Buddhism-based charity, philanthropy, and social work: A lesson from Vietnam

Abstract

Private and public social services, including social work centers, are limited to disadvantaged Vietnamese people, such as orphans and people with HIV/AIDS. Buddhism-based organizations (BBOs) have been acknowledged as an avenue to extend social services in Vietnam. This article reviews the social service system and BBOs in Vietnam using secondary data and findings from an empirical study on Buddhist charitable giving. A proposed model linking BBOs to social work centers seeks to improve the efficacy and effectiveness of service delivery.

Investigating the influence of the Catholic Church on social work in the Philippines: An exploration of policy, practice and education

“…The study also shows that in the Philippines, the Church has been historically recognised as a major institution that responds to material poverty and crisis, especially given limited government response, reflecting the literature on FBOs as substantial providers of social services in Southeast Asian countries (Aspalter, 2014;Furuto, 2013;Hoang et al, 2018;Price, 2014). Furthermore, the Church has been pivotal in developing the community organising model and assisting some marginalised communities gain political power.…”

“…For example, in Indonesia, religion is embedded in formal social work education, yet many locals still prefer to seek assistance from religious leaders over qualified workers (Fahrudin, 2013; O’Leary et al, 2018). Furthermore, because of the magnitude of social problems such as poverty and limited healthcare, Asian states have a long history of partnering with and relying on NGOs, including faith-based organisations (FBOs) (Chowdhury et al, 2018; Fahrudin, 2013; Hoang et al, 2018; Mask and Borger, 2008). FBOs are a key feature of Philippine social services (Price, 2014).…”

“…While knowledge about social work in Southeast Asia is limited to descriptive case studies, this snapshot illustrates two key challenges for social work in this context. First, to social work as a distinct profession, given the intertwined nature of 'giving and helping' with both long held community traditions of collectivism, and religious beliefs (Hoang et al, 2018;Nontapattamadul, 2014;Price and Artaraz, 2013). Although the latter also brings complexity, with religious, specifically Catholic, beliefs being identified as a motivation and foundation for ethical social work practice (Price, 2014).…”

Dismantling Christian hegemony: Religious identity as a pathway to fully embrace DEIJ in philanthropy

“…In Hinduism, the virtues of Dana (generosity) and Seva (selfless service) are revered, believed to yield spiritual merit (Anand, 2004). Buddhism similarly emphasizes Dana and underscores the significance of compassionate action (Karuna) in mitigating worldly suffering (Hoang et al, 2019).…”

Vietnamese social work practitioners’ preparedness to practise with sexual minorities: Training and self-reported confidence

“…The first national undergraduate social work curriculum was approved by the Ministry of Education and Training in 2004 (Tran, 2015). However, by the end of 2015, more than 50 undergraduate, four masters and two doctorate programmes had been established across the country (Hoang et al, 2019; Tran, 2015). The core curriculum incorporates key requirements of the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) such as social work theories and skills, practice models and field education (Han et al, 2016; Hugman et al, 2009).…”