Indian President Pratibha Patil.

Her Last Days
After 1980, Mother suffered some serious health problems including two cardiac arrests. Despite the problems, Mother herself governed the Missionaries of Charity and its branches, as efficiently as earlier. In April 1996, Mother Teresa fell and broke her collar bone. Since then, Mother's health started declining. On September 5, 1997, Mother Teresa passed away.

Devoting her life to the service of the poor and dispossessed Mother Teresa became a global icon for selfless service to others.

http://sagarika-satapathy.blogspot.com/2011/02/mother-teresa-devoting-her-life-to.html

Education, Training And Career Options In Social Work

Social work is a profession for those with a strong desire to help improve people's lives. Social workers assist people by helping them cope with and solve issues in their everyday lives, such as family and personal problems and dealing with relationships.

Some social workers help clients who face a disability, life-threatening disease, social problem, such as inadequate housing, unemployment, or substance abuse. Social workers also assist families that have serious domestic conflicts, sometimes involving child or spousal abuse. 


Social Work is concerned and involved with the interactions between people and the institutions of society that affect the ability of people to accomplish life tasks, realize aspirations and values, and  alleviate distress. These interactions between people and social institutions occur within the context of the larger societal good. Therefore, three major purposes of social work may be identified:

►to enhance the problem-solving, coping and developmental capacities of people;
►to promote the effective and humane operation of the systems that provide people
    with resources and services;
►to link people with systems that provide them with resources, services, and opportunities.

Education And Training Related To Social Work
A bachelor's degree in social work (BSW) is the most common minimum requirement to qualify for a job as a social worker; however, majors in psychology, sociology, and related fields may qualify for some entry-level jobs, especially in small community agencies. Although a bachelor's degree is sufficient for entry into the field, an advanced degree is required for some positions. A master's degree in social work (MSW) is typically required for positions in health and school settings and is required for clinical work, as well. Some jobs in public and private agencies may require an advanced degree, such as an MSW with a concentration in social services policy or administration. Supervisory, administrative, and staff training positions usually require an advanced degree. College and university teaching positions and most research appointments normally require a doctorate in social work (DSW or Ph.D.).

2009, the Council on Social Work Education accredited 468 bachelor's programs and 196 master's programs. The Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education listed 74 doctoral programs in social work (DSW or Ph.D.) in the United States. Bachelor degree programs prepare graduates for direct service positions, such as caseworker, mental health assistant, group home worker and residential counselor. These programs include courses in social work values and ethics, dealing with a culturally diverse clientele and at-risk populations, promotion of social and economic justice, human behavior and the social environment, social welfare policy and services, social work practice, social research methods, and field education. Accredited programs require a minimum of 400 hours of supervised field experience.

Entry into a master's program does not require a bachelor's degree in social work, but courses in psychology, biology, sociology, economics, political science, and social work are recommended. In addition, a second language can be very helpful. Most master's programs offer advanced standing for those with a bachelor's degree from an accredited social work program.

Career Options
Advancement to supervisor, program manager, assistant director, or executive director of a social service agency or department usually requires an advanced degree and related work experience. Others as teaching, research, and consulting. Some of these workers help formulate government policies, by analyzing and advocating policy positions in government agencies, in research institutions, and on legislators' staffs.

http://sagarika-satapathy.blogspot.com/2011/02/education-training-and-career-options.html

Importance Of Sociology To Society

The Origin & Development of Sociology
Auguste Comte in France coined the word 'sociology' in his Positive Philosophy published in 1838.He believed that a science of sociology should be based on systematic observation and classification not on authority and speculation. This was a relatively new idea at that time. Herbert Spencer in England published his Principles of Sociology in 1876. He applied the theory of organic evolution to human society and developed a grand theory of social evolution. Lester F Ward an American published his Dynamic Sociology in 1883 calling for social progress through intelligent social action which sociologists should guide.

Durkheim gave the most notable early demonstration of scientific methodology in sociology. In his Rules of sociological Method published in 1895. He outlined the methodology which he pursued in his study 'Suicide' published in 1897.Instead of speculating upon the causes of suicide ,he first planned his research design and then collected a large mass of data on the characteristics of people who commit suicide and then derived a theory of suicide from these data. The American Journal of Sociology began publication in 1895 and the American Sociological Society was organized in 1905.

By 1930s the several sociological journals were well filled with research articles and scientific descriptions. Sociology was becoming a body of scientific knowledge with its theories based upon scientific observation rather than upon impressionistic observation.

Importance of Sociology

• Sociology makes a scientific study of society
• Sociology studies role of the institutions in the development of the individuals
• Study of sociology is indispensable for understanding and planning of society
• Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problems
• Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of man
• Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the problems of crime etc
• Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human culture
• Sociology is of great importance in the solution of international problems

Sociology makes a scientific study of society
Sociology because of its bearing upon many of the problems of the present world has assumed such a great importance that it is considered to be the best approach to all the social sciences.

Sociology studies role of the institutions in the development of the individuals
The home and family ,the school and educaton,the church and religion, the state and government ,industry and work ,the community and association, these are institutions through which society functions.

Study of sociology is indispensable for understanding and planning of society
Without the investigation carried out by sociology no real effective social planning would be possible. It helps us to determine the most efficient means for reaching the goals agreed upon. A certain amount of knowledge about society is necessary before any social policies can be carried out.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of social problems
It is the task of sociology to study the social problems through the methods of scientific research and to find out solution to them. The scientific study of human affairs will ultimately provide the body of knowledge and principles that will enable us to control the conditions of social life and improve them.

Sociology has drawn our attention to the intrinsic worth and dignity of man
Sociology has been instrumental in changing our attitude towards human beings. In a specialized society we are all limited as to the amount of the whole organization and culture that we can experience directly. We can hardly know the people of other areas intimately.

Sociology has changed our outlook with regard to the problems of crime etc
It is through the study of sociology that our whole outlook on various aspects of crime has change. The criminals are now treated as human beings suffering from mental deficiencies and efforts are accordingly made to rehabilitate them as useful members of the society.

Sociology has made great contribution to enrich human culture
Sociology has given us training to have rational approach to questions concerning oneself, one's religion,customs,morals and institutions. It has further taught us to be objective, critical and dispassionate. It enables man to have better understanding both of himself and of others. By comparative study of societies and groups other than his existence ,his life becomes richer and fuller than it would otherwise be.

Sociology is of great importance in the solution of international problems
The world is divided politically giving rise to stress and conflict. Men have failed to bring in peace. Sociology can help us in understanding the underlying causes and tensions.

The value of sociology lies in the fact that it keeps us update on modern situations
It contributes to making good citizens and finding solutions to the community problems. It adds to the knowledge of the society. It helps the individual find his relation to society.

Sexual Harassment of Sevashram Girls in Rayagada Dist.

It's really very shameful news that at least four girls, two each of Class III and IV, of Gadiseshkhal sevashram in Kolnara block, Rayagada were harassed by an assitant teacher and a male peon. They met the collector and lodged a complaint against the teacher, Narendra Meneka and peon, Lingaraj Kulusika, of sexually harassing them on Wednesday.

The sevashram situated about 20 k.m distance from the district head quarter of Rayagada, holds classes from I to V. Many students left the sevashram due to the harassment by the teacher.

According to the girls their teacher used to call them to his room at night and used to make sexual advances.

The Dist. Collector (Rayagada), Mr. Nitin Bhanudas Jawle ordered the district welfare officer to investigate into the allegations.

Unemployment in India and death of job seekers

India as a nation is faced with massive problem of unemployment. The incidence of unemployment is much higher in urban areas than in rural areas.  The incidence of unemployment among the educated is much higher in our society.

In a scary news, at least 15 people were killed and more than 50 critically injured when they hit their heads against the low, concrete roof of an underpass 240km west of Lucknow.  All the dead and injured were among 60,000 odd job seekers from 11 states who had been turned away this morning from an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) recruitment camp in Bareilly.

The Himgiri dead are yet to be identified while the injured, some of them critical, have been shifted to hospitals in Delhi and Bareilly.

18 youths in Uttar Pradesh say they were forced to sit on the roof of the train by police and the police said they don't have any information about this matter. That's the law and negligency of our society for which common people are always suffering.

Though ITBP knew about the number of job seekers, it had to inform the police dpt. for security. However, Union home minister P Chidambaram said in New Delhi that ITBP had informed the state police in advance but the state police provided only minimal forces for the recruitment drive.

Though the Indian Govt. make so many ways to give employment to the job seekers, it fails. The unemployment rate of 9.4% means that out of those 359 persons per thousand, or 424 million people – there are 9.4% or about 40 million who were unemployed. According to this survey – Goa is the state with the highest unemployment rate. There are more than 6 crore well educated youth in India who are unemployed.

For the first time ever – the Labour Bureau of the Government of India has conducted a survey on employment. India Gov.t have to do more to fight with this social illness.