The Details on Security Change After 9/11

The word â€Å"cliche† is sure to have been used hundreds if not thousands of times for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in September 11, 2001 or commonly known as 9/11. The meaning of 9/11 first on the domestic scene is that America joined the ranks of those that suffered the brunt of terrorism for decades such as the United Kingdom, Germany and Italy. America lost â€Å"its innocence† since this terrorist incident is of greater magnitude compared to the World Trade Center bombing in February 1993 or in terms of the socio-political impact, it really brought home the message that â€Å"no one is safe.† On the global scale, 9/11 meant that even a superpower or the â€Å"only superpower† can fall prey to a low-intensity type of warfare known as terrorism. It prove that such an act can affect economic and market outputs considering that it weakened the stock exchange and flights were cancelled for a few days throughout the United States. 9/11 also redefined the meaning of terrorism and â€Å"holds lesson for other states, not just America, by demonstrating the U.S. resolve and ability to remove regimes that harbor or sponsor terrorism, 9/11should have strengthened the deterrent message to governments that would contemplate aiding terrorists. (Knopf, 2002)† It showed that whether it is state-sponsored terrorism or ideological group-led terrorism like Al-Qaeda, governments and nations of the world must unite to battle this modern-day organized plague. In response to 9/11, the U.S. government implemented the Patriot Act of 2001 or completely known as â€Å"†Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001. This piece of legislation contains sections that defines and effects controls and measures in the fight against terrorism such as: Enhancing domestic security against terrorism; International money laundering abatement and anti-terrorist financing; Removing obstacles to investigating terrorism; Providing for victims of terrorism, public safety officers and their families; Increased information sharing for critical infrastructure protection; Strengthening the criminal laws against terrorism; and Besides the Patriot Act, 9/11 brought about the existence of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through House Resolution 5005 and whose major mandate is to prevent terrorist attacks within and reduce the vulnerability to terrorism of the United States. Since DHS became the focal point of the U.S. response to terrorism some major government agencies were transferred to the DHS. One of the major outputs of the DHS is coming out with the National Response Plan (NRP) in December 2004 (DHS, 2004). The NRP â€Å"is an all-discipline, all-hazards plan that establishes a single, comprehensive framework for the management of domestic incidents. It provides the structure and mechanisms for the coordination of Federal support to State, local, and tribal incident managers and for exercising direct Federal authorities and responsibilities. (DHS, 2004)† Having been aligned with the National Incident Management System (DHS, 2004), the NRP had more 32 signatory government departments and agencies. Although it is an incident response plan, the NRP carries policies â€Å"to protect national security, coordinates the activities of the other members of the law enforcement community to detect, prevent, preempt, and disrupt terrorist attacks against the United States. This includes actions to prevent, preempt, and disrupt specific terrorist threats or actual incidents that are based upon specific intelligence or law enforcement information. (DHS, 2004)† Although brought out in general terms, the new security measures in place gives a signal to the domestic marketplace that vigilance and stricter enforcement of security rules is already in place. Trade and commerce with the United States became more stringent especially in terms of cross-border access between U.S., Mexico and Canada. On the whole, the effectiveness of the change security posture after 9/11 is being met on two fronts. One group agrees with the measures believing that it really curtails terrorist activities. On the other hand, another group declares that starting with the Patriot Act, then the rise of the Department of Homeland Security and the implementation of the National Response Plan, all these are questioned due to their singular and collective effects on rights, freedom and liberties Americans enjoy. But as in any history of the United States, the debate or division brought about by the new security measures in effect is always welcomed since this is one of the true tests of democracy – when two or more groups agree to disagree. Five years after 9/11, the full measure of the efficacy of the security policies and methods in place can only be truly gauged when a future major terrorist incident can be prevented and the perpetrators captured – only then can some of the â€Å"questionable human rights violation measures† can be vindicated! But for now, we can only â€Å"hope and pray† that such incident will not happen again or else another event that would live in infamy would be in our midst.

The Hunger Project In Ghana Environmental Sciences Essay

Ghana is rich in natural resources and has one of the strongest emerging economic systems in Africa. Ghana is quickly urbanizing. Despite this, most of Ghana ‘s hapless unrecorded in rural countries without basic services such as wellness attention and clean H2O, entree to recognition loan installations, basic instruction. Small-scale husbandmans, who are affected most by rural poorness in Ghana, depended on out-of-date agriculture tools and deficiency entree to improved seeds and fertilisers to increase harvest outputs. Like Caritas in Sierra Leone, The Hunger Project ( THP ) , was founded in 1977, in the aftermath of the lifting argument on universe hungriness triggered by the first Rome World Food Conference. Compared with Sierra Leone, NGOs presence in the state was as a consequence of the merely concluded war, Ghana on the other manus has non experience war but yet its citizens live below the poorness line. It should be noted that, the battle against poorness or the schemes implemented by NGOs to contend poorness and their targeted donees varies from NGOs to NGOs, part to part. The Hunger Project has been working in Ghana since 1995 and is authorising 250,000 spouses in 40 epicentre communities to stop their ain hungriness and poorness. Through its incorporate attack to rural development, the Epicenter Strategy, The Hunger Project is working with spouses to successfully entree the basic services needed to accomplish the Millennium Development Goals ( MDGs ) and lead lives of autonomy. 3.5.1- GENERAL ACTIVITIES OF THP Success physiques on success is the chief focal point of THP in Africa is mobilising people at the grassroots degree to be autonomy is a general concern of the THP and their chief mark groups are adult females and youth the marginalized in today ‘s society. Hunger Project strategies seek to construct people ‘s capacities, leading and assurance. They developing of adult females and work forces, fiting them with the accomplishments, methods and cognition needed to take autonomous actions to better their lives and conditions in their communities have been the undertaking of THP for a decennary period now. The Vision, Commitment and Action Workshop ( VCAW ) are the first phase set for rural communities to be autonomous. This has produced good figure donees in THP operational zones. The preparation of community or local energizers and their mobilisation procedure have become the flicker stopper for local action. As people take more significant action, THP provides accomplishments preparations in literacy, numeracy, nutritionA and local Torahs. The organize people into self-help groups to derive a stronger voice are behind their success narratives.Analysis OF NGOs ROLE AND APPROACH TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION4.0.3- NGOs ROLES: HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE/ RELIEF SERVICE AN APPROACH TO POVERTY ALLEVIATIONIn this stage, the function played by NGOs during exigencies, like war, and some natural catastrophes, will be assessed and analyzed. Relief service is one of NGOs speedy intercession countries, in the universe. However, one should hold the realisation that human-centered aid, is offer during exigencies, and that it is short live. These aid include: the proviso of Non-food points, like apparels, hard-on of cantonments as shelter for displaced or returnees, vulnerable, every bit good as victims, free medical installations, proviso of free instruction and skill preparation, proviso of nutrient, either all ready procedure, or through the battle of the donees in some agricultural activities, and nutrient points, formed the alleviation service programme. In position of the definition of human-centered aid or alleviation services, below is an analysis, of the alleviation programme implemented by two NGOs in Sub-Saharan Africa. Three major sectors which alleviation services ever focuses on are to be discussed below and these include: Agriculture, Health and Education. 4.2.1 AGRICULTURAL SECTOR ( Case surveies THP and Caritas The study highlights the agricultural plan, implemented by Caritas Sierra Leone, in Sierra Leone in the Eastern Region in three Districts. In the 2003-2004 Cropping Season supported by Caritas Germany Donor, The Caritas Germany plan supported 1110 farm households through Caritas Sierra Leone in the Kenema District. So far four major activities have been undertaken to implement agribusiness programme. These are: Base line Survey Input Distribution Monitoring Field Extension The program of activities was prepared by the Field Supervisor and the Agricultural supervisor and presented to the Administrative Officer for blessing. The base line study was done by the Field Extension Workers ( FEW ) . Besides, the bringing of Extension Service ( which is ongoing ) is being undertaken by the FEW. The Monitoring exercising is being undertaken by the targeted communities in January/February 2004. 4.2.2 BASELINE SURVEY The Baseline Survey/ Farms Registration were done in all the targeted communities in January/ February2004. The husbandmans targeted were chiefly farm household caputs shacking in either relocated communities of IDP cantonments in the targeted chiefdoms. Certain standards were use 500 to select/register the husbandmans including the followers: That merely the Farm Family Head is listed down That precedence is given to the most vulnerable, such as those who are husbandmans but have no entree to basic production inputs such as seeds/planting stuffs and tools. That the Farm Family Head has a minimal household labour force to cultivate at least two estates of land. That the Farm Family Heads have entree to free piece of land to cultivate in the vicinity. Precedence was besides given to adult females and widow Headed Farm Families. The donees in Nongowa and Dama Chiefdom in the Kenema District were registered and served in the internally displaced locations i.e. in relocated village/town communities. A fixed Farm Family instance burden of 200 was allocated for all relocated communities and 100 farm household from each cantonment in every mark Chiefdom. However, the figure of communities per Chiefdom was hot fixed. Few communities were selected from Chiefdoms with big towns/villages e.g. Nongowa, and more from little Chiefdoms with smaller towns/ small towns e.g. Dodo.5.2.3 INPUT DISTRIBUTIONTHE Caritas programme provided assorted types of Agriculture inputs for the 1100 targeted farm households. These were seed rice, tools and seting stuffs ( sweet murphy vine and cassava film editings ) The day of the month of the input distribution started in the 13th June 2001 and ended on the 29th July 2001.an analysis of the input distribution is given in the tabular array below.4.2.4 Monitoring AND ExtensionThe monitoring exercising started since 30th July2001. The targeted communities ( including displaced cantonments ) the Nongowa, Dodo and Small Bo Chiefdoms are being visited. The motivation fundamentally is to happen out How far the FEW were able to successfully present the inputs to the donees. The Extent of extended services being delivered to the husbandmans. How far the donees have been able to properly grip and use the inputs received services render them by FEW. Reasonable histories can now be given to the undermentioned activities. Timely conductivity of Base line study. Successful bringing and distribution of all inputs provided for the donees. The husbandman s accepted and described the inputs as good. Cultivation of the seeds and seting stuffs provided for the husbandmans now in advancement. Transplant of seeds rice had been completed in most of the farms. The cassava film editings and murphy vines had besides been planted. All three ( 3 ) harvests were shooting good.4.2.5 CROP PRODUCTIONThe harvests cultivated by the targeted donees included highland and IVS rice, maize, manioc, and miscellaneous veggies. Entire land area cultivated for each of the harvest by farm households and by all the donees combined is shown below: The undertaking end product was used in several ways by the husbandmans. The crop from the seed rice was used for place ingestion, refund of seed loans, proviso of seed stock for subsequent planting season and gross revenues. The harvest signifier manioc, maize, and veggies were used for gross revenues, place ingestion and seed seting stock. The sale of some of the crop allowed the husbandmans obtained money to run into other family demands to better on their societal economic position. The grain shops are soon being used for hive awaying agricultural inputs and seeds. In 2004/05, some constituent was formed under the agricultural sector. For this constituent, 25 Liberian refugees ‘ farm households were identified and registered. Shown in the tabular array below, the demographic profile of the donees ( household caputs ) .4.2.6 SEED LOAN RECOVERYFarmers were supplying with seed rice on the status that after harvest the same measure that was received will be paid. An estimation of 95 % of seed burden recovery was achieved. The seed tonss were collected in all communities covered. The loans collected were deposited into seed bank established in the several communities. These loans allow communities have stock of seeds from which seed loans could be obtained by interested community members for future planting season. See full detailed analysis on the seed loan below. THP, on its portion, has similar agribusiness programmes, organized for community engagement. Increasing Food Security Malawi is a state that is prone to natural catastrophes, enduring from both utmost drouths to heavy rain falls. As a consequence, the nutrient supply state of affairs in Malawi remains rickety. To this terminal, The Hunger Project-Ghana empowers and supports husbandmans with preparations and stuffs to increase and diversify their nutrient production. In these catastrophe prone countries, a cardinal component of the Epicenter Strategy is the community nutrient Bankss. The Hunger Project-Malawi has besides inaugurated a system of land irrigation to increase and diversity nutrient production. The Hunger Project-Ghana in 2005 sceptered and supported husbandmans with preparations and stuffs to increase and diversify their nutrient production. While Benin does non endure from major drouths or inundations, there is however a great deficit of nutrient. Food Bankss at the epicentre, small town and family degrees help communities remain nutrient secure in instance of a deficit. The Hunger Project-Ghana late launched a pilot undertaking, The Food Production Contest, which has successfully catalyzed spouses ‘ committedness to the terminal of hungriness in poorness by increasing stocks in community nutrient Bankss.4.2.7 EDUCATIONAL SECTOR( a ) -Skills Training This sub-project was initiated with the purpose of authorising Refugee Youths between 17-35 old ages to go an plus to their communities and doing pregnant parts to the development of their several communities whether they return. Trainees were identified among the Liberian Refugees population in coaction with the Liberian Executive and developing garb was rented at No. 18 Sesay Street, Sierra Leone, where the undermentioned accomplishments options were conducted: Tailoring, Gara Tie Dyeing, Soap production, Hair Dressing, Carpentry and Small Engine care. Quality preparation stuffs were produced and made available to the Centre for the different accomplishments through the Liberian Executive. Educational Officer In coaction with the Liberian Executives, Caritas Sierra Leone pointed Educational Officer registered 820 Liberian Refugee pupils for support in 2004/05 academic twelvemonth. 481 of these were supported in the primary schools out of which 245 were male childs and 236 were misss. 339 secondary school pupils were supported out of which 231 were male childs and 108 misss. As seen in the tabular array, above 63 % of the primary school pupils supported are between the ages 6-11yrs while 37 % are above 12 old ages. Of the 302 pupils under 12 old ages, 153 ( 51 % ) are boys and 149 ( 49 % ) are girls. Of the 179 pupils over 11 old ages, 90 ( 50 % ) are boys and 89 ( 50 % ) are misss. An estimation of 58 % of the secondary school pupils supported is between the ages 12-17 old ages and 42 % are above 17 old ages. Below is the distribution of the pupils harmonizing to age and class: Among the 339 refugee pupils supported and between 12-17 old ages, 126 ( 63 % ) are boys and 40 ( 28 % ) are misss. A sum of 110 refugee ( grownups ) registered for the Adult Literacy Program ( 52 males and 58 females ) and were all distributed to the assorted degree of the plan harmonizing to their output/progress. Out of this sum ( 110 ) , 70 ( 64 % ) are between 15-24 old ages and 40 ( 36 % ) are 25+ old ages. The library continued to supply utile services to refugee school kids, largely those in secondary who could non buy the prescribed reading stuffs in their schools. A sum of 1,829 pupils visited the library during the twelvemonth. Similarly, THP – Ghana has of all time since embarked on Promoting Education in Ghana ‘s eastern part. This portion of the state history for the highest degree of illiteracy. Adult and child literacy plans conducted in local and national linguistic communications are being carried out in more than 30 literacy centres in The Hunger Project-Ghana ‘s eastern part plan countries. The local authorities continues to back up The Hunger Project-Ghana with instructors and stuffs. In an attempt to guarantee that girl kids stay in school, The Hunger Project-Ghana implemented a Mother ‘s Club which sensitizes adult females to the benefits of directing misss to school. The plan has seen noteworthy consequences such as a decrease in local kid trafficking every bit good as an addition in literacy rates. 4.2.8 HEALTH SECTOR PRIMARY HEALTH CARE SERVICES- HIV/AIDS PREVENTION 2002-2008 The Caritas Sierra Leone Health undertook the Primary Health Care programme, uses the undermentioned attacks in the HIV/AIDS bar Education Strategy: Sponsoring immature instrumentalists to compose vocals turn toing HIV/AIDS prevention/ attention and stigma ; Working through adult females ‘s groups such as Hunbgtateh Women ‘s Association in Kenema Town which conduct preparation in assorted accomplishment aiming dropouts, commercial sex workers, miss female parent, and female supported family ; Preventing HIV/AIDS bar through Audio-Visual shows, talk and function drama to establishments TBA ‘s, female parents an clinics yearss, young persons and grownup in the communities etc ; and Using the platform of World Aids Day for HIV/AIDS sensitisation activities. 4.2.9 CLINIC ACTIVITIES A entire figure of 172,145 Liberian refugees patient received intervention between March 2001 and May 2003 at Caritas supported clinics in the Kenema District. The reported clinical mortality rate was 0.14 % that is, 155 under five and 123 grownups. Malaria leads with 30 % of Acute Respiratory Infection ( ARI ) and pneumonia, 10 % of adult females infestation, 80 % skin infection, 17 % diarrhoae and dysentery, 6 % anaemia, and 5 % of Sexually Transmitted Infection ( STI ) . Maternal and Child Health Aids assigned by the Ministry of Health and Sanitation to the 30 clinics constructed and supported by Caritas in the Kenema District assisted in 2,683 bringings 22 were maternal deceases and five 100s and 20 unnatural bringing were reported from the clinics. The Traditional Birth Attendants ( TBAs ) reported 2,476 normal were trained in the Kenema District and given obstetrics supplied by UNICEF. In Ghana eastern part, similar wellness plants are done by THP. THP in Ghana, through the creative activity of the Epicenters in the part, these wellness centres provide primary wellness attention and immunisations. They besides teach work forces and adult females how to better their wellness and hygiene. The Hunger Project-Ghana in 2003 has pioneered a household Planning and Nutritional Monitoring Community Dialogue Project in an attempt to continue the wellness of both adult females and kids in the community. When births are spread out, kids are constantly healthier and adult females have more clip and energy to put in their income-generating activities. In Ghana eastern part, where there is a high prevalence of HIV/AIDS and malaria, and in 2004, 3,000 anti-malaria bed cyberspaces were distributed among 3,000 community people. The Hunger Project-Ghana, conducts preparation of traditional birth attenders, as in the instance of Caritas Sierra Leone, mobilizes energizers to supply bed-nets and implements HIV/AIDS voluntary guidance and proving plans in epicentre communities. More than 215,000 people have participated in THP-Ghana ‘s HIV/AIDS and Gender Inequality Workshop.[ 1 ] In the battle against malaria, Hunger Project energizers are enrolled as community drug distributers who are trained by the authorities and given malaria drugs to administer. Detailed records are kept of which spouses have received cyberspaces and accessed malaria intervention drugs. WATER AND SANITATION PROJECT Thirty new Wellss were constructed at assorted clinics location in the Kenema District. A sum of 26 old Wellss were rehabilitated profiting an norm of three 100 people per good. In add-on, four new gravitation H2O systems were complemented two at the Dodo and Nongowa Chiefdoms in the Kenema District. As mentioned in above, NGOs functions are diverse in nature. In this subdivision of the work, the issue of microfinance is capable of treatment every bit THP as in the instance of Caritas will be use as a instance survey to show the functions of NGOs as related to microfinance.Part TWO4.3.0. NGOs Function: MICROFINANCE AN APPROACH TO POVERTY ALLEVIATIONIs it clear that rendering human-centered aid to the hapless is a good thing, but non warrant, as these alleviation services are offer merely during exigency period, for illustration if there is war, drouth, civil agitation, and when natural catastrophe occurred in a given vicinity. It has its ain advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, if NGOs purpose is to relieve poorness in Sub-Saharan Africa, they should airt their development function particularly in states where no war has taken topographic point like Ghana. Redirecting their dockets can besides assist in refocusing people ‘s head from doing problems and do them concentra te. This of class, could merely be achieved if people particularly marginalized young persons and adult females, the voiceless are to the full engaged in plants that are profitable and could do them autonomy. â€Å" An idle encephalon they say is a Satan ‘s workshop † . As antecedently explained, in order to relieve poorness, The Hunger Project has used microfinance like many other NGOs, as an attack and mechanism to assist contend poorness in Ghana other sub- Saharan African states do besides hold microfinance operation. Microfinance plans have been embraced around the universe as an of import scheme for poorness relief. Surveies have demonstrated that the poorness relief impacts of microfinance services include making the hapless, raising their economic wellbeing every bit good as authorising them, particularly adult females ( Ashe, 2000 ; Todd, 2000 ; Fisher, 2002 ; Khandker, 2002 ; Robinson, 2002 ; Simanowitz, 2002 ; Snodgrass, 2002 ) . Over the last decennary the microfinance field has expanded well both in footings of figure of establishments and the size of establishments. Microfinance is an effectual tool that is been used by NGOs to cut down poorness in the rural hapless. Microfinance is the proviso of fiscal services to the hapless who do non hold entree to capital and fiscal services Kosiura, K 2001. A more precise definition describes microfinance as the proviso of appropriate fiscal services to important Numberss of low-income, economically active people with an terminal aim to relieve poorness ( Ledger wood, 1998 ) . Fiscal services can include one or any combination of the undermentioned: loaning, nest eggs, insurance, pension/retirement and payment services. Increasingly mature MFIs besides provide diverse products-housing loans ( chiefly betterments, fix and care ) , insurance ( both wellness and life insurance ) , and private pensions. Microfinance is besides often combined with the proviso of societal and concern development services, such as literacy preparation, instruction on wellness issues, direction or accounting preparation. The function of microfinance for development attempts in black Africa, peculiarly for poorness relief has been important. Supplying hapless people with entree to fiscal services are seen to cut down capital market deformations to except the hapless, cut down exposure by supplying the hapless with fiscal resources when needed, and chances for income-generating activities. In Sierra Leone, for case, the Agricultural Bank established by the authorities to be crediting husbandmans and pay in subsequent harvest home season was closed during the war and since after that the authorities has non being reestablished and husbandmans to day of the month are constrained with the issue of money Microfinance enables clients to protect, diversify and increase their income, every bit good as to roll up assets, cut downing their exposure to income and ingestion dazes ( Robison, 2002 ) . The solidarity group loaning methodological analysiss common in microfinance, aid increase the assurance of the hapless ( particularly adult females ) , authorising them to more efficaciously confront inequalities ; ( Ashe, 2000 ; Todd, 2000 ; Fisher, 2002, Khandker, 2002 ; Robinson, 2002 ; Simanowitz, 2002 ; Snodgrass, 2002 ) . The handiness of fiscal services has proven to be a critical factor in cut downing poorness and its effects, uncovering positive consequences on nutrition, instruction, wellness, gender equity, agribusiness and the environment ( Littlefield, 2003 ) . MFIs include all types of entities that provide microfinance services. MFIs scope from non-governmental organisations ( NGOs ) to regulated fiscal establishments such as non-bank fiscal establishments, commercial Bankss, recognition brotherhoods and province Bankss ( Christen & A ; Drake, 2001 ) . They are by and large guided and defined by two viing paradigms: fiscal self-sustainability and poorness relief.[ 2 ] The poorness relief attack ( besides referred to the welfare-statist attack ) claims that the overall ends of micro-finance should be poverty decrease and authorization. Such MFIs are rather expressed in their focal point on instantly bettering the well being of participants. Harmonizing to Woller ( 2000 ) , their nonsubjective tends to be self-employment of the poorer among the economically active hapless, particularly adult females, whose control of modest additions in income and nest eggs is assumed to authorise them to better the conditions of life for themselves and their kids. Within this paradigm, there are a group of feminist authorization writers that emphasize adult females ‘s economic, societal and political authorization. While microfinance is seen by these writers as an of import manner to react to the immediate practical demands of hapless informal sector adult females workers, it is seen as lone portion of a scheme for wider societal and political authorization o f adult females which, in bend, is seen as indispensable to sustained additions in income ( Mayoux, 1998 ) . In the point of view of THP, edifice and strengthening of the adult females ‘s administration and other marginalized people who formed Self-Help Groups are the footing of microfinance development. Through these community groups, the hapless cultivates their spirit of common cooperation and construct corporate actions. In relation to this attack, community facilitators and energizers as in the instance of THP, encourage people to set up themselves. THP put the constitution of CGs as a first and chief measure in the attempts to assist the hapless to be autonomous and battle against poorness. When these CGs are established, THP provides human resource preparation for the members of the group particularly on how to make nest eggs and recognition activities. It is a measure to be passed by all the members before they learn how to make concern activities. In other words, THP develops nest eggs and recognition activity as a footing for heightening micro concern, and to make micro concern. To accomplish this end, THP has established epicentres to ease their micro finance programme. In analysis, THP ‘s microfinance programme in Ghana eastern part is analyzed as follow between the old ages 2000-2006. Within 2000-2002, The Hunger Project has distributed USD $ 1,279,841 in loans to a sum of 3,917 spouses in their epicentre communities. The current cumulative refund rate bases at 87.23 per centum. In 2003-2004, The Hunger Project has distributed US $ 405,785 in microloans to 14,785 spouses, with an mean loan size of $ 68. There are three government-recognized rural Bankss that are runing in three autonomous epicentre communities. Through its microfinance plan, in 2005, The Hunger Project has distributed US $ 688,134 in microloans to 7,695 spouses.[ 3 ] The twelvemonth 2006, was THP ‘s immense fiscal expense. The Hunger Project has distributed USD $ 1,279,841 in loans to a sum of 3,917 spouses in their epicentre communities. The current cumulative refund rate bases at 87.23 per centum. Form the above, it is a clear grounds demoing how THP ‘s microfinance programme is an effectual agencies of relieving poorness, as there micro finance has capacitated the local communities to transport out their agriculture activities and make some nest eggs which subsequently would be of usage for small-scale concerns. The intent of microfinance is to authorise the marginalized in community, to do small nest eggs and besides to utilize the money given by givers to set about some little graduated table concern, and for those who are husbandmans to utilize in purchasing fertilisers, seeds, and in future be self-reliance. As human-centered services seem to be a short term end, and caters for a really few, microfinance on the other manus, screens broad scope of donees, as the money given are directed to groups and administrations, instead than single households, profiting at the disbursal of others. In modern-day times today, human-centered aid, and microfinance, ne'er seems to be plenty, as they people involved in the procedure, and donees are clump of nonreaders, and they few elect benefit most at the cost of others. The issue of Microfinance has been questioned ; this is because, microfinance, trades with banking and nest eggs procedure, therefore, if people ca n't read nor compose, the procedure can easy be fraud, as issues associating to certification is entirely in the custodies of the elite. Accountability and lucidity has ever been the job with money. African leaders are notably known for corruptness, graft and many other illegal activities, so whenever one talk of money, uncertainties are ever created in the heads of people. In a command to turn to this unfavorable judgment, NGOs have besides embark on another development function which is Capacity Building. The inquiry frequently asked by funding givers, is the capacity, and degrees of the alteration agents ( NGOs ) . Many argue that NGOs are â€Å" rawness, incompetent and incapable of covering with such proficient countries, and besides lack the expertness to manage pecuniary issues † ( Henrietta, 2007 ) . If this is no bias, so NGOs should seek so difficult to better on their proficient know-how if their ends are to be achieved. To turn to this issue of capableness, most NGOs have redirected their development schemes from alleviation services and microfinance to capacity-building and empowerment programmes. Many opined that if more pririority is put on this facet of NGOs functions, so it will still the frights of givers. In the short coming chapter, the issue of capacity- edifice and authorization would be another country of analysis to see it outcome and effectiveness in our society. 4.3.1 NGOs Functions: CAPACITY BUILDING AN APPROACH TO POVERTY ALLEVIATION Capacity -Building, as a term has late dominated NGOs vocabulary. â€Å" Teach me how to angle, instead than, given me fish every twenty-four hours † . This proverb can outdo depict what capacity edifice is all approximately. In modern-day times, divergent positions are held about the construct. Scholars are working round the clock to convey up a simple and precise definition, but till so no 1 definition is given. Some NGOs work to construct up local administrations, so that they can make more to back up local people themselves. This procedure is known as ‘capacity edifice ‘ . For case, it might include assisting little community groups come together and supply support to their members, or assisting national NGOs or authorities establishments to work better and turn. If the procedure works good, capacity edifice can assist local administrations deliver relevant services on a sustainable footing to local people ( including lobbying and helping authorization ) . Capacity Building is a procedure through which â€Å" NGOs strengthen the local communities, civil society administrations, authorities establishments, and other private establishments † . Although Lewis ( 2001, p. 69 ) argues that the NGO is an implementer and â€Å" can be engaged in supplying services to its clients through its ain programmes, † we argue, on the contrary, that NGOs, should non implement its ain plans, but instead should assist communities achieve their ain sustainable plans economic, political and societal countries. As Fowler ( 1997, p. 13 ) underscores, â€Å" facilitation is a critical facet of engagement procedure † that Southern NGOs need to larn and pattern. In a more definite term, Capacity-building is an â€Å" enterprise that focuses on the proviso of proficient support, for both NGOs for those situated in the LDCs, to assist their mark donees, and for those established in developed universe, know as Northern NGOs ( NNGOs ) , therefore enabling them to transport out their preferable ends of project-related services and protagonism † . Smillie ( 1999, p. 75 ) provides a substantial illustration. The Canadian Partnership Branch â€Å" has articulated several aims. Among them is capacity edifice in developing states: to beef up the capacity of southern organisations and establishments to do a important and sustainable development impact among the deprived communities through forming preparation programmes † ( see besides Duhu 2005, p. 44 ; Tapeline 2000, p. 40 ) . Capacity Building is much more than preparation and includes the followers Human resource development, the procedure of fiting persons with the apprehension, accomplishments and entree to information, cognition and preparation that enables them to execute efficaciously. Organizational development, the amplification of direction constructions, procedures and processs, non merely within organisations but besides the direction of relationships between the different organisations and sectors ( public, private and community ) . Institutional and legal model development, doing legal and regulative alterations to enable organisations, establishments and bureaus at all degrees, and at all sectors to heighten their capacities. Local authorities, communities and NGOs are the chief clients, but cardinal authorities and the private commercial sector besides need support. Community groups, frequently with strong NGO support, need to better their capacity to be after, form and pull off their vicinities. Departments of local authorities play an progressively of import function in enabling community groups to heighten their capacities and effectivity. There are really direct deductions for agricultural instruction in the country of human resource capacity edifice since by definition the term ( and the procedure ) has instruction, both formal and non-formal, at its nucleus. In its broadest reading, capacity edifice encompasses human resource development ( HRD ) as an indispensable portion of development. It is based on the construct that instruction and preparation prevarication at the bosom of development attempts and that without HRD most development intercessions will be uneffective. It focuses on a series of actions directed at assisting participants in the development procedure to increase their cognition, accomplishments and apprehensions and to develop the attitudes needed to convey about the coveted developmental alteration. Another indispensable mechanism for capacity edifice is partnership development. Partnerships give a local NGO entree to: cognition and accomplishments ; advanced and proved methodological analysiss ; networking and funding chances ; replicable theoretical accounts for turn toing community demands and managing resources ; options for organisational direction and administration ; and schemes for protagonism, authorities dealingss and public outreach. The Hunger Project -Ghana is one clear illustration of NGOs partnership. The Hunger Project-Uganda has been successful at making long-run partnerships with a figure of organisations. A partnership with Catholic Relief Services ( CRS ) in Kiboga Epicenter, in 2002, builds the capacity of rural spouses to fix and react to a figure of diseases impacting their chief harvest: manioc. Diseases have devastated crops and go on to endanger the nutrient security and incomes of cassava-dependent households. This four-year partnership with CRS will assist spouses to protect their crops and increase their outputs and family incomes. The Hunger Project-Ghana partnered with AFFORDS in Uganda and received 3,000 treated anti-malarial bed cyberspaces for spouses in Mpigi Epicenter. In the battle against malaria, Hunger Project energizers are enrolled as community drug distributers who are trained by the authorities and given malaria drugs to administer. By the terminal of 2002-2007 over 7,000 people received free malaria intervention in Ghana eastern part. The ideal of human development and partnership are non the lone ground for NGOs capacity edifice, but instead support has its ain instance to reason. The former can be carried out successfully, but in concurrence with support which is even the more ground for partnership. When people partnered, is either for fiscal, moral, proficient and other supports. Through NGOs local partnership, environmental sustainability could be achieved. Environmental sustainability is a basis of plan execution in The Hunger Project-Ghana epicentre communities. Many Hunger Project spouses in Ghana usage energy ranges, which cut down firewood ingestion by an norm of 60 per centum. Womans have replaced their cookery fire or three-stone ranges with more efficient clay ranges which burn less wood. In this manner, adult females do non hold to pass as much clip roll uping firewood. Efficient ranges mean less work for adult females. Capacity edifice, as a construct entails tonss of strengths, Northern NGOs may utilize their resources to beef up the capacity of Southern NGOs on many foreparts, as Duhu ( 2005, p.44 ) notes: â€Å" plan support, institutional support, proficient support, partnerships and alliances. † Skills in the country of strategic planning, and human development, for illustration, can non be overemphasized. Sadly, Lewis ( 2001, p. 158 ) argues that â€Å" in many aid-dependent contexts it is common for partnerships affecting NGOs to hold inactive character, frequently because the thought of partnership is forced in some manner. † â€Å" Capacity edifice is an terminal to itself, instead than a agencies to any other terminal † , in this context justifies that any support given to 3rd universe NGOs by northern NGOs, is a right to itself. Northern NGOs like United Nations, World Health Organisation, and any other UN related Agencies, given developing programmes like, study aut horship, accounting ; monitoring and rating and undertaking proposal/design and direction, to Sothern NGOs are illustrations of NGOs justifiable ends. However, it should be noted that effectual capacity edifice besides takes clip and depends on respectful duologue with the staff and stakeholders of the administration that is constructing itself up. From the above analyses, one could reason that NGOs are non merely ordinary societier members, but more positive histrions in the battle against poorness as demonstrated in the above analyses, and the accomplishment of the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 as prioritized by United Nations and the universe at big. The three countries of concern used as a focal point for poorness relief by NGOs, proved beyond uncertainties the effectivity and importance of NGOs in our society. Hence a research of such nature, is deserving educating.

Children’s Day Essay

Children are adorable. They are like divine gifts that parents get from the almighty. Their eyes are full of innocence. They smile when they receive love and admiration, they cry when it is their first day at school away from their parents, they giggle when they mingle with their buddies, and they signify nothing but the pure and faithful love. They truly symbolise god. 14th November is celebrated as children’s day in all over India. 14th November is also the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first prime minister of independent India. Childhood memories are sweetest of all. They can be savored for a lifetime. Children’s day celebration is fun for the little ones but it is important for the parents too. Every parent must understand the importance of the children’s day. Parents should be well aware about the little desires of their angels. Chacha Nehru’s love for children Do you know why Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s birthday is celebrated as the children’s day? Pandit Nehru was a great leader. He worked passionately for the welfare of children and youngsters soon after independence. He was keen about welfare, education, and development of children in India. He was fond of children and thus became popular as Chacha Nehru (Uncle Nehru) among his little admirers. Nehru was very particular about the progress of the Indian youth. He wanted to create responsible citizens out of young boys and girls. Under his regime he established several educational institutions including All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Indian Institutes of Technology, and Indian Institutes of Management. He included and highlighted the point in his five years plan that every child in India would get free and compulsory primary education. Over thousands of schools were built through out the villages of India when Nehru was in power. He also brought the scheme to distribute free meals and milk to school children in India to prevent malnutrition. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru himself was destiny’s child. He struggled a lot for the welfare of India. It is believed that he admired two things a lot, red roses and children. His love and passion towards children is the reason why we celebrate Children’s Day on his birthday. Why do we celebrate Children’s Day? Children’s Day celebration is the tribute to childhood. John Kennedy, 35th US president has quoted it rightly, ‘Children are the world’s most valuable resource and its best hope for the future.’ We cannot hide the fact that many children in India are not getting basic privileges like education. Many children are earning money instead of playing with toys. The true essence of children’s day is to understand the significance of childhood in our lives. The values and disciplines learned as a child are responsible for the kind of adulthood one has. Thus childhood is special and should be celebrated. Children’s Day is to remind all young and adults about children’s right to enjoy their childhood without any boundaries and to be educated adult in the future. Children’s Day is to revise the right methods of raising children. Children’s Day Celebration 20th November is Universal Children’s Day. In India lots fun activities and programs are organized on the children’s day. Children’s Day is called as ‘Bal Divas’ in Hindi. On this particular day government, NGOs (non government organisations), schools, and some private bodies conduct competitions and events for children. Various cultural programs are organized through out the schools. Special television programs for children are broadcasted on 14th November. Parents too are eager about children’s day. Some parents buy gifts for their sons and daughters. Some parents give greeting cards to their children to express their wishes on this special day. As parents we should not let this day pass as other ordinary day. It is our duty to make children’s day special for our child. You may take your child to visit some NGO or children’s home on this day. You can imbibe some precious values in him though generous acts. Your child can give away some of his belongings to other poor children. In such a way he will get to know the real significance of this day. Make every 14th November special for your child. After all, ‘Children will not remember you for the material things you provide them but for the feeling that you cherished them.’

Housing for People with Special Needs Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Housing for People with Special Needs - Essay Example The essay "Housing for People with Special Needs" summarizes the different areas of affordable housings especially associated with the low-income households. The areas covered include special housing needs of elderly and disabled households, discriminatory behaviors and the fair housing programs, home ownership, and income integration. In the real estate and mortgage market of US, the discriminatory behavior has been convicted as illegal by the federal government at all levels. Certain legislations have been made in this regard which demonstrates the illegality of the discriminatory practices in the real estate and the mortgage market including Supreme Court decision of 1948, Fair Housing Act of 1964 and lastly, the Community Reinvestment Act of 1977. With the passage of time, most of the kinds of discriminatory patterns and behaviors in these markets are declared as illegal after enforcement of such legislation by the federal government. The enforcement of fair-housing legislation although has remained inconsistent such that discriminatory behaviors have not been total disappeared, yet there is evidence which shows a real progress in this regard. The evidence reveals that in the real estate housing market, there has been a significant reduction in the discriminatory behavior in relation to house purchasing and renting in the 1990s. Similar kinds of evidence are found in the mortgage market, where the Whites are left way behind than Blacks and Hispanics in relation to home-purchase.

TESCO Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

TESCO - Essay Example It makes available online services via its subsidiary called Tesco.com. The United Kingdom constitutes the company’s major market where it is run under four banners of Superstore, Extra, Express, and Metro. The corporation sells approximately 40,000 foodstuffs. The business’ own-label merchandise (50 percent of sales) exist at three levels including, normal, value, and finest. On top of convenience produce, countless stores have gas refilling stations, making Tesco to be one of United Kingdom’s independent and largest petrol retailers. Other vending services obtainable include Tesco Individual Finance (Palmer 2005, pp. 24). Vision statement A strategic vision statement describes the course a business intends to follow during the development and strengthening its operations. It sets out the company’s strategic route in getting ready for the future. Tesco’s vision is to be the largely valued corporation by customers, the surrounding community, the emp loyees as well as other stakeholders that the company works together with while doing business. It envisions itself as an expanding company that succeeds locally while employing its skills globally (Hammett & McMeikan 1994, pp. 4). Mission statement A mission statement ascertains the general intention of a business. It assists employees to work towards realizing a common purpose. Tesco’s mission statement is to generate value for its customers for it to earn their unending loyalty. To ensure that Tesco achieves this mission statement, the company needs to be acquainted with who their devoted customers are. It is this reason that has prompted Tesco to launch a Clubcard service, via which the company can award customers by issuing them with special tickets and additional points (Hammett & McMeikan 1994, pp. 5). Corporate objectives Objectives refer to business’ performance targets – that is, the results management wishes to achieve. They act as yardsticks for asse ssing how well the company is doing. Tesco’s objectives include the following: bidding customers the most excellent value for their money at the most reasonable prices; meeting customer needs by continually seeking, and implementing their views regarding product quality, innovation, store facilities choice, and service; providing stockholders with better returns on their funds; improving productivity through implementing investments in distribution depots and efficient stores, in productivity enhancements and in new technologies; developing peoples’ talents through effective management and education practices, while remunerating them fairly with equivalent opportunities for everybody; working hand in hand with suppliers with the aim of building long-term business associations based strictly on quality as well as price criteria; taking part in the crafting of national food manufacturing policies on vital issues such as hygiene, health, safety, nutrition, and animal well being; and supporting the best interests of the society and the safeguarding of the environment (Hammett & McMeikan 1994, pp. 5). Goals The organization is focused on achievement of certain degrees of its activities in a bid to maintain their full realizable potential. There first goal is growth in the local scene in a bid to realize the firm’s limits. The second goal is to come into to terms with the international market and the

Art Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Art - Essay Example In Cassatt’s work, she uses very light colours and avoiding black producing a very romantic painting that depicts a mother and child. In Manet’s works, he disregards what was the dictum of impressionism by his characteristic use of black. Both artists are working from a Japanese style of design and perspective which according to many reports heavily influenced their paintings. According to pbs.org, Manet’s paints his forms quickly in rough brushstrokes clearly visible on the surface of the canvas. Instead of the carefully constructed perspective that leads the eye deep into the space of the painting, Manet offers a picture frame flattened into two planes. The foreground is the glowing white body of Olympia on the bed; the background is darkness. (Edouard Manet’s Olympia). The treatment of the subject matter is very different in both paintings. According to pbs.org, Manet chooses to paint a woman of his time -- not a feminine ideal, but a real woman, and a courtesan at that.(Edouard Manet’s Olympia).This woman is a self-assured prostitute and view of the public of the nineteenth century a scandalous painting which would have been destroyed by the public as reported by many people. According to the Guardian, â€Å"The subject matter is sensational - a nude who, in the eyes of 19th-century observers, was clearly a prostitute, in her trashy mules with a bootlace for a necklace, tucked in, to the ruffled white pillows and her skin is a bright, glaring white. The fully dressed black servant is featured, presenting her with flowers from one of her male companions.†(Olympia, Edouard Manet).In viewing the painting the prostitute clearly has a defiant and confrontational look which according to the Guardian, it is impossible to know whether her mood is one of melancholy or contempt.( Olympia Edouard Manet(1863)) On the other hand, Cassatt’s mother and child are much more easier and pleasurable to view. The â€Å"mother an d child† clearly depict the intimate love and bond between a mother and her child. According to Danielle Peltakian, â€Å"she painted in delicate brush strokes of pastel pigments typical of the style of Renoir and Degas. She created a romantic depiction of the female figure reminiscent of the early Italian renaissance Madonna and child†( American member of the french impressionists school:note print maker.) According to tfaoi.com, The mother in the painting exudes a sense of dignity and purpose that challenges conventional notions of decorative femininity.(Mary Cassat, Modern woman).According to Anne Higonet, Cassatt made the experience of tiny children's bodies a visceral pleasure, both for the mothers represented within her pictures and for us, the viewers of the pictures(Two ways of thinking about Cassatt).She goes further in explaining that Cassatt's picture joins the forms of mother and child. The integrity of the individual body, which we could also call its isola tion, is replaced by a formal fiction of merged bodies. Cassatt engages us in the joys of infant flesh. (Two ways of thinking about Cassatt). In comparing the two pictures by Cassatt and Manet, the differences in depiction of women is immense. In manet’s Olympia, the woman is depicted as an object, while in Cassatt’s Mother and child the woman is a subject. Mary Cassatt depicted the modern woman of the Paris. A feminist perspective of her work pervades most of the explanation and analysis of her work which describe her as expressing her

Nike Inc Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Nike Inc - Essay Example According to the report in terms of behavioral segmentation, the product is target to the loyal customers. The product is priced at $149, which makes the product a luxury product. The product would therefore not greatly appeal to the price sensitive consumers and they may look for the same product offered by cheaper brands. Since the product is more of a luxury than a necessity, the price sensitive consumer would be generally not attracted towards the product.This paper discusses that  product development strategy is best suited. This is because the product is new, with a few modifications from the first generation Fuel Band but the market remains the same. With this product, Nike is and should continue to target its existing consumers which are sports loving people who live and enjoy an active lifestyle. They are mostly high-end sophisticated consumers to frequently and even occasionally consume luxury products such as the Fuel Band.  In terms of the environmental uncertainty Ma trix, the product is positioned as high uncertainty. Products positioned in this area of uncertainty have the following characteristics: dynamic and unpredictable market; involves many components; requires high skills and knowledge.   Since the Nike Fuel Band fits in all these areas, it faces high uncertainty in the market.  In terms of competition, the company faces competition from mainly three other products: Jawbone UP, Fitbit Flex and Basis.... This is because the product is new, with a few modifications from the first generation Fuel Band but the market remains the same (Kelion, 2013). With this product, Nike is and should continue to target its existing consumers which are sports loving people who live and enjoy an active lifestyle. They are mostly high-end sophisticated consumers to frequently and even occasionally consume luxury products such as the Fuel Band (Sherman, 2013). The product, Fuel Band, in this case is a relatively new product. Nike had released the first generation of Fuel Band in the beginning of 2012 but a more modified version was developed in the end of 2012 known as the Nike + Fuelband (Nike Inc., 2012). Environmental Uncertainty In terms of the environmental uncertainty Matrix, the product is positioned as high uncertainty. Products positioned in this area of uncertainty have the following characteristics: dynamic and unpredictable market; involves many components; requires high skills and knowledge. Since the Nike Fuel Band fits in all these areas, it faces high uncertainty in the market (Robbins and Coutler, 2007). Competitor analysis In terms of competition, the company faces competition from mainly three other products: Jawbone UP, Fitbit Flex and Basis. A general comparison of the features of these products is shown below: Feature Fuel Band Jawbone Fitbit Flex Basis Price 149 130 100 200 Battery Time (in Days) 1-4 10 5 4 Compatible Applications 3 10 27 0 Blue Tooth Yes No Yes Yes Water Proof No No No No Water Resistant Yes Yes Yes Yes Unique Features Calories, Time, Steps, Nike Fuel and Daily Progress Vibrating Alarm Vibrating Alarm Pulse, Sweat and Temperature Compatible With iOS and Web iOS and Andriod iOS,

Philip Island Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Philip Island - Essay Example Enroute to the Philip Island the Cranbourne, Richmond, Tooradin and San Remo cities were also superficially studied to examine the impact of urbanization as well as tourism on these cities. I. Cranbourne: Melbourne, on its south east seemed to be rapidly expanding into the agricultural estates of Cranbourne. The transition of agricultural lands to residential plots as an answer to the growing needs of people daily commuting to city was clearly evident. The houses were usually single storeyed made up of bricks and tiles of medium blocks separated from each other. It provided space for business like news agencies, bakery and hardware stores. However agricultural practice and agricultural products were still evident. III. Tooradin: Tooradin is a rural area with rich darker clay sand where agriculture is the main occupation. But recent trend is that it supports tourism for holiday lovers who wish to spend quiet holidays and enjoy fishing. IV. San Remo: San Remo a former fishing village is well connected to Philip Island through the bridge. San Remo provides a better lodging and boarding facility at reasonable prices with excellent beach activities like fishing for tourists who visit Philip Island. The impacts from inappropriate changes due to urbanization such as conversion of agricultural land for residential purpose, deforestation, soil erosion, over population, transportation and other related problems could be resolved by implementing proper land use planning, construction practice, engineering, architecture, and design processes. Attractions in Philip Island V. Cape Woolamai Faunal Park: Cape Woolamai is the home to the short-tailed shearwaters on Philip Island. The sand dunes reveal the perfect interaction between the lithosphere-the sand and rock, the atmosphere-the wind, and the biosphere components- marram grass and the spinifers. The vegetation is completely covered by the dunes due to winds. Sand for the beach of Woolamai mainly comes from the erosion of cliff coast present towards the east of coast of cape Woolamai. Attempts are being such as car not allowed on sand dunes, making exclusive car parking facility, people not allowed to walk on vegetation, regulations to impose fines if violated etc., are made to prevent erosion of sand dunes which formed due to long shore drifts. VI. Cowes: Cowes is the principal township of Philip Island lying on the northern side facing French Island and Western Port Bay. The Cowes have safe beaches with fine sand caused by the deposition of waves. Waves are small and not too wild providing a safe zone for beach swimming and boating. Piers have been constructed on the shores. The waves are harsher near the rocks, eroding them. VII. The Nobbies: The Nobbies are at the western most end of the Philip Island. It is a strong volcanic rock which is more resistant to erosion. It is a popular tourist destination with a blowhole, a spectacular sea cave that thunders during big southern swells. The Nobbies boardwalk

Writing Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Writing - Essay Example Consequently, from his throne, God watches the inhabitants of the earth. Moreover, in Psalm 139: 7 -10, King David wonders where he can hide or flee from the Spirit of God since He is everywhere; in the sea, heaven, and in Sheol. Further, in Galatians 2: 20, God is supernaturally present in every place and at the same time. Moreover, the Book of 2 Chronicles 7: 2, also asserts the presence of God in the life of every person who believes in Christ (New Jerusalem Bible, 2 Chronicles 7: 2). These biblical evidences prove that God is everywhere and that nobody can hide from Him. The implication of the nature of God being omnipresent shows the greatness of His power. Since he is omnipresent, he is powerful and that is the reason He can exist everywhere and at the same time (Packer 25). Consequently, this feature of God shows that we cannot hide from Him because He sees us every time and in every place as He exists everywhere. For instance, the biblical Noah tried to hide from God but was never successful. Further, because of this attribute, human beings should never fear anything since God is everywhere and keeps watch over His

Understand How to Establish an Effective Team Assignment

Understand How to Establish an Effective Team - Assignment Example Understand How to Establish an Effective Team In a report written by A.W.C. Training entitled â€Å"Effective Working Relationships†, emphasize was placed on enhancing awareness regarding the importance of maintaining happy relationships within the organizational setting for the reason that smooth and effective working relationships were noted to be instrumental in tasks and responsibilities being undertaken more efficiently; and thus, enabling the delivery of high quality of customer service. Within a team, the development of effective working relationship presupposes the application of effective communication as a framework of success. According to Harbour (2013), â€Å"good communication makes it easier to address individual problems or concerns between employees and supervisors when they arise† (par. 8). Communication also enables the dissemination of crucial information, including policies, procedures, and the organization’s code of discipline, to provide guidelines to the employees, various members of a team, and other stakeholders, in manifesting the expected behavior. For example, in a newly formed team tasked to present suggestions and recommendations to increase sales of the products, an effectively developed and maintained team who follows the abovementioned guidelines are expected to be more cohesive and to delegate tasks, share crucial information, and equitably divide the responsibilities needed in coming up with a presentation that would satisfy organizational goals. Benefits of Effective Working Relationships in Developing and Maintaining the Team The benefits of effective working relationships in developing and maintaining the team are therefore realized in terms of showing cohesiveness, increasing performance and productivity, reporting lesser conflicts or miscommunication, and satisfying the needs and demands of the customers. As asserted, â€Å"good workplace relationships and a positive work environment is critical for a successful business, as unhappy staff have a negative impact on productivity and customer service† (Harbour, 2013, par. 7). Behaviours which Could Develop and Maintain Trust at Work The behaviours which could develop and maintain trust at work include the following: (1) maintaining sincerity; (2) being reliable; (3) being accountable; (4) listening attentively and actively; (5) not blaming others; and (6) being transparent in all undertakings with honesty and integrity (Piccinini, 2013). For instance, in the organizational setting, trust could be developed and maintained when members of a team have openly established the need to be open to each other and communicate truthful information to the most effective manner. When a member of the team makes a mistake, other members must assume a stance of understanding and refrain from blaming the errant member. All members must therefore

A Visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum Essay Example for Free

A Visit to the Holocaust Memorial Museum Essay I could not express the solemnity that envelops the place. The atmosphere of the exhibits is obviously full of grief, but the stillness of the images somehow brought a certain kind of peace despite the bizarre scenarios they depicted. Hundreds and thousands of black and white photographs dominate the place, pictures that would forever serve as a memorial to the sufferings of the victims of the Holocaust under Nazi Germany. Everything was terrifying and I wonder what human being can commit such atrocities to others? What conscience do they hold in order to allow such evil to be perpetrated? How could an entire nation have elected a leader whose sole intention was to massacre and eliminate an entire race and how could people then have hailed him in his ideologies? What abyss has the human character fallen to at those times? Where was mercy, where was hope, and where was love? Those pictures were filled with hell that seemed incessant to those who witnessed it. Children, parents and grandparents were all victims in this Holocaust. Six millions Jews together with other races considered inferior by the Aryan regime were exterminated and burned in crematoria. Crematoria, how could one have conceived of the idea? Perhaps Fyodor Dostoevsky was right, men are no beast and it is an insult to the beast to be compared to humans. For no best can be so artistically cruel, of which man is so accomplished. How could one have thought of sending men and women to labor camps and make them work to their deaths? And how could one have had the idea of gassing innocent victims in chambers with carbon monoxide? No beast would have designed such an organized mass killing. No beast would have gone to the level of tearing a being beyond both flesh and soul. What man would want to witness the suffering of another? I could not fathom the crimes that happened during those years. Indeed it is true that reality is far less believable than fiction. Holocaust Memorial Museum 2 In an exhibition in the museum, I saw a wall mounted with pictures collectively entitled as Terror in Poland. It showed faces, actual eyes and nose of those who perished in the war. But these casualties did not fall in the fields of Europe equipped with rifles and mortars, they were weaponless victims rounded up by the Germans and were brought to their deaths. No wants to die because they were left defenseless. No one wants to face death without a fight. No eyes would want to be left opened when their spirits leave their bodies. Another wall showed pictures with people lining, hundreds of people in the streets awaiting something I knew not. When I looked at the caption it said, â€Å"Search for Refuge†. Who would have thought that this happened only half a century ago? Only a few generations away are we fortunate enough not to have experienced searching for solace in any place they could find. Back then for these people, freedom was not a right but a luxury and death is always just a few steps behind. No person ever deserves to be compelled to search for security and no person deserves to be threatened to face annihilation. In the museum I saw pictures where a number of men were digging a hole. It seemed normal except that German soldiers were supervising these men. Then it dawned unto me that the very hole they were digging was their grave. Another similar picture shows a man sitting before another pit with a German soldier holding a gun against his head. Other members of the troops stood as spectators to the event without disdain. These German soldiers were otherwise known as the Einsatzgruppe or the â€Å"Killing Squads†. Their name suits them, only murderers deserve such a title. The most depressing part of the exhibitions in the museum was the Tower of Faces. Thousands of images stand erect across a three-floor high museum segment commemorating the individuals massacred by the Germans and their collaborators. Children with such Holocaust Memorial Museum 3 innocent eyes were the primary victims of this operation. Massive shootings in a span of three days killed more than 8000 Jews, leaving only 29 members of the community who were able to escape. Those who survived were nonetheless casualties, for the wounds that such events bring can never become scars, they would forever be fresh and would forever bleed. I knew little of the idea of eugenics, but in the museum, I was able to see a glimpse of the consequences of this terrible belief. I have heard of mice and guinea pigs experimented on for the sake of scientific progress. To some the idea is already inconceivable for having animals tested on is a terrible act of cruelty. How then would they react on the German doctors who performed experiments on live prisoners of the concentration and death camps of the Nazi regime? Children, specifically twins, were the primary interest of Nazi doctors. I would never forget the story of the gypsy twins who were dissected alive and cried for days until they died. No guardian of life should ever take life. No amount of reason would justify the sacrifice of life for the advancement of science. In my tour of the museum, what attracted me the most was the exhibit on the Jewish resistance against the genocide that is threatening to eliminate their race for eternity. No one then would have imagined Jews fighting back on the Germans. Even if they were not successful in defeating the enemy, history would forever honor them for their valor. Man should never lose the strength to survive and must never lose the courage to stand against the tempest. Many forgotten faces of men, women and children would remain buried in the mass graves of the war. They did not fall in the trenches or beachheads. They instead were shot or gassed in such an organized manner. We must forever remind the generations to come of what happened on those fields during those years of hell. We must remember and forever strive to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

How has ICT Helped Cars made Adapted to People in Wheelchairs Essay Example for Free

How has ICT Helped Cars made Adapted to People in Wheelchairs Essay Since the Second World War cars have become the most popular mode of transport throughout Europe and nearly every household has at least one car. Cars are one of the sources of independent travel and are the way most people choose to get around the country. Now people are making cars in new ways, so that people in wheelchairs can get into cars more easily. [1] The majority of cars these days seem to be getting smaller and smaller like the Mercedes smart car and the Mazda Rx-8. People in wheelchairs find it impossible to get into cars like these. Other cars like saloons and hatchbacks can transport people in wheelchairs as long as they are not in it. The passenger will most likely have to be lifted out of their chair and placed in the car. While their wheelchair rides in the boot. This way the people will still get around but they have a small feeling of inadequacy. This seems to reign throughout the majority of people in a wheelchair because of an accident. One person thought he should do something about this, he was Roland Arnold. Ronald Arnold is the creator of Paravan which within a decade has become, one of the most successful, middle class concerns for handicapped accessible vehicle conversions by customer oriented acting [2]. This is mainly because the vehicles Roland Arnold adapted to have become so popular. He used the Kia Carnival and the Chrysler Voyager for the base of his design to create them into Paravans. these cars look no different from their regular counterparts so it is very hard to tell the difference. Behind the sliding door of the cars is a total renovation of the interior. This is where the ramp is to be found. The ramp makes it easy for those in wheelchairs to get in the car. It easy for the driver and the co-driver, to drive the car, whether they are disabled or not. The ramps on the cars can differ; they either slide out from the underneath the floor panel where the sliding door is opened or they fold down from an upright position behind the door. This could be decided by the customer as the Paravan company say, the person always is the centre point. Individual customer advisory service, best support and trustful teamwork with our customers are a hearty request for us and ensures you the social integration [3]. So in a way each car is individual. This car was made for disabled people by a disabled person so Roland Arnold must have had some negative feelings towards the car industry for not making cars suited to those in wheelchairs to use. The Paravan is a family vehicle and can carry up to four people in wheelchairs. When making the Paravan Roland Arnold must have put a lot of thought and effort into it. Intelligently he chose a big people carrier which would be highly suitable for wheelchairs. He then would have had to think about how to get the wheelchair into the car. He could have taken his idea from the vans that are used for the dial-a-ride service. These vans have ramps at the back doors and lift the passenger into the van. These vans are very good for the use of businesses and firms that cater for those in wheelchairs, but they are not suitable for personal and family use. The ramp in the Paravan slightly differs from those in the dial-a-ride vans because it does not have the hydraulic power to lift the wheelchair into the car. This car is the ultimate vehicle for family and personal use as it allows the person in the wheelchair or a person without a wheelchair to drive. No other cars allow disabled drivers to do this. This enables the driver to get around without someone having to drive those places or having to use public transport or a dial-a-ride service. The wheelchair user doesnt have to drive because all the seats in the car are removable. Safety precautions were taken when making the car with additional airbags to secure the wheelchairs if the car was to crash. In conclusion the Paravan seems to be the very best machine for the disabled person to get around in. it can be tailored to suit the customer and is created on a one to one basis with them. The car is suitable for those who need assistance or those who can drive or those who cant. This vehicle is suitable for people in all walks of life and that is why it has become so popular over the last ten years.

Risk Assessment Case Study

Risk Assessment Case Study C is a 14 year old boy who has a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorder and learning disability. C is a very active young boy. His mother is a P.E teacher and has him involved in many outdoor activities. C loves being outdoors and doing practical hands on things such as cooking and outdoor activities. Although C is involved in various activities, these are all organised by his family. Mrs F feels that C constantly seeks reassurance when doing tasks etc. She would like to develop his dependence by involving him in activities which are not organised by the family. Furthermore Mrs F felt concerned that if anything were ever to happen to her or her husband, she would like to know that C has some experience within a different type of home care setting. I completed a UNOCINI assessment on C and a carers assessment on Mrs F. From that I felt that C would benefit from some time spent apart from the family. After completing the carers assessment with Mrs F, I determined that although the mai n reason for the parents was to develop Cs independence now that he is 14, I felt they would also benefit from these few hours of respite. The need for respite was not initially an issue however when I got Mrs F to think about her caring role and the level of caring responsibilities and how this impacted on her socially and emotionally, she acknowledged that yes, these few hours would act as respite for her as she care for C full-time when she comes home from work on weekdays and at the weekends. This option would help to develop his independence and get him more socially integrated in activities not organised by the family. I also identified two other services called Enable and Charis. The family were informed of these services and given the appropriate information. I left this information with the family so that they could make an informed decision. Mr and Mrs F agreed that they would definitely want to consider the option of the respite unit for C to attend for a few hours every week initially, with the view that they may want to increase this at a later date. The purpose of this piece of work is to carry out a risk assessment prior to C commencing the rest bite unit. This will need to consider any risks there are with C, how C may behave, what the triggers etc are and how the staff at O can best deal with these risks. Because there are significant behavioural problems with C, the risks are mainly centred around outdoor safety as he has a significant fear of dogs, his dislike of loud noises and consideration of his speech difficulties which will most likely result in communication difficulties. These factors all present risks to C and this meeting is an opportunity for Cs parents, a staff member from the unit, Cs teacher and I to come together, identify the risks, discuss how they are a risk to C and identify the best ways the staff can manage these risks. Legislation that will guide my practice As a student social worker I have a duty to practice in a professional and legal manner and it is important that I am aware of the legislation related to disability, which provides the mandate for the intervention. The Health and Personal Social Services (NI) Order (1972) sets out the role of social workers in Article 4 as having a duty to promote the well being of all the public. The Chronically Sick Disabled Persons Act 1978 legally obliges Personal Social Services to disseminate information, assess need, collect and maintain confidential information and provide Social Welfare Services to meet the needs of any person defined as chronically sick and/or disabled. Under this piece of legislation disabled people have the right to live in the community and be provided with appropriate support services. Under section one, authorities have a duty to inform themselves of the number and needs of handicapped persons in their areas and a duty to publicise available services. Section 2 lists various services which should be provided to meet the needs of disabled people including; social work support to families, adaptations to the home and including special equipment, holiday arrangements and meals (OliverSapey, 2006). An opportunity for C to develop his independence has been identified as a need for C. I have enquired into the services available and signposted the fam ily to these services. It is now their decision as to whether they want to avail of them or not. The Children (NI) Order 1995 is the main piece of legislation associated with the Childrens Disability Unit. This piece of legislation sets out the powers and duties of the Trust in relation to Children in Need and others. The Trust sets out clear assessment procedures for children in need which take account of any special needs. The order outlines that children with a disability will, in many cases, require continuing services throughout their lives therefore the assessment process needs to take account of any special needs and to take a longer perspective than for other children in need. A holistic assessment is needed to determine what is best needed for that child, taking into account the child and familys strengths, weaknesses and capacities. I have assessed the needs of C and his parents and from that I feel that I strongly feel this service will be of benefit to both C and his parents. Article 17 (c) defines a child in need as a child with a disability; C has a diagnosis of autism and learning disability and therefore is considered a child in need due to this disability. Also I am aware that in accordance with this legislation (Article 17 a b) I have a responsibility to ensure C achieves or maintains a reasonable standard of development or health through the provision of services. I will bear in mind Article 18 which sets out the trusts duty to support children in need. I had a duty to support C by carrying out an assessment of need which will allowed me to determine what type of support C required. Support may be provided in terms of providing services, signposting, referral to other agencies or the worker may provide emotional support, 1 to 1 work, advice, a listening ear etc. In this instance I have provided the appropriate support through signposting the family to two other services for C and I am in the process of providing them with a respite service. Within my work with children I am conscious that the welfare of the child is paramount and that this supersedes all else (Article 3 (1). To ensure I achieve this I have knowledge of and will make reference to The Welfare Checklist Article 3 (3) (Children NI Order 1995) The Disabled Persons Act (NI) 1989 also gives the mandate for the intervention. It gives individuals more control over their lives by providing them with the right to; representation, consultation, assessment, information this I consider to be my role. Carers also have the right to request an assessment and the ability to care is taken into consideration during the assessment process and when decisions are made. The legislation ensures that disabled people have equal opportunities in terms of services amongst other things. I have already completed a carers assessment with Mrs F which indicated that this service would also be of benefit for her as Cs carer. United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (1991) set out for the first time, the rights of the child. Article 2 states, Whereby appropriate measures should be taken to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child, parents, legal guardians or family member and under article 6 whereby all children have the right to life and to the greatest possible opportunities to develop fully. It is hoped that through C spending some time away from his family, it will develop his independence. Under article 3, whereby in all actions the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration. In assessing the risks associated with C, we will be able to identify what the risks are, what the level of risk is, are there any triggers, what primary preventative strategies can be used to avoid these behaviors and reactions occurring, what secondary measures should be introduced if the behaviors become apparent, what reactive strategies should be required, specify any unmanaged risks and determine what should be the response following a behavioral incident. The Human Rights Act 1998 brought the European Convention of Human Rights into domestic law. Human rights are universal legal guarantees protecting individuals and groups against actions and omissions that affect their freedom and human dignity (SHSSB, 2004: 42). Every child has rights under the United Nation Convention on the Rights of the child 1989. Every child has a right to survival, developmental, protection and participation rights. Article 23 of the UNCRC states that a disabled child should enjoy a full and decent life, in conditions which ensure dignity, promote self reliance and facilitate the childs active participation in the community. I am mindful that the Data Protection Act (1998) must be adhered to at all times in order to ensure that information is accessed only by people who have a right to access it. This ensures that service user confidentiality is respected and that relevant and accurate information is stored. This legislation safeguards personal data i.e. personal information that is stored on computer and on relevant manual filing systems under eight principles. Policies and Procedures It is imperative that as an student of the trust I have knowledge of the Trust Policies and Procedures and how they inform my practice. It is important that I inform Mrs F about the complaints procedure and provide a leaflet advising individuals of how to make a complaint and express their views about the Trust services. It is important for the Trust to have feedback from service users as this enables the Trust to change and improve standards of services were appropriate. Furthermore it is important service users are aware of the confidentiality policy. I will explain to Mrs F that the information discussed within the meeting will be kept confidential. Theoretical Considerations Risk became a dominant preoccupation within Western society towards the end of the 20th century, to the point where we are now said to live in a risk society, with an emphasis on uncertainty, individualization and culpability (Beck, 1992). Social workers frequently have to deal with risk. Obvious examples would be when there are concerns about the safety of children. The process of assessing risk highlights the complexity of the social work role. The fact that decisions have to be made seems to require an element of control in peoples lives and this can cause conflict for some workers. The question often arises about the obvious power imbalance between the worker and the service user and issues can surface around care versus control. Burke and Cigno (2000) pose the question as to what degree of vulnerability in children reaches the degree of threshold for intervention, and what should be done to minimize the risks to children. These are difficult issues to reconcile. All parties concerned should be aware that allowing children to take a certain amount of risk is recognition of human beings to fulfill their potential. Denial of risk-taking greatly reduces steps towards independence and decreases quality of life. Trying to balance between parental and organisational protectiveness and acceptance of the childs need to take risks can be a difficult undertaking. There is also the problem of communicating effectively with children their wishes and needs. In the case of children and young people with learning difficulties, professionals are likely to have to learn additional ways of ascertaining the childs wishes and assessing his or her situation. All forms of risk need to be acknowledged in any assessment or evaluation (Trevithick, 2003: 115). A risk assessment is only valid for the situation which it has been carried out in and needs to be an ongoing process as the child develops. It is important to recognize that the situations of children and families are not static they are fluid and changing. Each individual risk has a lifespan and needs to be constantly monitored and reviewed. However, it is important not to give the concept of risk more weight than is needed by becoming too focused on controlling risks. Questions should be asked about whether or not the level of risk is acceptable, sometimes risk is inevitable and to try and control everything a person can or cannot do can be a breach of a persons basic human rights. The Bamfords Review of Mental Health and Learning Disability Equal Lives Group argued how service users want the chance to make their own choices in life and to be supported by the professionals around the m, not simply told what they can and cannot do. Hope and Sparks (2000) suggest that a risk assessment can only identify the problem of harm, assess the impact of it on key individuals, and pose intervention strategies which may diminish the risk or reduce harm. They do not believe that assessments can prevent risk completely. This is something which I would be inclined to agree with. Beckett and Maynard propose that control may be used to protect service users, staff and other members of the community and that by controlling the extent of potential risks that we are ensuring that the best possible care can be delivered. They feel that control used appropriately is not the opposite of care, but on the contrary is an expression of care. We should not fall into the simplistic idea that the use of statutory powers is necessarily oppressive or that working in other ways is necessarily anti-oppressive. There has been a concurrent growing mistrust of professionals in social work and an increased reliance by the profession on complex systems of assessment, monitoring and quality control (Stalker, 2003). Parton (1998) proposes that the blaming society is now more concerned with risk avoidance and defensive practice than with professional expertise and welfare development. However, risk is a normal and often beneficial part of everyday life. While it enables learning and understanding, in the case of potentially destructive consequences it may need to be monitored and restricted. The Southern Health and Social Care Trust (2008), define risk as the chance, great or small, that damage or an adverse outcome of some kind will occur as a result of a particular hazard. It is the threat that an event or some action will adversely affect the Trusts ability to successfully execute its strategies and achieve its objectives. It is a process of continual improvement which requires the identification, assessment, analysis, evaluation, treatment, monitoring and communication of risk. The Southern Trust Risk Management Strategy recognizes the need to reduce and eliminate or reduce all identifiable risk to the lowest practicable level. The trust is committed to achieving this through a holistic approach based on the principle that risk management is everybodys responsibility. There are two important models to consider when assessing risk, that of Brearley and that of Greg Kelly. Brearleys analysis of risk talks about predisposing hazards, which are factors that cannot be changed or are difficult to change before decisions are to be taken. He talks about situational hazards, which are factors specific to the situation that can be changed. Brearley also takes into account the strengths of the situation as factors that decrease the possibility of a poor or loss outcome. This is a positive step which may encourage families if their strengths are acknowledged. The Childrens (NI) Order 1995, promotes the welfare of the child and risk assessment and risk management are now a central part of the social work role and should acknowledged accordingly. Greg Kellys model is designed for use when there are serious concerns for the welfare of the child. It is designed to help clarify the issues in relation to the protection of children, to address key questions in decision making in situations where risk is present, what is the problem and how serious is it? The development of a non-technical language (strengths and weaknesses) has made the model useful in sharing and discussing issues with parents. What is very useful about this model is that it categorises risk. Thus to agree on the degree of risk is to agree on the harm that is more likely (high risk) or less likely (low risk) to occur in the absence of preventative measures. It inevitably involves a degree of predicting future events. Almost by definition taking decisions in situations of risk means taking them not in ideal circumstances and with less knowledge than we feel we need. Despite the dangers, however, childrens circumstances sometimes require that we take decisions base d on our best estimate of the risk of harm to them in a particular situation and at a particular time. The risk assessment pro-forma used at O respite unit is based on Greg Kellys model in that it categorises risk as high, low or medium. High Risk would be recent and regular occurrence of behaviour, for example in the past 3 months. Medium risk would be recent and only occasional occurrence in the past 3 months. Low risk would be seen as having happened in the past but would only have occurred very minimally in the past 3 months. The assessment here is not just the potential of risk of harm to the children, but also the individual measures staff can take to prevent the likelihood of the risk actualizing and any steps that management may need to take. Person centred planning is rooted in the belief that people with disabilities are entitled to the same rights, opportunities and choices as other members of the community. Person centred planning has been around for about twenty-five years and its principles are about sharing power with service users and community inclusion. This way of thinking insists that people with disabilities have the same quality of life and position in society which is equal to people without disabilities. It challenges the idea of grouping people together on the basis that they are perceived as needing the same level of assistance. Person centred planning asks how the client wants to live their life and ways that they think could make this possible and if they require any support with this. Person centred planning has five key features:- The person is at the centre, family members and friends are partners in planning, the plan reflects what is important to the person, their capacities and what support they require, the plan helps build the persons place in the community to welcome them. It is not just about services and reflects what is possible, not just what is available. The plan results in ongoing listening, learning, and further action. Putting the plan into action helps the person to achieve what they want out of life. Person centred planning is about the social worker facilitating the service user to take control of his or her own lives and move forward as much as is possible. Coulshed and Orme (2006) illustrate how it focuses on the individual as unique and special in their own situation. It is important for the social worker to develop a good relationship with the service users for this approach to be successful. It encourages the development of an equal, non-authoritarian relationship where both service user and social worker work together to establish a significant and meaningful relationship.  (Trevithick, 2006: 271) It is important in person-centred planning to work out what is important to the client but also what is important for the client, which can sometimes be difficult. This can even be simple things such as pen pictures which illustrate the things which are of most important to our clients. This can include information such as favourite foods, colours, clothes, possessions, people, activities or place. It is important to remember these principles when I am completing the risk assessment and ensuring that it is a personalised account of this child. Previous knowledge My knowledge of risk assessment is initially very limited. Although I have completed various UNOCINI assessments, and within that you are thinking about risk and identifying potential risks for that child or family if certain support networks or services etc are not put in place, this is not as extensive as this specific risk assessment I am to undertake with C. I read around the topic of risk assessment and took into account the different models, especially the Southern Trusts Risk Management Strategy. I also considered number 4 of NISCC objectives which was to manage risk to individuals, families, carers, groups, and communities, self and other colleagues. This increased my sense of purpose and direction in which the risk assessment was to take. I have good knowledge around C and the family as I had completed the initial assessment. I have previously met with Cs teacher which gave me an insight into Cs daily routine at school and explained the best way to communicate with C. Further to this I read a completed risk assessment which used the same pro-forma to gain a better understanding of how the information gathered should flow. It is important to have an understanding of what autism is and how it can impact on a person and their family as C has autism. Having shadowed the autism support worker few home visits to see children who have autism, I already had an insight into the importance of the schedule and routine for children who have autism. I had also previously increased my knowledge base by talking to the autism support worker within the team about the disorder and its effects. My first degree in Psychology also looked at autism and its effects on development so I have refreshed my memory and read my notes again. Tuning into my own feelings as a worker I feel a little nervous as I will be facilitating this meeting. I feel nervous about the fact that there will be other professionals such as Cs teacher and the social worker and manager from the respite unit. Furthermore, Mrs F is also a teacher. Considering Mrs Fs profession, she may have standards and I hope I am able to effectively facilitate the meeting in a professional manner which meets her standards. In saying this, I have met with Mrs F on a few occasions and I feel very comfortable with her. I want to be able to facilitate this meeting as effectively as possible in ensuring everyone gets an opportunity to contribute, all opinions are considered, all risks are identified and a plan is set in place which will effectively manage these risks. I feel slightly more confident in that I have met with the social work manager and Cs teacher before and feel I have built up a good rapport with Mrs F. Tuning Cs feelings C is unable to contribute to the meeting due to his learning disability. Tuning into parents feelings This is a new experience for Mrs F as she is Cs main carer and the only time they are ever apart is when C is away at school. She may be feeling anxious about considering the risks there are with C. She is placing a lot of trust in the staff at O in order to be aware of these risks and manage them. However this is an opportunity for Mrs F to inform the staff on how to best, most effectively manage the risks associates with C. In turn this meeting may consequently lessen Mrs Fs anxieties in knowing that we have identifies the relevant risks and we are fully aware of how to most appropriately manage these risks. This will hopefully provide reassurance for Mrs F in knowing that the relevant safeguards will be put in place prior to C commencing the unit. Skills It is important that I am able to analyze the information from the O assessment in order to determine if there are any risks, what they are, how they are currently managed and how they could be best managed by staff members. I have already analyzed what the risks are. I have determined that Cs communication is a risk as there is a risk he may become distressed if the staff at O do not understand him. I thus felt inviting Cs teacher to the meeting was important. I felt this could also act as an information sharing meeting whereby the people that C spends most time with such as his mother and teacher would be able to give input on how best to communicate with C. Cs teacher previously informed me that use of the PECS and super symbols would be essential to apply in order to effectively communicate with C, until such times as the staff familiarise themselves with C. The ability to analyze involves breaking a situation or issue down into its component parts so that the inter-connections a nd patterns can be uncovered (Thompson, 2005). I need to be able to analyze the information gathered to determine what the risks are, to determine the level of risk and determine what safe guards need to be put in place in order to try and reduce these risks. Communication has been defined as, the verbal and non verbal exchange of information, including all the ways in which knowledge is transmitted and received (Barker, 2003: 83). I will be facilitating this meeting and thus I need to communicate in a clear and concise fashion in explaining the purpose of the meeting, what I hope to cover, why and what I hope to achieve. I will explain the relevance of inviting Miss V, Cs teacher and explain how I hope she will be able to contribute to the meeting. This will reassure Miss V of her role, purpose and prepare her for what she may want to say with regard to how the staff can best communicate with C. I will similarly explain the relevance of why Cs parents are there also, in that they know C best as his parents and carers and their input and advice will be most valuable with regards to identifying any additional risks I may have missed, and how to manage these and give any input they wish throughout the meeting. This is also an opportunity fo r Cs parents to ask any additional questions, be reassured that we are aware of the risks involved with their son, the appropriate safeguards will be put in place to try and minimize the risks and what plan they have in place if something does happen to C. Negotiation skills are vital as a result of this Risk Assessment. I have invited the relevant persons to this meeting so important information can be shared with regard to how certain risks can be most effectively managed. Miss V, Cs teacher has a good insight into effective communication exchange techniques which will allow the staff and C to effectively communicate with each other and understand what C is communicating. This is vital in order to prevent C from feeling frustrated if noone understood what he was saying or what he wanted etc. I will be looking upon Mr and Mrs F are experts in their own family lives. Noone will know C better than themselves and thus their input is vital in indentifying any additional risks, how they can best be managed. Before we end the discussion, in order for the risk assessment to be effective I feel it is necessary that everyone negotiates on how the risks can most effectively be managed. Trevithick (2005) proposes that listening provides a creative opportunity to demonstrate our commitment and care. The essence of good listening is learning about how to reach the emotions and thoughts of others; it requires active involvement and engagement with the client. I am confident in my ability to convey that I am valuing Mrs Fs contribution as she is the expert her family life with C and Mrs Vs contribution as Cs teacher. Values I am committed to anti-oppressive practice and Thompsons PCS model of discrimination helps me to be mindful of this. Thompson analyses discrimination in terms of three levels: the personal, which highlights the feelings and attitudes at an individual level; the cultural which refers the social norms, and the structural level which is the way that oppression and discrimination can be institutionalised in society. Biesteck value principles are principles of the social worker-service user relationship which are deemed to be effective forms of practice. The principles are:- individualization, purposeful expression of feelings, controlled emotional involvement, acceptance, non-judgemental attitude, service user self-determination and confidentiality. I think these value principles have a lot to offer professionals. I think in terms of this risk assessment I will be aware of the importance of individualisation. This is a specific piece of work which directly impact on the care and support that C will receive while he is at O for respite. It is vital that the work is an accurate representation of C and his individual needs. Biestecks value principles are a useful checklist to ensure that we are practicing in an anti-oppressive manner. One of the core values that I believe to be relevant in all of my work is respect for the person I am working with. Valuing Ms F and treating her with dignity is fundamental to a good working relationship. This should be a part of my everyday practice, part of empowerment, participation and choice (Payne, 1998). Thompson acknowledged the importance of respecting persons and not treating them in a way that you would object to if other people treated you like that (Thompson, 2000). In order to build trust and a positive working relationship with Ms F, Rogers (1961) core conditions of empathy, congruence and unconditional positive regard are vital. I need to be able to convey to Mrs F that I understand their situation and their feelings. In order to do this I need to be open and honest and convey warmth and a non-judgmental attitude to Mrs F. If my work is to be effective it needs to be based on partnership. I hope to convey to Mrs F that she will always will be the expert on herself and C and their family situation. Within a social work context, it is the service users who should define their own needs and dictate wherever possible how their needs should be met (Parker Bradley 2003). Useful pointers in developing a relationship based on partnership include: do not do most of the talking, do not put words into peoples mouths, help everyone feel comfortable, particularly Mrs F. Empowerment involves seeking to maximise the power of clients and to give them as much control as possible over their circumstances. It is the opposite of creating dependency and subjecting clients to agency power (Thompson 1993:80). I will be reminding Mrs F of the importance of her contribution in identifying any risks and advising on how she best manages those risks at present as no one knows C better than herself. Hopefully this reassurance will empower Mrs F to contribute as much as possible to the sharing of information.