Interaction with Veteran Social Workers

Social work students got a golden opportunity to interact with a couple of renowned Social Workers, Mr Christian Roland, International President, International Council on Social Welfare and Mr A S Shenoy, Regional President, International Council on Social Welfare, South Asia Regional Committee on 22^nd March 2011 at the college conference hall. On this is occasion Mr Christian Roland discussed many socially relevant topics such as Social Protection Policies, Public Health and different Social Welfare Programmes across the world. It was a good platform for the social work trainees to brighten their insight on various health policies and public health systems prevailing in different countries as well as ICSW (International Council on Social Welfare) initiatives.

Community Intervention by first MSW

As part of the community study conducted in the five wards of Peermade panchayath namely Old Pambanar, Pattumala, Karadikuzhy & Pattumudi, the social work trainees from our college have found alcoholism as a major problem in these areas. Realizing the relevance of social work intervention in this issue, our social work students conducted community awareness program on 13^th march 2011, at Pambanar.

The community program began with a rally against alcoholism. It started at 10.30 am from Sacred Heart Church Pambanar. About 300 people including parents & children participated in the rally. All the people actively took part & shouted slogans against the use of alcohol. Fr Sebastian (Vicar Pambanar Church) inaugurated the rally and it ended at Pambanar town. Then a street play on the theme ‘Consequences of Consuming Alcohol’ was performed and it was well received by the community. This was followed by a session on ‘Alcoholism & its Effects’ at Govt. U.P. School Pambanar. The inaugural session began at 11.15am. Mr.Alex Choorapadiyil (Panchayath President), inaugurated the session. Fr. Sebastian (Vicar, Pambanar Church) , Mr. S. Anand (Headmaster Govt. UP school, Pambanar), Fr. Alex J Vellappally(Faculty, School of social work , Marian College Kuttikkanam) and members of these five wards facilitated on the occasion.

The session for parents and children began at 11.45am.The resource team included Mr. Prince Augustine (President, Liberation Social Action Movement), Mr Anish (Clinical Psychologist, S.H Hospital, Painkulam), Ms. Retty George (NACO Programme Coordinator) and Ms Mari Atherton (Mental Health Worker, Ireland). The session covered topics such as Alcoholism as a disease, its causes, symptoms, effects on family and social life, Alcoholism among youth etc. The session ended at 1.30 pm. After the session lunch was arranged for the participants.

Contributors : Bimal Antony Jeethu Susan Philip and Ashly Thankam Abraham of 1st MSW

CELEBRATING THE SPIRIT OF WOMEN

SAMARITANS (Social Work Students’ Association of Marian College) in association with the women cell celebrated International Women’s day on March 8th 2011. SAMARITANS performed a street play on various women related issues. The street play was performed at Peermade town at 2.30 pm. The same street play was also performed within the college campus which was followed by an open discussion on the “Relevance of laws for protecting women and it’s effectiveness”. Mr Bibin George, Mr Albin Francis, Ms Mary Honey O.J, Ms Vidhya T Mohan of 1st MSW organized the street play and led the open discussion. All the students actively participated in the open discussion and contributed a variety of views and opinions on the topic.

Contributors : Jeethu Susan Philip and Ashly Thankam Abraham of 1st MSW