2203김지우

Jane Addams: A Pioneer of Social Welfare We can contribute to society by understanding the difficulties faced by disadvantaged people and finding practical solutions to social problems. During the first semester, Jane Addams herself was researched by myself to examine how one person could make a positive change in society. In 1889, Addams herself established Hull House in Chicago to help poor and immigrant families. Hull House provided education, childcare, and employment support for people who had limited access to social services. Through her work, I realized that social welfare is not simply about giving temporary help, but about creating opportunities for people to live better lives. Before Hull House was established, many poor and immigrant families had been neglected by existing social systems. Addams herself lived and worked in the community instead of helping people from a distance. She listened to the problems of residents and tried to find solutions with them. She also worked to improve poor working conditions and protect children from child labor. Her efforts helped promote social reform and contributed to the development of modern social work. Inspired by her work, I want to investigate social welfare problems in my local community. First, I will research the difficulties experienced by elderly people, people with disabilities, and families that need social support. I will collect public statistics and conduct surveys to understand their needs. I will then analyze the results and identify areas where welfare services are insufficient. By comparing different regions, I hope to find practical ways to reduce regional welfare gaps. In addition, I will create a school campaign to raise awareness of social welfare issues. I will introduce local welfare programs and encourage students to participate in community service. I will also make a research report suggesting ways to improve welfare services for people who need more support. Like Addams, who herself worked closely with people in need, I want to listen to their experiences and think about solutions together with them. Through these activities, I will develop empathy, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities. I hope to become a social worker who understands people's needs, uses evidence to identify social problems, and takes action to improve the community. By following Addams's example, I will try to make a meaningful contribution to the public good.