State, profession, and religion: Reflecting on spirituality and indigenous social work in China in the Yushu Earthquake Relief

Abstract

On April 14, 2010 a massive earthquake measuring 7.1Ms (CEA, CENC) struck the Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Qinghai Province, China. Its scale notwithstanding, it has received much less national and international attention than the also immense Wenchun quake of 2008 in Sichun Province. This field report discusses the contribution of religion and spirituality in post-disaster relief in Yushu. It also calls for critical reflection on the issue of homogenization in the discussion of indigenous social work in China, and perhaps in other multiethnic countries in the world.

The utilisation of Ubuntu across cultures: A case study of a rural development programme in China

“…The case study could extend to examine the utilisation of Ubuntu in an urban area and how it could advance an alliance between rural and urban areas proposed in the literature (Ku and Ma, 2015). The conceptualisation of spirituality could be further discussed by considering the diversified practices among the different ethnic groups in China (Ku and Wong, 2018). Nevertheless, it is a pioneering attempt to reveal how utilisation of Ubuntu can be further promoted under the philosophical orientation of critical realism – what works, for whom, in which circumstances (Nielsen and Miraglia, 2017).…”

The lived experience of wounded helpers: A phenomenological study of social workers working with suicidal cases in mental health settings in Hong Kong

“…Different cultures have different perspectives on life and, therefore, different ways of dealing with traumatic experiences. Studies have shown that religion and culture have a significant influence on trauma response and recovery (e.g., Augustine, 2014; Briggs et al, 2004; Ku and Wong, 2018; McCombs, 2010; Stratta et al, 2013). The Chinese attitude toward death and sadness is encapsulated in the saying “restrain your grief and accept fate” (節哀順變): it is a culture where exhibitions of grief are not encouraged and bereavement is suffered in silence (Chow and Chan, 2006).…”