Caring students are on a mission to help save lives

Group will improve water supply in Asia

Students from Paisley’s university will travel to almost 6,000 miles in a bid to improve the water supply in an Asian village.

The University of the West of Scotland BA Social Work undergraduates will do their second-year placement in Laos.

Their module – Social Work Experience & Enquiry – will see eight students from the university’s Paisley campus working with the residents of the village Ban Had Kam, on the bank of the Nam Ou river, to boost the quality of their water supply.

This is the second consecutive year that students from UWS have undertaken their placement module in Laos as part of their degree.

Julie McCarthy, 21, who lives in Houston, said: “This is a great chance to experience another culture, way of life and belief system and incorporate this into my social work practice.

“It is also a great opportunity as it allows me to gain a firsthand perspective on other issues that countries face around the world.

“In return for gaining this perspective I am hoping to offer something positive to these communities.”

Paul Harvey, lecturer in Social Work, based in the university’s School of Media, Culture and Society, is co- ordinating the visit.

He said the university is delighted to be running this placement module for a second year in a Laos, which is one of the world’s poorest countries but with a rich cultural heritage.

“The villagers of Ban Had Kam, through our partners at VoluntourLaos requested our support to which we are delighted to respond,” he said. “Clean safe water saves lives.” UWS says social workers play a crucial role in improving people’s lives, and the university’s Scottish Social Services Councilapproved BA Social Work degree, designed in collaboration with employers and service users, provides students with the knowledge and expertise to qualify as a social worker.

It added that practical education is integral to the degree, and this 20-day placement would provide students with a unique opportunity to add an international dimension to their practice learning.

Paul added: “Social work aims to improve the positive capacities of individuals, families, groups and communities with an emphasis upon social justice.

“We will be living with the villagers in basic facilities.

“Our students have been studying the local language, customs and social and economic conditions as part of their preplacement work and we have been fund raising and collecting educational equipment to use in Laos.

“By u n d e r t a k i n g this international placement we are facilitating our student’s experiential education as global citizens and making some practical positive improvements to people’s lives.

“We are further developing the capacity of the UWS professional social work programme and the School of Media, Culture and Society in not only interpreting the world, but in also making some positive changes.”

Student Leanne Henderson, 27, said she was excited to be taking part such a hands- on learning experience.

“I can’t wait to experience a different culture at first hand as well as having the amazing opportunity to enhance their lives whilst there,” she added.