The inauguration of Green Spartans

The inauguration of Green Spartans, an environment based association was held on the 28^th of August, 2023. The inauguration ceremony took place in the quadrangle at 1:45 PM. After the initial introduction to the association by the dean, Dr. Fr. Augustine Lourdu, the students from all the five batches moved to the auditorium basement for the investiture ceremony and for the cultural events. The ceremony commenced with a warm welcome from the dean. The elected leaders then took the oath and were entrusted with the responsibility of guiding the association towards its mission of promoting eco-consciousness and sustainability. This In addition to the investiture, the event featured group song, dance, quiz, and skit performances coordinated by the Social Work Students Association (SWSA) to convey the importance of the occasion.

Peace Meet for Manipur organsied by School of Social Work

 

On the 25^th of July, 2023 (Tuesday), at 12:55 PM, the school of social work organised a peace meet at the entrance of the admin blockof the university to condemn the violence taking place in Manipur. The meet was coordinated by Dr. Alan Godfrey, Head of the Department, School of Social Work. Around 150 students took part in the meet wherein both past and current students from the school of social work, who hail from Manipur expressed the need for solidarity and support for the victims and requested everyone to pray for the end of the violence in the state. 

Emerging Trends in Social Work Intervention : Response to the Pandemic in various Social Work Settings

 The School of Social Work, St. Joseph's University collaboration with University of North Carolina Wilmington conducted International Virtual Conference on "Emerging Trends in Social Work Intervention : Response to the Pandemic in various Social Work Settings" from 19th to 21st April, 2022. 

The guest speaker at the Conference Dr. Panagiotis Pentaris, Associate Professor in Social Work spoke about Social workers in healthcare settings have been at the forefront of the pandemic response. They have collaborated with medical professionals to provide holistic care to patients and their families. Their roles included psychosocial support, facilitating communication, and ensuring access to resources for vulnerable populations. They also engaged in bereavement support, helping families cope with the loss of loved ones.

He also added the pandemic has had a significant impact on mental health, and social workers in mental health and counseling settings have been instrumental in addressing this crisis. They have adapted to remote counseling methods, providing teletherapy and virtual support groups. Social workers have developed innovative approaches to tackle anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues arising from social isolation and uncertainty.

Furthermore, the pandemic has increased the risk factors for child welfare, such as domestic violence, substance abuse, and neglect. Social workers in this setting have worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of children. They have utilized technology to conduct virtual visits, monitor families at risk, and provide virtual parenting education. Social workers have been crucial in advocating for children's rights and connecting families with essential resources.

8th Ambedkar Memorial Lecture

The School of Social Work, St Joseph's University conducted its 8th Ambedkar Memorial Lecture on 20th December, 2022. The guest speaker of the day was Mr. Shivasunder, a notable journalist and social activist. Dr. Fr. Augustine Lourdu, Dean, School of Social Work gave the welcome address wherein he spoke about Dr. B R Ambedkar and his key role in framing the Indian Constitution. Mr. Y J Rajendra, addressed the gathering as well and welcomed Mr. Shivasunder. The guest speaker spoke extensively on democracy and its significance in Indian society. He provided the audience with an understanding  of democracy and stated that democracy was not just a political system but also a social and economic system. He explained the constitutional concepts of Fundamental Rights and Directive Principles of State Policy. He also highlighted the need for inclusion of women in society and the importance of free and equal education for all. The lecture was followed by a Q&A session in which the students actively participated.

Anger Management Workshop

A workshop on anger management chaired by Dr Arthur J Frankel of UNCW was hosted by the School of Social Work, St. Joseph's University. This was organised in collaboration with the University of North Carolina, Wilmington (UNCW), USA, on 19th December 2022. Dr Arthur gave an extensive session about evidence-based approaches to deal with anger management. His knowledge on negative reinforcement, positive parenting, humanistic approach and Gestalt Therapy was an eye-opener for the audience. The workshop helped the audience to learn how to recognise, cope and express anger in fruitful ways. The event was followed by a very active Q&A participated by the majority of the audience. The session was rated “excellent” by most of the participants who attended the workshop.

TANDAV - Festival of Inclusion

December 18th, 2022 witnessed the School of Social Work, St. Joseph’s University host Tandav, a festival of inclusion in collaboration with the University of North Carolina, Wilmington, USA, Growth School, Oracle, and Smileys India. Over 800 participants including differently abled individuals of all ages across the nation took part in the event. Dance, music, and fun constituted the festival from the inaugural ceremony till the closing ceremony. Cultural performances of the participants were a joy to behold. The event also showcased a fun learning interactive game session which was absolutely incredible and provided an unforgettable experience for the participants. Food stalls, handicraft stalls and game stalls gave the audience a chance to be a  part of the mesmerising event. The tempting food and the entertaining games added to the grand success of the event.

SWSA Alumni Lecture Series III - Mr. Varun Jagannath

On 26th of November 2022, the second SWSA Alumni Lecture Series III was held in the auditorium of De Nobili Hall, UG Block, St. Joseph’s university. 

Mr. Varun Jagannath is a senior researcher and field manager at Good Business Lab. He is a former professor of the School of Social Work, St. Joseph’s University. The session started with Mr. Jagannath asked the students what they expected out of the session and he addressed each concern. The session was very interactive. Sir then spoke about how capitalism gives scope to social workers and also talked about the importance of questioning things. A few of the other concerns addressed by Sir include the gender pay gap, the importance of research and challenges faced by social workers. He concluded the lecture with his words “We are working for one common goal and that is serving humanity”.