Community Service Report

Introduction

The organization is mainly a charity office, which deals with helping vulnerable individuals in groups to access help from the government depending on the needs of each group, which varies from one group to another. The mission of the community center is helping vulnerable individuals to get help form the government in terms of resources.

The charity organization as the name suggest was launched with an aim of providing the society with an avenue to have problems solved through societal groupings by the government. The goal of the entity is alleviation of public suffering by availing avenues of the public or society to access government help especially in terms of funding and other available resources. Such funding is essential for development of avenues for groups to make a livelihood for themselves. It also aids their families, who also reap from the benefits of funding by the government

Such funding is essential for the overall growth of the economy of the country given that it contributes to the revenues accrued to the government in the form of taxes. Groups in need of government funding are able to start enterprises and thus create employment for other people who might be non-members of the group. Such is essential because it plays a significant role in the alleviation of poverty for the society.

Tazhon Charity Group is essentially a small group made up of seven office workers. The goal of the organization is to serve the public and other groupings through charitable activities. I applied for voluntary community service with the intention of availing my expertise to give services to the charity group and to the community at large. The placement at the community center was essentially through an application to the head office of the organization with a request to avail my services to them.

The organization is considered a separate entity and exists with an individual identity. The organizational structure is essentially identical to that of a private organization, in that, there are individuals delegated with tasks identical to those within a private organization. The individuals despite their small numbers represent departments such as those in the private organizations. In addition, there was also an evident hierarchal structure within the organization.

The values of the organization are to ensure that the community benefits given that the organization is a non-profitable venture. However, as a non-profit making entity, the organization is bound by law to conduct itself with utmost professionalism and ensure that it executes its tasks in accordance with laws provided for under the charitable organizations act. In addition, the organization does not have activities, which generate funds for operations, and other activities of the organization.

The organizational activities are numerous given that it is aimed at alleviating public suffering through initiation of projects, which can help people. Essentially the organization could be described as a social service group given that it focuses mainly on social services for the betterment of the community.

Individual Experiences

My first day at the office was equally exciting and challenging because of the new duties and responsibilities, which were delegated to me. Ms. Guozhen Lv was equally helpful given that she is in charge of running the office and coordination of tasks and other activities of the organization. She was extremely helpful in that she told me of my duties during my period within the organization. She also enlightened me on the operations organization and how the charitable activities are conducted by the organization.

My first day at the organization was a positive one, as I was able to handle the delegated tasks with utmost professionalism and efficiency. I was tasked with conducting analyses through the computer by evaluating and entering the data provided in the computer applications such as Microsoft Excel, which gives detailed analyses of information, provided.

Social work activities are numerous as the problems in society are diverse given that different people have different problems. In addition, the task of a social worker is to ensure that the society or community can access services availed to them for the betterment of their lives, as well as the community in general. I am tasked with maintaining professional relationships with the users of the social services by helping the users to maximize their use of the services available. In addition, as a social worker I am tasked with acting as a critical friend to users of the services by helping them in their critical decision making processes for sensitive matters, which would require interventions by the authorities.

The social work in the organization was unique because the legislation provided enables the social worker to travel to the geographical location of the user. The settings of the social work depend in that the services could be offered in the user’s premises such as homes, schools, premises of employment of users of the social services. The activities, which characterized the organization, were identical to other charitable of social services organizations. The workers in the organizations are tasked with dealing with young offenders. Young offenders or delinquents are usually regarded as a social problem, which should be dealt using the appropriate approach to ensure that this problem dealt with appropriately. If such issues are not addressed, this would result in high numbers of delinquents and eventually an increase in crime.

In addition, as a social worker, meeting and dealing with individuals with mental illnesses was my job. Mental illness is a disease which society has failed to address given that people usually castigate individuals ailing with mental illnesses. They are usually unattended to and discriminated against by the society. Furthermore, they are not given adequate medical attention which they need direly to alleviate their conditions or make the conditions relatively bearable.

My tasks as a social worker were to deal with individuals who are addicted to alcohol use and abuse. Alcohol use is devastating to the society, in that, it results in reduced productivity. Reduced productivity translates to reduced development of the community and the country at large. Therefore, social services are vital in establishing social stability by alleviating alcohol consumption problems which reduce productivity and could result in an eventual death of the affected individual. The organization has adequate mechanisms and resources from the government that could be availed to groups to enable them alleviate drinking problems among other members of the community.

Other activities included helping the needy in society such as individuals without employment, individuals without means of support, elderly individuals and homeless people. All these classifications of people in the community have distinct problems, which are unique to the individual.

All of the outlined activities were essential in ensuring that I was able to get first hand experience in relation to my major. I was tasked with evaluations and analyses, which are part of my major in social sciences. In addition, the tasks in the analysis included undertaking assessments and recording of the same in the computer application files as well as in hardcopy records to indicate the operations we undertook over the different days. This is essential, in that, it enables us within the organization to meet strict deadlines and timescales provided for the benefits of the community and users of the community programs. In my line of study, I learnt of the need to work efficiently and effectively with adherence to the timelines provided for the various tasks to be executed by the individuals within the organization.

In addition, I also learnt of the need to conduct interviews on the users of the various services provided by the organization. This is essential in arriving at conclusions and identification of the needs of the user, which vary from one user of the service to another. This is vital as it enables the formulation of relevant approaches, which would help the users of services with adequacy.

In addition, counseling is one of the most vital duties of community service. Hence, it is paramount as a community service or social worker to ensure that one builds rapport with users of the services. This is essential since the users of the services are able to confide in the counselor about delicate and sensitive issues. Such should not be used as a means for blackmail, but should be used to ensure that the user with the identified problems can access ample services for the alleviation of an identified problem.

Furthermore, if the organization is unable to solve user problems then it establishes contact with other agencies, which might be able to solve the unique problems. In the social services sector, problems are distinct from one user to another. An agency might be unable to solve a certain problem but could use the available contacts with other agencies, which are in a position to help the users of the services. Referring users to other agencies is essential in letting them understand that their problems are part of life and could be solved if they are dedicated to having the problems solved.

The need to refer the service user to another agency is part of ensuring that the user is able access adequate help for an individual problem. In addition, as a social worker some circumstances necessitate decision making on behalf of the service user. This is important if the service user is unable to make an independent choice with regard to the individual position or circumstances.

Defining moments

Among the most memorable moments was on May 15 2012 during the “5.15 Public Welfare Day” where all the social service agencies, as well as other charitable organizations, hold public donations. This day was initiated into the public calendar in the year 2009. It is aimed at enhancing philanthropy and encouraging alleviation of social problems and with reference to poverty within modern societies.

This day was essential in enhancing my knowledge about the role of charitable organizations in the society given that they are aimed at availing resources to people in vulnerable situations. In addition, during this day we ware able to appeal for donations from the public via the organization. The availed donations would prove to be essential in that they would be directed towards people classified as poor in the community. The donations also incorporated the presence of the government officials who were able to participate adequately in the event. This was mainly because the event was conducted inside in the government building.

In addition, the event was essential for enhancing my experience, as well as, it enabled me to interact with the numerous government and private sector officials. Their involvement was also essential as they participated actively thus indicating to the public the importance of the public donations in the alleviation of the vulnerable conditions, which the poor people were exposed. I was able to assist my supervisor in conduct of her duties as well as other tasks, which were delegated to the organization by the public officers. This was essential, as it reaffirmed my passion in social services work. I was extremely excited and satisfied at the end of the event given that we were able to collect a lot of donations from the public. In addition, this reaffirmed the presence of enormous public goodwill to give to those who are vulnerable in society.

On 23^rd May 2012, I was involved in the most life-changing event. This was essential as it opened my options in public service. I was involved in a public sale, which I was able to initiate after convincing my supervisors about the idea and its benefits. We initiated the sale by informing the public through the media of the intentions of holding a public sale with the aim of raising funds for helping the poor in the community. This action resulted in the delivery of numerous items ranging from foodstuffs, books, clothing, and other household items which we were to sell to the public and use the funds for donation purposes.

After receipt of the goods, we were able to start a street sale where we sold the items. In the street sale, I put up a banner, which read as follows “Love donation? Come and Help Powerless People”. The initiation of the project was difficult because of the notion that there was a possibility of failure. However, the public was activity involved by making numerous purchases of the merchandise, which was on display. The day was extremely busy given that this was my first day to make a public sale of any item in my entire life. I was proud of my role in availing new funds from the sale, which were essentially helpful in facilitating the operations of the organization. In addition, the fund collected proved to be important in that they would go a long way in alleviating the problems of people.

On May 26, 2012, we were able to establish contact with some schools as an organization to inform them of the organizational intention of visiting a local gerocomiumin. This activity was aimed at visiting the elderly people of the community. This is essential in making the feel appreciated and loved by the community. The students and the school administration accepted the offer and were able to arrive at the office premises with ample gifts for the elderly people in the gerocomiumin. After arrival, the children were able to interact actively with the elderly individuals in the institution. This was an emotional moment because of the joy of the elderly people towards their interaction with their grandchildren. The children initiated lively performances through play and dance for entertaining the elderly people. They were also engaged in games with the children to make them feel loved and cared for by the society

I was able to enhance my organizational skills, which were poor when I arrived at the charity center from this visit to the gerocomiumin. I was moved by the visit to the gerocomiumin because of the facial expressions of the elderly people when we arrived. They were extremely happy when we visited them making them feel valued and cared for by those around them in the society. In addition, I was able to understand of the need to care and love those whoa are elderly as they played a significant role in nurturing people like us in society.

Another moment, which I could simply describe as transformational happened on the 28 May 2012. I was appointed as the assistant of my supervisor who had visited a local hospital for official matters. She was able to negotiate for a start up of a fund for a group of patients ailing with uremia. Part of the money receivable from the government was to be allocated to the fund. This is essential, in that, the fund would enable individuals ailing with the chronic disease to cater for their medical and other treatment costs in the hospital. The simple act of creation of a fund for chronically ill patients was a vital learning phase given that I understood the magnitude of the presence of charitable institutions in any society. The presence of such is essential as it is aimed at alleviation of public suffering.

We were able to set up a fund, which was eventually allocated RMB 600,000 by the organization, which is essentially money donated by the government. In addition, we were able to subsidize the costs of treatment of the patients ailing with uremia given the high costs of treatment of the disease. From this visit to the hospital, I was able to acquire some negotiation skills and knowledge, which is essential given the line of my studies and eventual career. I was also able to learn of the procedures involved in establishing contact and an eventual relationship with other organization such as hospitals for charitable purposes.

Recommendations

I would highly recommend the organization to other students who seek involvement in charitable and other social services activities. This is because of the information, skills and experience gained within the short stay at the organization. This would prove to be essential to enhancing the individual skills towards organizing oneself in conduct of management activities. In the organization, I was able to understand the need for the involvement of the public in the various social service projects initiated by the charitable institutions in the community.

Importance of Placements for WSOM Students

Community service placements are among the most important phases for the WSOM students given the need to gain skills from such placements. In addition, it is essential for students to understand of the dynamics involved in charitable organizations given the need by the society for other organizations to be involved in charitable activities irrespective of their stature in society. In addition, all organizations are tasked with social responsibilities given that their existence is attributable to the existence of the society whoa are the drivers of growth of the organization.

In addition, the experience could be simply termed as transformation because of the individual experience in helping the poor and the elderly and other vulnerable individuals in the community. I was able to learn of the power of charity in transforming the lives of individuals. Such an experience is essential for the students of WSOM in that they would be able to learn and appreciate the presence of charitable organizations in the alleviation of suffering among the people in the society.

The involvement of the public in the society is essential for those in need of charitable actions or simply those who are disadvantaged in the society. In addition, it is also essential for students to understand of their roles as part of the public in helping those who could be simply termed as vulnerable individuals in the society due to variable circumstances or problems. In addition, as a management student, they would also learn of the need to have adequate interpersonal, relational skills for operation with numerous people in the public.

Interpersonal skills are vital in the field of management as they are actualized in the negotiation processes. This is evident from the negotiation process in which my supervisor was involved with the medical institution officials for the establishment of a fund for patients ailing with uremia.

Conclusion

In conclusion, I was able to acquire strong skills from the short-lived experience in the organization. I was able to acquire skills in relating with people in the society and to approach people with delicate problems. In addition, I was managed to acquire better skills in organizational functions and the execution of vital tasks within the organization. Furthermore, I also learnt of the need for respect towards the elderly who have played a significant role in modeling the current generation of the population. In essence, the placement at the organization enabled me to have a clarified view of charitable organizations and users of social services.