Int'l Conference on SW in India
Donation protected
The Backstory...
I traveled to India in March 2016 and it revealed so much of who I really am. I learned I am adventurous, curious, explorative, open-minded, and all the adjectives that go along with traveling. I had an opportunity to try something new and it meant so much more to me than I ever had anticipated.
For this trip, I went as a part of a Social Work course, to learn more about the culture of India, their current social issues, and about the agencies that are endlessly working to help alleviate some of the problems. We visited a domestic violence agency, a hospital, homeless shelter, and a few organizations schooling and aiding street children. It was all so fascinating for me to observe these amazing individuals helping their community in a country that was so completely different than our own. Yet, I couldn’t help but see the similarities too. I fell in love with that concept, that although our cultures are so contrasted, the similarities compliment the work we are doing here in the US. The idea of cultural competence and learning from others, to say that although we are different, I can learn from you to make myself better for my own community. I could talk forever, it seems, about my experience although I was there for only ten days. I ultimately want to go back to explore further...
What I'm Doing and Hoping to Accomplish...
When I returned home, I obsessed over what I had experienced and how I could share it with those I was working with at Prevention and Intervention Services here in Mecklenburg County. They serve domestic violence (DV) victims and survivors.
I decided to do some more research and put together a presentation, hoping that it would aid our staff to be more aware of the culture of Indian-born people, especially when it came to DV.
It went really well and I got great feedback from it, thus sparking the idea that I could keep going with it and write up an exploratory research paper on how we can incorporate cultural competence in our US agencies to better serve Indian-born people.
Back in India, at the very school I visited originally, they each year host an International Conference on Social Work. I submitted my paper and it was accepted for me to orally present! (YAY!) I was just so excited, because not only do I get to go back to a place I absolutely loved, but I will have the opportunity to share my interests and findings with those that care about it too. As well, I'll have the opportunity to make other international connections and see where this traveling social work thing I've created can get me.
This Is Where YOU Come In...
The first time I traveled, I was privileged with some funding through my former job. Because I am now in graduate school and a graduate research assistant, I no longer have those benefits.
I am trying to raise the $1,500 I need to make this hope of mine come true. Any amount that you are able to donate will be so greatly appreciated! If you are not able to make a contribution, all I ask is if you could share my story and help me accomplish what I love to do!
I traveled to India in March 2016 and it revealed so much of who I really am. I learned I am adventurous, curious, explorative, open-minded, and all the adjectives that go along with traveling. I had an opportunity to try something new and it meant so much more to me than I ever had anticipated.
For this trip, I went as a part of a Social Work course, to learn more about the culture of India, their current social issues, and about the agencies that are endlessly working to help alleviate some of the problems. We visited a domestic violence agency, a hospital, homeless shelter, and a few organizations schooling and aiding street children. It was all so fascinating for me to observe these amazing individuals helping their community in a country that was so completely different than our own. Yet, I couldn’t help but see the similarities too. I fell in love with that concept, that although our cultures are so contrasted, the similarities compliment the work we are doing here in the US. The idea of cultural competence and learning from others, to say that although we are different, I can learn from you to make myself better for my own community. I could talk forever, it seems, about my experience although I was there for only ten days. I ultimately want to go back to explore further...
What I'm Doing and Hoping to Accomplish...
When I returned home, I obsessed over what I had experienced and how I could share it with those I was working with at Prevention and Intervention Services here in Mecklenburg County. They serve domestic violence (DV) victims and survivors.
I decided to do some more research and put together a presentation, hoping that it would aid our staff to be more aware of the culture of Indian-born people, especially when it came to DV.
It went really well and I got great feedback from it, thus sparking the idea that I could keep going with it and write up an exploratory research paper on how we can incorporate cultural competence in our US agencies to better serve Indian-born people.
Back in India, at the very school I visited originally, they each year host an International Conference on Social Work. I submitted my paper and it was accepted for me to orally present! (YAY!) I was just so excited, because not only do I get to go back to a place I absolutely loved, but I will have the opportunity to share my interests and findings with those that care about it too. As well, I'll have the opportunity to make other international connections and see where this traveling social work thing I've created can get me.
This Is Where YOU Come In...
The first time I traveled, I was privileged with some funding through my former job. Because I am now in graduate school and a graduate research assistant, I no longer have those benefits.
I am trying to raise the $1,500 I need to make this hope of mine come true. Any amount that you are able to donate will be so greatly appreciated! If you are not able to make a contribution, all I ask is if you could share my story and help me accomplish what I love to do!
Organiser
Andrea Gut
Organiser
Charlotte, NC
