Respecting people’s worth and dignity

Kathmandu / March 19: The 10th World Social Work Day was celebrated worldwide through various activities by International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) on March 15. In Nepal, too, more than 1,500 people from 60 different colleges and social organizations of the Valley came together to celebrate the day at Karki Banquet in Baber Mahal. The program aimed at making people aware of social work and promoting the academic aspect of the subject and its practice in Nepal.

The theme for the World Social Work Day celebration this year was ‘Respecting the dignity and worth of people.’ We talked to a few participants of the event about the theme and what it means to them.

Sahil Suman Silwal, 21
GoldenGate International College

I believe young people all around the world are more accepting of people and their individuality than older ones who are guided by bygone norms and values. However, many young people are also engaged in activities harming fellow humans, violating their basic human rights. One should not necessarily be a terrorist to do this. It is as simple as discriminating against people with disability, or disregarding someone living on the streets. Social workers alone aren’t accountable to respect people; all of us are. Last year, in collaboration with Alcoholic Recovering Voice Nepal Rehabilitation Center, we collected fund to support people on the street to help them recover from alcohol addiction. We also organized dance and musical performances to get the message across. I strongly believe that social work means helping people to help themselves. And unlike popular belief that only rich people can do social work, anyone can make an effort to bring about social change, and that begins with respecting everyone and giving them a chance to be better individuals.

Anil Burja Magar, 24
Tribhuvan University

Respecting each other is perhaps the most fundamental of human characters, but we tend to forget this over time. I think we can be respectful of people by really listening to what they have to say. We must be able to respect each other’s opinions and ideas. Every individual is unique, so let’s stop being judgmental. In the context of Nepal, I think young people should go ahead and inspire people to celebrate the diversity in our country. Everyone is worthy of respect.

Ojashwi Sharma Ghimire, 19
Trinity International College

If we accept the fact that every individual is unique, it will be much easier for us to respect them. This doesn’t mean that everyone is perfect. But we should cultivate the habit of seeing people beyond their flaws and accepting them the way they are. For me, respecting people’s dignity also means helping them better themselves by pointing out their flaws and giving them an opportunity to change. Like everywhere, there are different levels of hierarchy in the name of caste, class, and gender in our country, and as the educated youth, we should be able to make people understand that at the very core, we are more similar than different. If we cultivate this thought, it will help us become more accepting of people.

Ankita Thapa, 21
Graduate of BASW from Thames International College

It’s important for young people to understand that all people, irrespective of their caste, class, gender, religion and ethnicity, are equal. All of us are different and this is what makes this world a wonderful place to live in. The world will be an even better place to live in if all individuals shared their similarities and celebrated their differences. I wish more people practiced this simple principle in life.

Breez Thapa, 21
GoldenGate International College

It is absolutely important for us to accept people’s individual dignity by not judging them for who they are and accepting them just the way they are. We tend to judge people by the standards set by our social conventions. Anyone who doesn’t fit into the conventions is considered ‘outcast’ and they are frowned upon. I believe it is very primitive to evaluate people on the basis of what caste they belong to, where in the economic stratum they fit, and what work they do. Before I judge anyone, I first try to see things from their perspective. This helps me maintain harmony with people around me. Source: Myrepublica