elping the world can be an overwhelming task, but the Social Work Department placed opportunities in the hands of students by hosting its Social Work Volunteer/Career Fair. The Social Work Department holds the fair every semester.
A total of 32 organizations participated in the event from N.C. State, Raleigh and the Triangle Area, most of them offering students volunteer opportunities, along with a few internships.
The Volunteer Fair hosted groups representing Wake County, Farm Workers Justice Association, Small Miracle, which helps with Autism patients, the YMCA, Feed the Pack and Green Chair Project, which helps the homeless transition into new homes.
Students from all majors were welcome to attend, including those from other schools. Kathy Osborne, baccalaureate student social work field director, said students from North Carolina Central University and Meredith College showed interested in attending the fair.
The volunteer fair is held to help students majoring in social work meet their required volunteer hours. According to Osborne, social work majors take three courses that require 40 hours of volunteer work.
Araca Wadsworth, a sophomore majoring in social work, said she spent approximately 10 hours a week volunteering last semester.
Wadsworth interned with the Triangle Family Services in the department of clinical counseling. The internship was not paid, but Wadsworth said she gained useful experience.
“I was able to see what the job entailed on a daily basis.” Wadsworth said. “I also learned that I didn’t want to go into clinical counseling.”
Wadsworth said the drawback of the volunteer placement was the job wasn’t set up as an internship and lacked in work assignments. During her internships, she did paperwork and other office tasks.
According to Osborne, 21 students attended the social work study abroad program last summer. Over the span of seven weeks, students live with Mayan families around Lake Atitlan. Students travel to Guatemala to take part in service learning. They get a chance to take part in service learning, according to Osborne, and it is one of the most inexpensive study abroad programs offered through the University.
“It’s such a beautiful place with tragedy surrounding it.” Osborne said.
Academic advising was also offered at the Social Work Volunteer Fair. The Institute for Nonprofits made an appearance to pull students into the nonprofit minor.
Joanna Foss, graduate student in public administration, said the minor currently has 100 students enrolled. The minor is new to the academic selections, being only five years old.
“The nonprofit minor is an odd bird.” Foss said. “We’re here to get more students interested.”
Foss said nonprofit graduates have been successful. The nonprofits job field is on the move and growing in job opportunities, according to Foss.
The Social Work Volunteer Fair also featured Dr. Silvia Cu, a rural public health doctor from Lake Atitlan Region in Guatemala.
Cu served as the health care provider for the University’s study abroad program in Guatemala. She attended the event to recruit students for the program. She acts as the head of the service-learning placement for students interested in studying health care while in Guatemala.
Jewel Wright, a senior in social work and president of BSSWA, said Cu became familiar with N.C. State students when giving them medical attention during their time in Guatemala.
“I love being able to help people from all populations.” Wright said.
Cu only speaks Spanish and travels with a translator. So far, she has talked to student groups within the Social Work Department about international social injustice and poverty in countries such as Guatemala.