Who am I and why do I want to be a social worker Essay

Just like most children, I had my fantasies and wishes of becoming a medical doctor so I could help alleviate the sufferings of many. Although this desire was not actualised as I ended up studying engineering but i always felt a big vacuum and an unquenchable desire which i couldn’t explain until I became a care support worker In my early years as a growing young girl in Africa, abuse and injustice happened on a daily basis and nothing was done about it. Female genital mutilation was a tradition and many female children died in the process. A tradition where women were treated like slaves, children suffered abuse and neglect and not even the government could stop it. Although I did not go through any of this because my parents were educated and civilised, but these horrible incidents happened right before me to those my friends, neighbours and relatives and the sight of these oppression and injustices broke my heart but being that I was only a child, I couldn’t intervene. However, this encounter kept playing like a video in my mind till now that is has become clearer that my pursuit of becoming a social worker will answer my many questions. My interest in pursuing this career was birthed when I worked alongside some charitable organisations in Nigeria during my National Youth Service. My service was in the health care setting where I had the opportunity to help people with diverse family problems, health challenges, domestic violence, rape etc, and liaising with other non-governmental agencies to work with the less advantaged to achieve better lives. This experience went a long way in healing my broken heart as a young innocent girl that grew up where injustice thrived. I have always been of the opinion that, if, everyone contributes positively towards the society by way of giving help and support where needed, this world will be a better place. I further developed a keen interest to train in this career over the years because of my work and experience as a support worker and work with young homeless people in Germany. As a support worker, I worked with older people with learning disabilities and supported them in their own homes and in residential settings. During my residence in Germany, I pioneered a charity organisation that was responsible to organise music concerts in the hospitals settings, residential homes for both the elderly and young people. I am deeply passionate, patient, and tolerant and enjoy the service of humanity. Since arriving here in UK, I have had the opportunity of working as a support worker and have further acquired and improved my skills in areas such as communication, psychology and total well-being of individuals. I have also been able to work effectively with older people with disabilities by providing continuous support to them. Being a support worker has also helped to improve my confidence, patience, interpersonal skills, and initiative. Supporting and empowering people have always been my passion and becoming a social worker will mean actualising my long awaited dream. According to Open University (2013) [internet], social work is a profession which aims to protect children and adult from harm whatever their age, gender and cultural background. Social work thrives on social justice which is based on the concept of equality, human right, fairness, mutual obligation in the society and helping to reduce poverty in the society. The latest issue on poverty according to Department for work and pension and Department of education (2013) [internet], there are almost 300,000 households in the UK where none of the adults has ever worked and 300,000 children with parents going through drug issues. What will become of these children being raised in such a precarious situation? To deal with these issues, there is a need for solving the problem from its root rather than approaching it on the surface. Helping these troubled families turn their lives around is paramount because children in such homes will have their chances of success reduced and this will be passed on to their next generation. I believe that while trying to improve the lives of adults and youths especially those with drug and alcoholic problems, helping children overcome poverty without waiting for it to escalate into bigger issues is appropriate. Family instability leads to poverty not just to the concerned families but to the whole nation in general. Social justice is also about making family, community and society function better without prejudice, oppression, discrimination and inequality, providing the support and tools to help make life more comfortable. Some of the challenges encountered in the society have its roots traceable to early life. Evidence suggests that children tend to enjoy better life, become successful, and thrive better both psychologically and developmentally when the same two parents are able to support and protect them through childhood stage. Attachment theory proves that the earliest bond between children and their parents have a tremendous long lasting impact that continues throughout their life time. How we are depends on how we experience this early relationship. Payne, M (2005). Another burning issue on my mind is people with disabilities and how they are being treated. Having an African background, my experience with children with disability is heart breaking. Africa has one of the largest populations of children with disabilities in the world. Their predicament which is swept under the carpet is also characterised by an exclusion from social service, inaccessible infrastructure as well as neglect and abuse. In fact, there’s no program or assistance for the disabled in Africa both old and young. Taken into consideration that we live in a diverse society where we encounter people with different culture, backgrounds, race, believes, values etc, there’s every need to accommodate, tolerate and celebrate each other regardless of these differences. As a would be social worker, I intend facilitating change in some areas where lesser attention is paid. I am very passionate about family welfare and ensuring healthy relationship between children and their parents. I will ensure that I put into practice the social work values and ethics which will be acquired during my course of study combining it with my own values.

Andrew Carnegie

The following paper discusses the biography of Andrew Carnegie, an entrepreneur and founder of the American steel Industry, his life, the major influences and significance of his work and the impact of his life on others. Andrew Carnegie helped build the formidable American steel industry and then sold his steel business and systematically gave his collected fortune away to cultural, educational and scientific institutions for the improvement of mankind. This paper examines the way in which Carnegie, who was one of the first industrialists to use scientists to research his own business, came to be the wealthiest man of his time, in the world.During his final years, Carnegie spent most of his time in endeavors to promote world peace. He built both the Pan American Union building in Washington D.C. and the Hague Peace Palace, in the Netherlands to support international peace.The outbreak of World War I was devastating to him, and he died August 11, 1919 in Lenox, Massachusetts. By the time he died, Carnegie had given away $350,695,653 and had given another $30,000,000 to foundations, pensions and charities. Andrew Carnegie is considered one of the greatest philanthropists in the world and one of the wea lthiest men who ever lived (http://www.carnegie.lib.oh.us/andrewcarnegie.htm).

Is it possible to achieve belonging or cultural acceptance without a Essay

Is it possible to achieve belonging or cultural acceptance without a sense of individuality - Essay Example (Grammich, Clifford A.. 2010, 14) The question that one would want to ask is whether it is possible that one would be accepted in a group without losing their individuality. Responding to this message requires appreciation of the fact that being accepted in the group while one is individuated will mean to be accepted in the group without conforming to the norms of that particular group. The possibility that individuals would conform to group norm depend on a number of factors’ first, the group cohesiveness. This is the degree to which individuals are attracted to the group and the benefits that are drawn from that group. The size of the group would also determine whether individuals would conform or not. Smaller groups tend to pile a lot of pressure for conformity than large groups. The concept of individualism has been studied in details by two main theorists, Locke and Mills. According to Locke, individualism has been overcome by the pressure particularly that of the government. He suggests that government is a necessary evil that rope people together to conform. His view of individual’s conformity is authoritarian. Mills however reveals that individualism was grounded on theories of pleasure and pain. He suggests hat individuals are the arbiters of their own actions and therefore they are considered to be one of the strongest  proponents for liberalism, checked only by his harm principle. (Mills, Gordon H, 26) Grammich, Clifford A.. 2010 U.S. religion census: religious congregations & membership study : an enumeration by nation, state, and county based on data reported for 236 religious groups. Kansas City, Mo.: Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies, 2012.

Blue Ocean Strategy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Blue Ocean Strategy - Essay Example The overall concept of Blue Ocean Strategy is innovation. It is understood from the book that companies should identify, plan a strategy and create a business of which no competition exists. Kim and Renee (2005)2 divide the competitive business world into two segments of Red Ocean and Blue Ocean. It is further explained that 'Red Ocean' is the business world full of competition where the existing organizations compete with each other to acquire its share in the market whereas 'Blue Ocean' is the unidentified market area. The Blue Ocean is the space wherein the business is new in the market and has no threat of competition instead it has to create competition. The giants of particular commodity or product or services, who are termed as leader, find it difficult to survive in the competitive world of business without marketing. American Marketing Association has defined marketing as the performance of the business activities that direct the flow of goods and services from producer to consumer or user. Marketing assists in identifying specific markets for products and services, guiding the development of products, packages, and services, etc. (Kumar)3 In blue ocean strategy this concept has a new meaning and a new method to implement in the firms. Blue ocean marketing concept proposes a method based on the segmented target group and the product development and marketing is based on the conduct of this group. The concept is good but cannot be fitted with all firms and their marketing procedures as it lack competition, which is vital in the marketing concept. (Kim and Renee, 2005)4 Marketing Strategy David (2007)5 states that creating a marketing strategy is only the first step towards the attainment of goal and after the strategy has been built; its solidarity has to be maintained to attract external stakeholders. He criticizes the marketing directors who are using B2B model while the others in the market have adopted real and valuable marketing strategies. The first principle of blue ocean strategy is to reconstruct market boundaries to create blue oceans so that it doesn't face any level of competitions and existence of competitors is zero. In order to create Blue Ocean, it becomes necessary to identify the threats and difficulties that make Red Ocean such a difficult world to live in. The red ocean companies are trapped in this area due to following reasons, 1) they define their industry similar to which exists in the market and try to provide the best other than others, 2) they try to and follow the strategic accepted methods, models, principles of developed and successful companies and strive to stand out in their strategic group, 3) as they produce similar products and provide service similar to that of the other industry, they focus the same consumer, which further makes the competition stiff and harder, 4) they define the scope of products and services similarly, 5) they accept the rules and regulations of the specific industry as they are governed by the governing body and functions accordingly and 6) some seasonal products produced by the companies will face stiff competition from its rivals as all the companies will

Comparison between the two countries Italy & Singpore Essay

Comparison between the two countries Italy & Singpore - Essay Example This comparison-contrast can serve to further better the understanding between both of these nations. II. Climate The climates of Italy and Singapore, most often are both moderate in temperature, especially warmer temperaturas. What differs between Italy and Singapore is that, Italy also has regions which can be very cold during the daytime, whereas in Singapore, that is unheard of, generally speaking. Another difference is that Singapore also has unusually hot temperatures—the likes of which Italy may have at times, but does not have for sustained periods like Singapore as much, generally speaking throughout the entire region of Italy. Although climates vary with geography, generally speaking, Italy, on average, probably has much cooler temperatures than Singapore overall—although Italy and Singapore can have similar temperatures at some junctures. However, Singapore is more likely than Italy to have unbearably hot weather, which might only be experienced in certain so uthern portions of Italy or on Italian islands in the Mediterranean. In that sense, Italy has more moderate temperatures. III. Geography Geographically speaking, Italy and Singapore both have one facet in common: they both have low-lying areas. According to Richmond (2003), â€Å"Singapore consists of the main, low-lying Singapore lsland and 63 other, much smaller† islands (pp. 18). Although most of Italy is very high above sea level, both countries have geographical similarity in the sense that both Italy and Singapore have lowlands. According to Favor (2004), â€Å"Most of Italy's terrain is rugged and mountainous, with some plains and coastal lowlands† (pp. 11). ... 11). Thus, unlike Italy, Singapore is much less likely to have land that is very high above sea level—leaving much of its land vulnerable to tsunamis and flooding. Italian geography along the seacoast would most likely be the area that would be most vulnerable to flooding of any type since these areas are, speaking generally, at or below sea level in terms of being either plains or low-lying coastland. IV. Location Regarding location, Italy and Singapore do not share much in common except to say that they are both countries that are on the same planet and that they are in the southeastern portion of their continents. Yes, Italy and Singapore are both countries on the planet, but the other similarity is that Italy is located in southeastern Europe, while Singapore is located in southeast Asia. Other than that, Italy and Singapore do not share any similarities with regard to location. The main differences with regard to location are that Italy is located in Europe, while Singapo re is located in Asia. These are the obvious, major differences. Another difference is that Italy is located in a Mediterranean climate, while Singapore is located in a tropical climate because it is located practically on the Equator. Thus, with regards to location, Italy and Singapore do have at least two similarities and two differences. V. Culture In terms of culture, Italy and Singapore both share a commonality: Italian culture is subject to the greater European culture, while Singaporean culture is subject to Chinese culture (which dominates Asia). Italy’s culture share remnants of European culture overall, while Singaporean culture retains elements of Chinese culture (because Chinese culture is one of the most dominant cultures in Asia). According to Wyer, Chiu, & Hong

BUSINESS MODELS AND PLANNING Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

BUSINESS MODELS AND PLANNING - Essay Example From the case study it was evident that company alpha engaged in seven business model innovations in which only 4 were successful. Amongst the remaining three, the company either succeeded or failed in their operations. From the case study it was evident that only the innovations which involved exploitation of existing technology and the development and exploitation of technology based products encouraged the success. The company’s failure was attributed to lack of desired quality and standards and that the market was small for the company’s turnover. On the other hand company beta only managed 3 business innovations two of which were successful while the other one failed. Success to the business model was due to acquisition and exploitation of new technology. However, the failure was due to a new product entrant into the market which faced severe completion that squeezed it out. To innovate in business model means that a company must be able to engage in mergers and acquisitions which reduces the company’s competitiveness? In addition to this, innovations in business model also require that companies are able to acquire or embrace new technology that exists within the business environment. From the research conducted between company alpha and beta it is evident that success only came when the companies involved in business models which involved acquisition of new technology and development. For example, company alpha engaged in seven business model innovations in which only 4 were successful. Only the innovations which involved exploitation of existing technology and the development and exploitation of technology based products encouraged the success. The case was similar to company beta which involved in only 3 business innovations and only two succeeded. Innovation is a rigorous process that involves companies to

Destination management Vancouver Research Paper

Destination management Vancouver - Research Paper Example However, along with the positive impacts that include employment and overseas exchange incomes, tourism can also lead to various risky effects regarding the costs to a local society along with its business environment (Howie, 2003). Destination management can be regarded as an incorporated model that includes the significant factors which eventually shape and influence a destination’s competitive strength as well as those factors that create an environment within which tourism can prosper in a well recognized manner (Dwyer & Kim, n.d.). The conception of destination management mainly serves towards addressing the needs of the tourists along with the economic benefits of the tourism industry, approaching tourism development in such a way that ultimately diminishes the various risky impacts, protecting local people’s business interests, heritage and environment and defending the local environment as well (Dwyer & Kim, n.d.). In the paper, a brief idea regarding destinatio n management is taken into discussion and a particular destination has been chosen i.e., Vancouver, British Columbia. Various aspects regarding the different organizations that are responsible for managing or encouraging tourism and visitors to the destination area, their structures, their vision statements, their roles and responsibilities, varied attractions of the destination i.e., of Vancouver, destination statistics along its economic impact and the different factors that are likely to impact upon tourism of Vancouver will also be taken into concern in the discussion of this paper. In addition, the main purpose of this study is to determine the organizations that are responsible for encouraging tourism and the most significant purpose is to evaluate the statistics and financial impact upon the destination area i.e. Vancouver, British Columbia. As a whole, a full furnished financial data or information regarding the impact of tourism upon Vancouver, British Columbia is also cons idered as a chief concern for the study of this paper. a. The organizations which are responsible for managing or encouraging tourism along with the visitors to the destination area include a few government-funded tourist organizations such as â€Å"National Tourism Offices†, tourism agencies and â€Å"Destination Management Organizations† among others (Pedersen, 2002). Apart from these government-funded tourist organizations, the ‘tour operators’ which are also known as ‘outbound providers’, ‘tour agencies’, ‘ground operators’ known as ‘inbound providers’, ‘travel agencies’ and ‘specialty tourism firms’ are also responsible for managing or encouraging tourism along with the visitors to the destination area (Pedersen, 2002). In this connection, â€Å"National Tourism Offices† work together with different hotels along with air transporters in order to collect and gather muc h finance for various destination promotion programs. ‘Tour operators’ are the companies that generally deliver different tours to the customers through travel mediators. In contrast ‘specialty tourism firms’ organize trips for the clients or the customers in order to participate in any tourism specific activities (Pedersen, 2002)