Master of Social Work students under the UNESCO Chair on Women’s Empowerment and Gender Equality at Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham regularly participate in community based fieldwork as part of their coursework.
The students gain real life exposure to India’s social issues and a unique immersion in experiential learning through humanitarian projects. The collaboration with our local institutional partners provides our students rich opportunities of experiential learning and in-depth practice of their specializations. Here are two field visits that took place in 2021.
Team Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh
As a part of the curriculum requirement, the Social Work Students and faculty members participated in various field work activities at Vizianagaram and Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh from December 04 – 24, 2021. The fieldwork was organized with the support of JSS, Vizianagaram and Prajwal Vani Welfare Society, Visakhapatnam. Around 14 students and one faculty participated, with the support of field staff and agency staff members. The fieldwork provided various opportunities to the students with respect to academic practice and skills. The social work students organised various programs for the welfare of rural, urban, and tribal people. The activities included rallies, awareness training sessions, focus group discussions etc. The students and faculty also visited a school for differently abled children, slums, and fishermen community. The students felt that the fieldwork was an enriching experience for them.
The various programs included:
Team Bihar
As a part of the curriculum requirement, the Social Work Students and faculty members participated in various fieldwork activities in the 101 Adopted villages of Bihar state (Tenduni, Morasia, and Echari) from December 4-24, 2021. The fieldwork included the students meeting with the government officials like village Mukhiya, Ward Members, and health workers and introducing Amrita University’s work done in the villages. The fieldwork provided various opportunities for the students to have a practical application of their theoretical knowledge. The social work students organised various programs and activities for understanding the dynamics and the need of the community. The activities included clean up drives, awareness sessions on various topics like Self Help Groups formation and implementation, Focus Group Discussions for understanding the current barriers to having a source of income, etc. A certificate distribution ceremony for Tailoring and Computer Batch students was also part of the visit. One group of students and faculties also visited a school for interaction and a clean-up drive and another group conducted a Life Enrichment Education (LEE) interactive session for school students.
The activities included:
