World Social Work Day 2014

Nepal School of Social Work Celebrates
March 13-19, 2014
Social and Economic Crises-Social work solutions

Nepal School of Social Work (NSSW) has a long and proud tradition of celebrating World Social
Work Day/week since 2006 in Nepal as an occasion to self reflect and reach the wider society.
This year, 2014, is no exception. The faculty and students have marked World Social Work Day
with a week long program of community awareness programs, cleaning campaign, essay
competition, cultural celebrations, and sharing of stories of unsung champions of Nepalesesociety.

Celebrations started early on 13th March 2014 with a community art project, ‘Painting
for Purpose’; aimed at educating about and encouraging a healthier environment for our localcommunity. The visual masterpiece depicts the sad journey of our current environment – frompristine water ways; to a polluted, unsafe water supply. The students of NSSW actively involvedin the program and campaigned with a message of hope with the local community: ‘if you can,clean up the rubbish…if you can’t; don’t litter.’As part of our inclusion of the wider community – Nepal School of Social Work took theopportunity to make an alliance with other colleges and young people of higher secondary
schools and colleges and invited them become involved in social activities to craft and instillsocial responsibility in the young minds. Young students were invited to write an essay on theselected themes of ‘Building Participation’ or ‘Respecting Diversity – Connecting People’.
Essays were completed on 14 March 2014. There were more than 60 students from thirtycolleges who participated. The winning student, Ms Shimala Mahat, from Himalayan College,and was acknowledged as part of our cultural celebration. We congratulate and thank all
students for their engagement with us and in taking part of world social work day ( WSD)
celebrations.
March 18th, 2014 World Social Work Day, sees the theme of caring communities
develop with a focus on a healthier environment for a healthy future. Nepal School of Social
Work CEO, Pradipta Kadambari, welcomed the guests, participants in the programme andhighlighted the objectives of the cleaning campaign as part of our ‘College with Community’initiative – the college joined with Rosebud School, local community representatives, andpolice. Mr Hari Bahadur Kunwar, chief, Department of Environment, Kathmandu Metropolitan
city expressed his views and announced his commitment to work in partnership with Nepal

school of social work. Kathmandu Municipality has started a river cleaning program since lastyear. Municipality is committed to clean up the Bagamati river within two years time .
Municipality is making its immense effort to clean up rivers though mobilizing local
communities, police, local schools, college, and other social organizations and aware people on
their responsibilities to keep city clean. The municipality has made strict rule if the people
throw garbage in to the river, on the road they will be panelized up to NRs. 5000.00 rupees andone year jail. He further highlighted that the role of the students of Nepal school of social work
is important in spreading up the awareness campaign in the local communities
Mr. Bibek Man Singh, Coordinator, Rosebud School has shared his view that they will take fullof responsibility for clean up the river closed to their school about 100 meters. The school ishappy to participate with Nepal School of Social Work ( NSSW) which is taking initiative for thecleanup campaign of Dhobi Khola (River). He further expressed that, they are further inspired tojoin the campaign with NSSW students to mark the International Social Work Day 2014 andcommitted to continue their participation.

Mr. Durga Lal Shrestha, Manager of Butwal Power Company, made a commitment onbehalf of his company that they would commit that they will participate in the cleaning
campaign and other support whatever is possible to the Nepal School of Social Work. He
expressed his gratefulness to the NSSW students and faculty for their initiative in mobilizing
local communities, students, local social organizations, schools, colleges in partnership withMunicipalities for a good environmental cause.
Dr Dilli Ram Adhikari, Campus Chief, Nepal School of Social Work, on the occasion ofcelebrating International Social Work Day 2014, cleaning campaign with the theme of caring
communities and building participation in partnership with Kathmandu Metropolitan city, local
collage, communities and social organizations to clean up Dhobi khola (River), expressed that
one of the majors tasks of social workers is to bring social change. River pollution, soundpollution, air pollution, emission, adulteration and use of comical, pesticide in agriculturecausing various social, economic, psychological and physical problems in people which needs tobe focused by the social workers to resolve such problems. Environment pollution has beencausing various problems like physical, mental, social and economic problems in the society. It
is the time to aware the community and makes them self-disciplined in cleaning their cities andmaintain clean environment. He further highlighted and requests all the participants tomotivate "each one teach two" people for engaging in to the cleaning campaign.
Friday, March 21, 2014:
A cultural day at the Nepal School of Social Work to mark WSD 2014 as a festival of colours anddiversity. A day where students and staff presented music, drama, dance and poems withthemes of creating social awareness, and in celebrating social work education and the social
work profession in Nepal and globally. They affirmed that social work has the power totransform societies towards peace and NSSW should be playing a more proactive role in Nepal’snation rebuilding process.
Dr. Dilli Ram Adhikari, Campus Chief and other faculty members have echoed that"Contribution of social workers is significant in changing social, economic and behavior. The
social workers always fight against inequality, disparity, injustice, inhuman behavior, humanrights for a decent life of individual, groups and community focusing on to decrease massive
growing inequalities as poverty and defective social policy. Social workers advocate forchanging oppressive situations, for good social policies, sustainable development to improveaccess and use of resources improving living condition of ethnic groups, disadvantaged groups
and minorities. Disadvantaged people's participation in development process and decision
making is the key to empower people and elimination of massive inequality in distribution ofresources.
Ms. Pradipta Kadambari, CEO highlighted that "Collective and skillful actions against
solution of social, economic, and psychological problems of discriminated population are done
through empowerment. Social workers believe that all individuals are equal and they havepotentiality to be able to resolve their social, economic and psychological problems. Social
workers always focus to create a fair and just environment which is supportive to empowerpeople's livelihoods. They facilitate and support to those people who needs help enhance theirconfidence, potentiality, positive thinking and aspirations. Providing support to the government
to make relevant and supportive social policy is important role of social workers which canaddresses the problems of disadvantaged people.
Professional social workers are equipped with skills, knowledge and deep understanding
about human behavior and work decisively to bring social change. They provide help toindividual, groups, communities to empower them, instill social responsibilities and at the sametime they influence social policies of government. Social workers help to resolve problems
about Child labor, disability, mental problems, elderly people's problems, violation, conflict,displaced people, DAG, poor, beggary, prostitute, human trafficking, HIV affected people, third
gender, dowry, domestic violence, drug abuse, migration and so on.
The drama performed by the joint efforts of P.U 1st Semester and T.U 1st Year students
was worth appreciating as it emphasized the status of Non-Government Organisations in Nepal
and how they are working toward building participation among community people from a grassroot level and spread the message that unity is important to bring about change in a positive
manner. All staff and students had a thoroughly enjoyable time, and the sense of community
created through this celebration was exciting to be a part of. Field Work Coordinator,Samjhana Bhetwal expressed her vote of thanks to all the students, faculty members andpartners for their wonderful participation and group commitment for one week of celebrationsof World Social Work Day-2014. It was another mile stone for NSSW as a young school of social
work in Nepal which aspires to nurture young social workers to craft a just society. Please Visit
www.nepalschoolofsocialwork.org and we are more than happy to hear your suggestion andideas. Thank you all.