International social work: chapter 3 concepts

International Social Work

Through the evocative power of animation, directors Kez Margrie and Derek Jessome have created two immensely powerful short films which both capture the plight of impoverished children and highlight the crucial importance of social work in aiding the underserved. Jessome's Walking Through Wonderland employs a vividly surreal style to express the bewilderment which confronts the newly homeless, as well as the sense of community which is fostered by shared misfortune. In her series of shorts entitled The Wrong Trainers, Margrie presents a collection of British children living in poverty, each representing a societal ill which has produced a generation of youth who are struggling simply to survive. While both filmmakers craft unique visions and seek to advance distinctive messages, the theme which is present throughout each film is a direct call for assistance through the focused deployment of qualified social workers. By combining poignantly tragic imagery with stark statistical evidence that "84% of families with a disabled child are in debt" (Margrie, 2007) and "youth are the fastest growing sector of the homeless population" (Jessome, 2010), both directors are successful in calling attention to the dilemma posed by widespread economic hardship. Each film compels its audience to share the pain and frustration of the characters portrayed, promoting the sense of empathy which has always been the natural precursor to concerted social work around the world.

As has been the case for centuries, when financial hardship strikes the whole of a society, it is the disadvantaged classes such as youth or minorities who will inevitably shoulder the majority of the suffering. The concept of social work as both a meaningful pursuit and a true profession emerged during the dawn of the 20th century, as societies across the globe were confronted with the dire social consequences of rapid industrialization. As crushing poverty became endemic throughout the working classes of the United States, Europe and Asia, the call for organized social aid and education was answered by dedicated individuals interested in transforming the spirit of volunteerism into a systemic effort to advance social work. When the Institute for Social Work Training was created in Amsterdam in 1899, "five fields of study were offered: welfare of the poor, housing management & #8230; settlement house management, child care for orphans and deserted children, and social work in factories" (Healy, 2001, p. 21). In order to properly assist the most disadvantaged members of society, "family services, settlement houses and assistance to orphans, widows, immigrants, and young working women sprang up in response to harsh employment conditions" (Healy, 2001, p. 20). From its infancy, the field of social work was designed to administer aid and assistance to groups too often exploited and ignored; the youth and the working poor.