Reflections on social work in practice : Perceptions of how being from a higher caste affects social work among the lower (Dalit) caste people of Nepal

This essay reflects on my community work in a rural village located approximately 70 km from Kathmandu in Nepal. As a social worker, my task was to help integrate people from the Dalit (lower) caste in their local community. The assignment proved to be a challenge, not only because I lacked practica...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Shovita Adhikari
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: University of Stavanger 2015-03-01
Series:Journal of Comparative Social Work
Online Access:http://journal.uia.no/index.php/JCSW/article/view/226
Description
Summary:This essay reflects on my community work in a rural village located approximately 70 km from Kathmandu in Nepal. As a social worker, my task was to help integrate people from the Dalit (lower) caste in their local community. The assignment proved to be a challenge, not only because I lacked practical knowledge but also because I belonged to a different caste group, the so-called Brahmin, i.e. the upper caste. In this essay, I discuss how the fact that I am from an upper caste affected my work. The essay attempts to bring forth the problems that I encountered, particularly the critical incidents, and my critical reflections on being a social worker.<br /><br />
ISSN:0809-9936