Chapter-1

Introduction:

Social Work is a practice based discipline of Social Science along with theoretical knowledge. It
is founded on the principle of social justice, human rights, communal responsibility and diversity.
It provides professional services to the people to assist them as individual, group or community to
attain satisfying relationships and standard of life following their particular wishes and capacities
and in harmony with those of the community.

Social Work Camping is an important element of Social Work education. Student of social Work
should have practical knowledge about social life and different social systems for properly
practicing the method of community organization. In this aspect, the department of Social Work
of Shahjalal University of Science & Technology, Sylhet offers a 3-credit course on Social Work
Camping for 2nd year, 2nd semester students. The students are placed for 10 days Camp for full
time work in a particular village or community (disadvantaged or ethnic group) or in a disaster
prone area in or outside the country. Another 5 days students are placed for meeting with
supervisors taking required guidelines. Students were divided into 5 groups named A, B, C, D, E
and each group was assigned to certain villages to learn about its requirements & resources, social
issues & remedies. I and my group were assigned for Group-E at Paschim Hatkhola. The Camp is
organized and supervised by respected teachers assigned by department of Social Work.

The purpose of Social Work Camping is to visit the proposed area and identify the current
situations, needs and interests of people through understanding social system professional
interaction. It also underscores the prospects of people and help them to be able to use their best
potentials for the betterment of community.

Social Work Camping:

The study of Social Work is a combination of theoretical and practical studies. In terms of
application, “Social Work Camping” is provided with practical information and perception of real
life problems that less privileged people may confront. Social Work Camp help students to
understand the core of rural life, their problems and needs that helping them in preparing a plan
for social work practice and community development. They become familiarize with a variety of
contexts, difficulties and interests of social lives in a real world setting. To accomplish this task,
the students of social Work are sent to certain needy community for 10 days for full time work.
They are guided and supervised by their supervisors during the period. They help the community

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residents to gain awareness and help them realize their goals within the constraints of the resources
available.

Objectives of Social Work Camping: Major objectives of Social Work Camping are as follows:

 To make the students understand the rural social system and community life.
 To understand the practical aspects of social life and different social institutions.
 To help students to study rural social problems, its impacts on people and intervention
options.
 To develop an understanding of the level of government intervention and its impact on
people.
 To assist students in becoming aware of the impact of some cultural evil practice such as
superstition, unhealthy habits, myths, biased precedence and so on, on their social lives.
 Motivating people so that they can maximize their abilities.
 To interact with people of different status, attain practical knowledge, develop skills in
guiding and counselling and provide more effective solutions of the problem.
 Capable students to improve their communication, expression and leadership skills.
 To develop our learning and sense of care responsibility by applying social work technique.
 To acquire skills in planning, organizing and implementing camp programs, time
management, communication skills, working with time spirit, handling relationships and
conflicts, seeking cooperation’s whenever required administrations etc.

Importance of Social Work Camping:

Social Work Camping is an integral component of social work education. It is recognized as an

instrument of socialization that prepares the students for a future role as a professional social work
worker. It is considered to be learning by doing. It is important to read about theories, but it is
equally important to use the understanding of theories with the reality outside of the institution of
social work. Social Work Camping give this reality check. It offers an environment where students
are given opportunities to align theoretical knowledge and learning with the needs of society and
the marketplace. It also gives students the opportunity to take responsibility for addressing
people’s problem. Students can learn how to apply social work methods in the situation of given
individuals, groups or communities problems. They achieve self-awareness and discipline to use
them as a helper & as an agent of change in an individual & group situation. They know the kinds
of formal and group and force that a community. They should have to ability to utilize community
resources in support of social welfare at various levels of society’s intellectual, emotional &
practical development.

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Community Selection:

One of the most significant tasks for the organizers of social work camping is community selection.
There are certain important factors to consider while determining where to find the desired
community. Before starting the camping A general meeting was called on 23 rd January 2023 by
the honorable supervisors. In that meeting, they discussed various aspects of social work camping
with students. They gave idea & direction how to conduct A community survey to have a
successful camping trip, how to face challenges and maintain schedules. They has also distributed
money provided by the University to the students. Their all efforts helped us a lot to form a good
direction to approach this camping. Five groups of students were assigned for five different
community selected by the supervisor teachers. They are as follows:

Group Name Village/Community name

Group-A Dhokri
Group-B Nondirgram
Group-C Forirergoan
Group-D Paschim Majphara
Group-E Paschim Hatkhola

Duration & planning of the Camping:

Our camping started on 24 January 2023 and finished on February 3, 2023. We have done our
Camping in total 10 days including two days of awareness program and ending program. Details
of each day’s activities are:

Day-1: Meeting and planning with supervisors, making questionnaire, forming group and selection
of group leaders, taking guidelines from supervisors and visited assigned village with a gatekeeper
provided from FIVDB office.

Day-2: Making sub-groups where two groups were working for community mapping and others
were making integration with villagers, informal leaders and youths. Observe community situation
and further planning to go ahead.

Day-3: Visited primary school, meeting with headmaster, teachers, students and current UP
member of the ward- Abdul Ahad.

Day-4: Community visit, social and household survey, talked with two social organization of the
village called “Surjodoy Sporting Club” and “Hatkhola Blood Donation Society.”

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Day-5, 6, & 7: Collect household data, interview of key informants.

Day-8: Taking formal interview with community clinic representative, school headmaster &
president of school managing committee, plan for “Health Check-up and Awareness Program” and
meeting with World Vision Bangladesh, Sylhet APC.

Day-9: Arranged a “Health Check-up and Awareness Program” collaborating with World vision
and cooperation of FIVDB.

Day-10: Ending ceremony, presentation and dialogue session with UP chairman, members and
supervisors.

Introducing Community/Village:

Paschim Hatkhola is situated on the bank of Shari-Goyain River. It is under ward no.9 of 2 no.
Hatkhola Union Parishad and Sylhet Sadar Upazila of Sylhet District. This village consists of about
600 families that are called “khana”. The estimate population of this village is around 4100 of
which 48.40% are males and 51.60% are females. Most of the people of village are related with
fish business as they lived near the river. They barely have agricultural land to cultivate crops. The
small number of land that have are mostly occupied by small number of individuals. Even many
family lives in Khas land. The village is divided into two unit called “Vatiphara” and “UjanPhara”.
Vatiphara is densely populated where people are living with poor drainage system, housing
condition, iron water & sanitation. The word “village Slum” is so suitable with the circumstances
of Vatiphara. And the living standard of people of Ujanphara is comparatively developed. Two
narrow road entered road entered the village dividing into two parts towards Ujan & Vatiphara.
One Govt. primary school and 3 Jame mosque are providing their services towards the community.
Besides many GO, NGO, & INGO organizations and club including World Vision, FIVDB,
RDRS, BRAC, Islamic Relief, ASHA are providing their facilities. The education rate among the
villagers are almost 70%. As most people are involved with fish business, seasonal unemployment
are severely present there. Remaining others are occupied as Day Laborer, Migrant and Auto
rickshaw driver other services. The common people of village are highly influenced by religion.
Islam religion are followed by 100% people of village as no other religious or ethnic group living
there. During the Rainy Season, “Boat Racing” at Shari-Goyain river is organized by the people
of this area are known throughout the country.

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Community Mapping:

Chapter-2
Demographic Information: The estimated population of Paschim Hatkhola is 4100 of which
1984 are male and 2116 are female.

Population by Sex Percentages

Male 48.40%
Female 51.60%

Religion: All the people living in Paschim Hatkhola are Muslim, the follower of Islam. No other
Religion lives here.

Name of the Religion Percentages

Islam 100%
Others 0%
Family Profile:

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Population: I collected data from 23 families (khana’s) of Paschim Hatkhola in which total
number of individuals are 151. My household survey showed the number of male are 63 and female
are 88.

Sex Percentages
Male 41.73%
Female 58.27%

This table shows that female ratio of Paschim Hatkhola is more than the male ratio. Number of
female children are large than the male in most of the family. The tendency to have a boy after
having girls increase the size of family as well as total growth of population of country. Above
contents table again proved to us the truth of last the 2022 census of Bangladesh that the
percentages of women are larger than the men.

Family Type:

Number of No. of Family percentages

family member
2-4 6 26.08%
5-7 9 39.13%
7+ 8 34.79%

According to my survey data, this table content results that most of the family of the village are
composed with 5-7 members. 39.13% and 34.79% percentages from 5 to 7 & 7+ family members
showed that the tendency of consisting big family are still maintained by the villagers. Only lower
portion of people are consisting nuclear family with small number of family member. It also shows
that how people are unaware about family planning.

Economic Condition (Main Income source): Paschim Hatkhola’s economy is based on variety
of sectors including agriculture, remittance, pharmacy business, fish business and other services.

Source of Income Number of person Percentages

Remittance 5 21.73%
Day labour 6 26.08%
Other business 2 8.69%
Agriculture 1 4.34%
Fish Business 7 30.43%
Others 2 8.68%

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Table content shows that the primary income source of the families of village are Fish business
with rate of 30.43%. Day labour is the second most important sector of their community. 26.08%
of total output comes from day lobour and next significant are played by the foreign remittance.
Agriculture is the lowest income sources of population of paschim Hatkhola. Only 4.34%
agriculture income rate gives a bad economic signal to our country. The level of income and
expenditure is not so high. Significantly the level of saving among families is very low.

Health & Hygiene: The condition of health & hygiene among the villagers is poor. There is no
health complex in villages. One community clinic named Mestoriphara Community Clinic is far
from the village. The condition of this clinic is very poor. There is no registered doctor in the clinic
and shortage of medical instruments and services.

Education: Education status of the head of the family are given below:

Level Number of person percentages

Illiterate 10 43.48%
Primary 9 39.13%
secondary 3 13.04%
Higher secondary 1 4.34%
Higher secondary+ 0 0%

This table shows the result that literacy rate of Paschim hatkhola is good but the level of education
rate is not so high. 43.48% people are illiterate and 39.13% people are primary educated or can
write or read the name. The percentages of people with secondary education are only 13.04% that
is so poor compared with total number of population. There is no other primary school in the
village and only one primary school is providing services. People having graduate and
undergraduate degree are barely seen. Most number of children go to Madrasha, located in near
their village but that is not their own. That shows the poorest education status of village. Besides
education rate is lower among the boys than the girls. Because boys engage them works as a day
labour in grocery shop or Hotel boy at hotels as families are poor.

Leisure time: I found my most interesting survey data in this profile. A greater number of women
of this community spent their leisure time to make “NAKSHI KANTHA”. They didn’t waste their
time here and there. To make a kantha took almost ¾ months. By selling it they provide economic
support for their family. Beside this, they do gossiping and religious activities spent their time.
The male members are going to clubs and sports to spend their leisure time.

Leisure Activity Percentages

Nakshi Kantha 41%

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 Club & Sports 30%
Gossiping 10%
Religious Activity 8%
Others 13%

Occupation: According my collected information from 23 household, maximum people are

involved with fishing and fish business. In this reason after rainy season, seasonal unemployment
lingers here. At that time they made their livelihood as a day labour. Some percentages of
occupation of head of the family are presented below:

Types of occupations percentages

Businessman 34.78%
Day Laborer 10.12%
Migrant 8.69
Housewife 10.67%
Unemployed 14%
Farmer 4.35%
Others 17.39%

This figure shows that the larger number of population of paschim Hatkhola are businessman.
They are related with fishing and fish business. Among them some people are those who took loan
from NGO’s to manage the fish business. 17.39% people are engage with multiple occupations
like Mason, Housekeeper, Chef and beggar. Because of lack of Employment opportunity, 14%
people are unemployed or seasonal unemployed.

Diseases & Treatment: Blood pressure and Diabetics are mostly seen among the villagers. And
most people are depending on Allopathic treatment and medicine for the cure of diseases. Most of
the children are suffering from malnutrition.

Types Percentages
Allopathic 96%
Traditional 3%
Others 1%

Water & Sanitation: I found the poor sanitation and drainage system in the Paschim Hatkhola
village. Most of the toilets are ring slabs with tin shade covering them. Most of these are provided
from World vision that saved them from kancha toilet’s damage. In some cases, 3or 4 families are

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sharing same toilet. Most of the villagers wash their hands with soap after the toilets, but before
taking food they forget to wash their hands with soap. Besides I found that, 40% are women are
using sanitary napkin and 60% are using cloth along with napkins.

Tube well is the primary source of drinking water in the village. 96% people are using Tube well
as source of drinking water and another 4% uses river water to cook and making tea. Every tube
well in the villages are arsenic free but not Iron free. Because of limited number, some families
can’t help of sharing tube well with others.

Types of toilets Percentages Types of source of percentages

water
Sanitary Toilets 28.65% Tube Well 96%
Ring slab 48.40% Others 4%
Kancha Toilet 15.60%
Others 7.35%

Accommodation: According to my collected data of Paschim Hatkhola I found that Most of the
houses of village are semi-building or raw houses. House built with bricks & good condition are
very little in number. The number of rooms in the houses are no so plentiful and the rooms are
small in size. 95.65% houses have electricity that in 22 houses out of 23 of my surveyed household.
Remaining other portions do not have electricity and uses candles as their energy sources.

In my surveyed household, 19 families have their own houses, 1 family lives in rented houses and
3 others lives on relatives or someone else’s house.

12 families have only housing land, 7 families have both housing & agricultural land, 1 family
lives on khas land and 3 families have no Land.

Types Percentages Types Percentage Type Percentages

Own House 82.60% Only housing land 52.18% Electricity 95.65%
Rented House 4.35% Housing & 30.18% Others 4.35%
agricultural Land
Others 13.04% Khas Land 4.35%
Others 13.04%

Increasing rate of having electricity shows the socio economic development of people of our
country. Most of the people are living on their own land and small number of people are using
khas land.

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Power Structure: Community Power structure is an important aspect of a community. It helps to
understand the relationship between formal and informal leaders with the villagers. I found two
types of power structure in Paschim Hakhola : Formal & Informal

 Formal power structure:

 Chairman: Maulana K.M. Rafiquzzaman
 Member: Mr. Abdul Ahad
 Female member: Mrs. Rokeya Begum
 Informal power structure:
1. Former Member: Mr. Nijam Uddin
2. School Headmaster: Aminur Rahman
3. Imam of central Mosque: Maulana Mohammad Misbah Uddin
4. Panchayet member: Mr. Ashikur Rahman Ashik
5. Abdul Khadir.

Community Resources: After arriving in the village, we observed all the resources of the village
and noted them. The findings are given below:

 Material resources:
 A Govt. primary school.
 Three Jame Mosque
 Shari-goyain River
 Graveyard
 Mosque-based children and mass education programs of Islamic Foundation
 Dar-ul-Arkam
 Al-Ikra Academy
 Second chance education, A project of govt. for Drop out students.
 Pre-Primary education Program of RDRS.
 Afternoon tution program of FIVDB for students.
 Organizations & Clubs
 Surjodoy Sporting Club
 Hatkhola Blood donation society
 World Vision Committee.
 FIVDB
 ASHA ( Micro-credit)

Community Needs and Problems: Paschim Hatkhola Village has some social, cultural, economic
and infrastructural problem & needs. They are as follow:

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1. Lack of Educational Institution: Only one Govt. Primary school are located in the
community. Children have to go institution a far away from the villages for study where
transportation cost will be so high. Besides some children have go for secondary level
Study to another villages. This circumstances encourage the children for drop out or
irregularity to go school. This is the reason of low education rate of the villagers. Some
non-govt. educational services available but not for enough students. Govt. should
established some secondary and higher secondary level institution and provide efficient
services.
2. Poor drainage system: VatiPhara of Paschim Hatkhola village are look like a slum. Dirty
things from the drain floats onto the road again people are walking on it. Dusts are scattered
here and there. It is a crying need of this area to have a healthy drainage system to live a
hygienic life.
3. No River Dam: Paschim Hatkhola village is located on the bank of Shari-Goyain River.
Every year villagers and suffers from river erosion and floods. To save the lives of people
govt. should builds RIVER DAM as soon as possible.
4. Seasonal unemployment: Paschim hatkhola is a fishing area. Most people are involved
with fish business. In that occasion people get occupied only rainy season. And rest time
of the year they have to become unemployment or doing day labour. During data collection
some villagers claimed to me they need an employment opportunity where they can get
work. Govt. or any non-govt. organization can help them with this aspect. It will increase
the economic growth of our country.
5. Lack of healthcare service: There is no community clinic or health complex all over the
villages. Patients have to go far away for any diseases. It’s a basic need of the community
people to get proper health services from the country. Govt. should provide this services
for them.
6. Irregularities with community resources: Any community have some common natural
or others resources that is owned by the whole community. In case of Paschim Hatkhola
without River there are no natural resources. But, because of corruption of a group of
beneficiary people, community people even can’t get their community resource since 16-
17 years. They are deprived from their property rights. According to former ward member
(Mr. Nijam Uddin) of hatkhola, once the river was occupied by govt. and at a particular
time govt. gave right to people for fishing and sell those to the market. And finally
community people distributed all the money among themselves. But currently it is totally
occupied by few persons and community are deprived.
7. In kind dowry: The community people didn’t think In kind dowry (furniture and others)
as dowry. And almost 95% people exchange in kind dowry.

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 8. Superstition: Among the village people they have some misunderstanding about NGO and
INGO serviced. They thought these are provided by Cristian missionary and taking it
haram for Islam. Providing awareness for them it their need.
9. No Shelter home: As a disaster prone area there are no shelter for them during calamities.
Govt. should look after these needs.

Services available in the community: I found in my survey that the number of people who are
receiving help from different NGO’s and INGO’s are about 62%. Among that the number of people
receiving microcredit loans from ASHA, FIVDB and Grameen Bank is 55%. But it is a matter of
sorrow that 38% people didn’t get any services from any organizations. The service provided by
NGO’s and INGO’s is greater than the GO services. About 24% get the government services,
safety net programs and allowances. Almost 76% didn’t get any government services in the
community.

GO services: Old age allowances, widow age allowances, Pregnancy Allowances, disable
allowances for the needy individuals. Primary education program provided by Govt. primary
school and pre-primary program provided by RDRS. Second Chance education program for the
drop out students at the age of 12-14. Besides this govt. provide stipend for the students to increase
the education rate.

NGO services: A large number of people taking load from ASHA and FIVDB for house repairing,
children’s study, vegetable business and Fish Business. Through taking loan people of village
make a way to provide their daily livelihood. Beside this FIVDB gave the village people cattle,
goat, and hens for rearing, provide awareness about food and nutrition, gave free medical services
including eye operation for children and adults. ASHA, FIVDB and others NGO’s are lives here
to serve the people of community and develop their standard of living.

INGO services: According my collecting data, Among All of GO, NGO services World Vision is
one of the most significant one for development of the community of Paschim Hatkhola. World
Vision’s Community Facilitator “Hasana Akhter” Provide some information during interview with
me. Significant services of World Vision available This Community are:

Maternal and child health nutrition & exercise

Livelihood services
Sponsorship Program for Child protection, funding from America.
Man Care Program for newly married couple.
Consultation for Adolescent girls.
Consisting “Child Forum” to prevent Child Labour & Child Marriage.
Patronize people to register child birth among 40 days of birth.
Working for Child health and nutrition.

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So there are so many services available in the community but people are not aware about that.
Again some people have superstition about different organization.

Chapter -3
Awareness Camping:

Awareness Building is an essential component of social work camping. By the instructions of our
supervisor’s, on the 9th day of our camping, we arranged an awareness building program titled
“Health Check-Up and Awareness Program”. We invited the village leaders, ward members, our
supervisors, community facilitators and service provider’s, guardians of the students. We also
managed one skilled doctor for free health check-up of the students of Hatkhola Govt. Primary
School. He checked their health including their weight, height and measures BMI. I and My
teammates organized the program. The people of the community were unaware about their health
status and nutrition. That’s why we decided to arranged this program. Our program venue was
Hatkhola Govt. Primary School.

At beginning of the program we showed some video presentation and Mina Cartoons about
importance of Education, Impact of Child labours, Equality between male & female, healthy and
nutritional diets, needs of using napkin, dowry and child marriage and healthy environment. Along
with that we started our health check-up program and gave students to take nutritional food. At
last we distribute some food among the children’s that was Sponsored from World Vision. World
Vision Collaborated with our program.

On the 10th day of our camping our supervisor teacher’s arrange a presentation and dialogue
session where each group of social work camping presented their key findings, problems and need
of the community. Chairman of Hatkhola Union and all the members of recruited area were
presents there and made promises to solving community problems.

Learning from Social Work Camping: Social Work Camping Study provided an excellent
experience and team work skills. Following’s are some of the experience I’ve gained:

 I gained knowledge and understanding about rural communities.

 Working with my team mates helped me to improve my communication skills.
 I’ve had an idea about how to conduct personal interviews more effectively
 I gained practical experience how to build up Rapport with the client
 I develop my sense of empathy and responsibility for the people of those to whom I belong
to.

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  I have acquired the knowledge and skills of how to talk to people, listen to them, observe
them attentively to go behind the words so that I can know their hidden feelings and their
expresses and unexpressed reactions.

Besides these that how innocent people the rural peoples mind and their genuine behavior.
Their hospitality raised my respect for them so much that I really wanted to know them.
Though there were some limitations, I enjoyed my work really well.

Scope of Social Work Practice: As a students of Social work I applied my knowledge, skills,
techniques and methods of social work to identify the community needs of Paschim Hatkhola.
Among my collected data there are many cases and scopes to practice social work. To solve
the needs and problems of an individuals, groups or whole community while applying social
work methods are called “social work intervention”. The most common forms of methods
social work interventions that we used are case work, group work, community organization or
development.

 Scope of social case work practice: During my camping study, I found a case, the
respondents name is Mr. “X” (age 60) who is a bagger and mentally disable and have
eye disability. In rehabilitation of this person social case work can play a significant
role.
 Scope of social group work practice: I found my most interesting findings of the
community is their prospectus women’s who made the beautiful “NAKSHI KANTHA”
and know other crafts. But lack of resources they didn’t get proper price of product. A
Broker provide them necessary yarns and cloths to make a kantha and give only 1200
taka wages. Mrs. “Y” (age 26) told me that to make a kantha they need 3 or 4 months
but they only get small amount of money. Again many women who buy cloth and yarns
can cell a NAKSHI KANTHA around 5000 tk. I found that a group of women having
common interest and prospects. Social group work practice have a scope to help those
women.
 Scope of community development: Minimizing unemployment, unhygienic
situations and creating awareness against different superstitions are some scope of
social work practice.

Conclusion:

Social workers work with some of the most vulnerable and marginalized people in the society,
promoting their rights, Challenging inequalities and improving the quality of their lives. Social
workers work different sectors and settings and various job roles, they share a common purpose,
to enhance and safeguard the social well -being. As a 2nd year 2nd semester students I was sent to

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Paschim Hatkhola village for community study. I completed my survey and now presenting the
report with the guidance of supervisors. Social work Camping taught me a lot.

References:

 Check list provided by supervisors.

 Introduction to Social Welfare—by W.F. Friedlander
 Local people of Paschim Hatkhola.

Appendix:

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Shari-Goyain River

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Nakshi Kantha

Meeting with World

Page 17 of 18
Page 18 of 18