Applied Social Sciences – Social Work

STUDENT STORY

" In September I was blessed to have a summer job (and former placement) turn into a full-time job. I work as the full-time secretary at Brightwood Ranch, a Christian camp for kids and youth from single-parent, foster and group homes in the Edmonton Area. Brightwood Ranch is part of Hope Mission, a not-for-profit Christian agency seeking to serve, strengthen and uplift men women and children through the Gospel. While my title is “Secretary,” my first priority is the near 900 kids and youth who step foot on Brightwood’s property every summer. I transferred to Redeemer after graduating college with my diploma in social services. I thought I knew how to work in “the field” but didn’t know how to do it as myself – a Christian. Redeemer taught me how to do this. It helped me solidify my foundation in Social Work and I learned how to do it with my beliefs intact. In school we talk about things like “Community Org” and “Group Work” and Counselling.” At camp we see these in action through a loving community for youth one week of the year. We have chapels, Bible Studies, and one-on-one times with kids where we tell them just how much God loves them. We give them a safe place to come back to every year. Redeemer gave me the skills I needed to balance it all: creating community, preaching the gospel, and even keeping an organized office. "