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Kuholi Chishi speaking at the graduation-cum-foundation day programme in Dimapur.[/caption]
Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, Oct. 2: Director of Higher Education, Kuholi Chishi, has exhorted the graduating students of North East Institute of Social Sciences and Research (NEISSR) to remain positive, passionate, and persevere despite all obstacles to become effective social workers.
Chishi was a special guest at the graduation-cum-foundation day programme held at Holy Cross Higher Secondary School’s auditorium on October 2 in Dimapur. While addressing the 36 graduating students of Masters in Social Work, Chishi said, “Accept situations as it comes to you because you are going to face them. Social work is a matter of sacrifice and you have to be compassionate to be a social worker.”
Stating that graduation was not the end but just the beginning, the director reminded them that little things they do at present times will make great difference in future. She added that social work was all about accepting obstacles and finding out the solutions to go forward in life.
The director, while mentioning the traditional system of education and learning as being mundane and outdated, urged the students to be innovative and do things differently. “That’s how you stand out from the rest. You have to take one step further, that extra mile to achieve something,” Chishi said.
Vice-chancellor of Nagaland University, RC Gupta, who was also a special guest, asserted that the pillars of social work are service, social justice, and integrity, adding tolerance is a trait required to be a committed social worker.
Stating that being a social worker was all about accepting and empowering people, Gupta told the 36 graduating students, “If you know what really is social work, by tomorrow you can work anywhere in the world.”
Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, Bishop of Kohima Diocese, was present at the event during which he urged the students to be the agents from whom the changes would begin. “Through your action, effort, and commitment, you can be the one to begin little changes,” the Bishop said.
Thoppil urged the students to translate their learning into action as they reach out to the society and be the change that they were taught to be.
Chishi and Gupta gave away the certificates to the 36 graduating students.
NEISSR is the first MSW College in Nagaland initiated by the Catholic Church and affiliated to Nagaland University. The college was officially inaugurated on October 8, 2014, in Dimapur. The college offers specialisation on youth development, peace and conflict transformation studies, and community development, among others.