Wednesday, October 30, 2019

Conflict & group Facilitation Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Conflict & group Facilitation - Essay Example on is necessary between the parties, with a skilled facilitator mediating the discussion so that the genuine concerns of both parties can be understood and a mutually acceptable solution found. (Estes et al, 2006). There is a strong conflict existing between David and Peter and it is likely to polarize the group along two different lines. Therefore, there is a need for mediation of a dispute, by getting the two parties to face each other in a non confrontational manner. A skilled facilitator may be used, or suitable members from the group itself may be used as mediators. Conflict resolution in schools between disputing students has been found to be improved through using peers to mediate the resolution of such disputes.(Schrumpf et al, 1991). In this case, the individuals selected to mediate must not offer any opinions or assume responsibility for solving the dispute. Their only function is to listen and enable both Peter and David to fully express themselves and their dissenting viewpoints. The process of mediation must first of all establish certain ground rules, such as not allowing any personal vilification and requiring the parties to address each other calmly, with consideration and respect for each others’ viewpoints. When one party is speaking, he must not be interrupted, but allowed to speak and to fully express his feelings on the matter. Since it is the underlying emotion that each party feels regarding parental and cultural issues which is the source of the conflict, they must learn how to deal with their feelings and keep them under control while interacting with others in the group. This would help to prevent escalation of the conflict. One each party has had their say; the conflict areas must be clearly defined. In the case of David and Peter, the specific areas on which they disagree and the reasons for such differing opinions must be clarified, so that the underlying causes of the conflict are clearly laid out, whether they are cultural,

Monday, October 28, 2019

Dead Stars Essay Example for Free

Dead Stars Essay 1. Is the title â€Å"Dead Stars† appropriate for the story? Justify. Yes, the title Dead Star is very appropriate for the story. In the story, dead stars symbolize a dream for something that is nonexistent. Alfredo loved Julia. She was his dream, his star. He thought there was love there. But like a dead star which is far away, and whose shine could actually be the leftover traveling light from it, he was a long way from getting the girl. And when the time came that they parted from each other, Alfredo kept on wishing to be with Julia but when finally they met again, he realized that the love he thought was possible was in fact, never was. The spark that he saw in his star was gone a long time ago even before he realized it. When he was with Julia after many years of separation, it was then that he learned that all along, he was dreaming for a love that was only an illusion, he was dreaming for a dead star. 2. What Filipino practices are evident in the story â€Å"How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife†? Perhaps one of the most evident Filipino practices shown in the story is the formal introduction of the wife-to-be to the parents of the man before the actual wedding. This is done as part of giving respect to the parents and also to get their blessings. This is a very important Filipino trait and it still done until now although there are instances that it is neglected. Another is the prevailing rule of the father in the family which is the common arrangement of the family system here in the Philippines. It was also shown in the story the tendency of the Filipinos to test the girl or boy so as tofind out his/her real personality and intentions. This was greatly depicted in the character of Leons father through Leons brother. 3. Does Filipino custom explains that love is absent when you dont see the person? Filipinos are best known for being loyal people especially when it comes to love. This is mainly because our culture dictates that loving should be in this way, with all honesty and loyalty and being stick-to-one no matter what the hindrances there may be. These hindrances may include the long  distance between two lovers but still the relationship grows stronger because of the distance and this is one proof that even when we Filipinos dont see our love ones, we still continue to love them deeply. In the case of Alfredo and Julia in the story Dead Stars, Alfredo had only thought that it was love that he had for Julia but in fact it was only a misconception and misinterpretation. So, the question could not be applied to them because at the first place, it wasnt love that Alfredo felt for Julia before they were separated. However, there are really instances when love fades away due to the long absence of our love ones. This is only a case to case basis and it does not generalized the Filipinos. To answer the question, I would say no for love is not grounded in physical presence only. Personally, I would say that love for another continues to live even when the person is not present as long as it is being acknowledged and appreciated, otherwise, it will fade away.

Saturday, October 26, 2019

A Comparison of the Chemical Structures and Production Methods of Silk

A Comparison of the Chemical Structures and Production Methods of Silk and Artificial Silk Abstract Despite their seemingly similar exteriors, the chemical structures and production methods of natural silk and the artificial silks rayon and nylon are quite different. Silk yarn, extracted from the cocoon of the Bombyx mori moth, is made up of fibroin molecules with beta-pleated sheet secondary structures. The fibroin molecules consist of crystalline fibers constructed of regularly paralleled, unfolded polypeptide chains of polyglycylalanine mixed with an amorphous part. Although viscose rayon was originally called â€Å"artificial silk,† it is not a truly synthetic fiber, as it is made from wood pulp, a naturally-occurring, cellulose-based material. Nylon, however, is a synthetic fiber. It is a polyamide whose molecular chains are formed by regularly spaced –CONH– amide groups. Nylon 6-6, or poly(hexamethylneadipamide), is composed of two structural monomers (hexamethylendiamine (H2N(CH2)6NH2) and adipic acid (HOOC(CH2)4COOH), whereas Nylon 6, or poly(6-caprolactam), is composed of a single structural unit (either 6-aminocaproic acid (H2N(CH2)4COOH) or caprolactam). Ultimately, the different chemistries and production methods of these fibers give them certain advantages (such as viscose’s ability to combine with other fibers to create new fabrics easily) and disadvantages (such as nylon’s quickly weakening fibers or natural silk’s difficulty of production) over one another that make them more or less suitable for certain purposes. For this reason, when considering silk and artificial silk, it is illogical to pick one fiber that is superior to the others and to focus on the production of that specific fiber. A Compa... ...io State University Extension Fact Sheet: Textiles and Clothing. Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://ohioline.osu.edu/hygfact/ 5000/5538.html Swicofil AG Textile Services. (n.d.). Viscose Rayon. Swicofil. Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://www.swicofil.com/viscose.htmlc Trossarelli, L. (2003). The History of Nylon. Commissione Centrale Materiali e Tecniche. Retrieved July 25, 2008, from http://www.caimateriali.org/Eventi/Torino/historynylon.html The Viscose Company. (1937). The Story of Rayon (3rd ed.). New York Sales Office: 200 Madison Avenue: The Viscose Company. Wikipedia. (July 24, 2008). Silk. Retrieved July 28, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silk Wikipedia. (July 28, 2008) Viscose. Retrieved July 26, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viscose Woodhouse, T. F. (1929). Artificial Silk or Rayon (2nd ed.). Sir Isaac Pitman & Sons, Ltd.

Thursday, October 24, 2019

Effects of Women Incarceration on Young Children Essay

Number of women putting in prison has increased drastically in recent decades. Approximately 600,000 women were incarcerated in 1990. This number has increased to more than one million in 2000. Though women are less likely to get imprisonment, the rate of their imprisonment is rising drastically (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2001). Majority of women put in prison are mothers. Families of incarcerated women are badly affected and face challenges such mental illness, poverty, substance abuse and child abuse. Sometimes, permanent changes in children of incarcerated women take place even when their mother has returned home. Such children lose the hope of having their mother for the rest of life with them. They think that their mother will go to jail sooner or later (Greene & Hurtado 2000). Children of incarcerated mother are subjected to go through troubles in their adolescence. Such children may commit a crime, may involve in substance abuse, mental illness may be profound in them, may leave schools in their early life and may receive inappropriate adult care. Criminal behavior of mothers brings damaging effects in children. They are badly affected when they see their mother arrested and put in prison (Young & Carrie 2000). This paper provides information about the effects of women incarceration on young children. Different age groups of children are taken into consideration and the effect of their mother’s incarceration on them is discussed in detail. This paper describes how children try to cope up with the incarceration of their mothers. Changes in policies are required and this paper recommends such changes to provide support to such children and to keep them away from the harm. Effect of Women Incarceration on Young Children Majority of the incarcerated women are mothers. The effects of mother’s incarceration on young children are not much known. Such children are not considered when their mothers are put in prison. Researchers, policy makers, communities and service providers do not think about the affected children and thus, nothing is being done for the well-being of those children. Children at different development stages are affected to a different extent. Infants and toddlers are affected in a different manner, where as, pre-schoolers, school-aged children and adolescents are affected in entirely different manner to a different extent (McClellan 1994). Impact of Mother’s Incarceration on Infants and Toddlers Babies are not able to understand the imprisonment of their mothers but people around them come under stress due to the incarceration of the baby’s mother. Such stressed people’s behavior tells the babies that something wrong has happened. The stress period begins when the mother is arrested, put in prison and the stress continues even after the mother’s return. Care givers do not take care of the babies the way a mother can do. Such babies do not receive breast feeding that is essential for their growth. Their routines are badly disrupted. Infants and toddlers are more likely to receive neglecting and abusive care. They are most likely to receive very less capacity to regulate them. They have to face severe stress that is often imposed by their family. They may also have to face poverty. Children of this age group are not able to understand the arrest and imprisonment of their mothers. Some children of this age group forget their mothers and become attached to the caregiver. So, the bond between mother and the child will be broken for ever. When children of this age group are taken to penal settings, they are unable to understand why they cannot touch their moms though their moms are in front of them (Marcus-Mendoza 2001). Impact of Mother’s Incarceration on Pre-Schoolers Pre-schoolers’ age ranges from three to five years. Children under this age group need the development of skills that are essential for them to get success in their academics and society. Individuality seems to be prominent and such children need to live independent life. Discipline development is essential at this stage and certain routines need to be set at this age. Children under this age group are also not able to understand much about the incarceration of their mother but they can catch the feelings by the notions of people surrounding them (Greene & Hurtado 2000). Children’s limited understanding power does not let them connect crime with imprisonment and thus they simply tend to focus on the results of the incarceration. For example, they start disliking the police just because their mother was taken away. They do not like judges because they are responsible for putting their mothers in jails. Sometimes, such children start disliking their mothers because they think that their mother has done something wrong. They need time to settle their minds again to have the same picture of their mother as they had before; the mother who was used to take good care of them. Children under such circumstances usually consider the criminal justice system quite unjust and they consider them as the victims of the criminal justice system (Hagan 1996). Impact of Mother’s Incarceration on School-Aged Children When children come to an age between 6 to 12 years, they become more aware of them and people. Their thinking abilities are enhanced and concepts about rights and wrongs become clearer to them. Such children begin to establish relations with their caregivers and go away from their mothers. In fact, such children should be able to rationalize that their mother is a good person. This can be done when the image of their mother is portrayed to them in a positive manner. They tend to justify that the acts of their mother were quite fair and the criminal justice system has been unfair to them or they may even complain of a biased behavior. Such behavioral developments in children of this age group are quite alarming as criminal behavior may also be developed in such children (Fejes & Miller 2002). Children of this age group do not share this bitter reality of their life with others. They hide as their weak point. Thus, they are less likely to receive any kind of support from others such as teachers, and care takers. They tend to minimize socialization. Aggressive behavior may also develop in such children and they feel difficulty in putting their efforts in their education resulting in more absences (Feldman et al. 1999). Development of Criminal Behavior in Young Children of Incarcerated Women Children of incarcerated women may develop criminal behavior. Following are some factors that determine the likelihood of criminal behavior. Coping Strategies Children of all ages go through extremely hurtful situations. They begin to implement coping strategies to get out of the awkward situations resulting from their mother’s incarceration. They begin to suffer from anxiety, feelings of shame and anger and financial problems. They begin to deny the reality, show aggressive behavior, blame themselves, get involved in substance and alcohol abuse and find ways to escape from the situation by running away. These strategies may benefit kids on temporary basis but they leave long lasting bad effects. These issues may lead to criminal behavior (Casey-Acevedo 2002). Giving Good Reasons This is another strategy that children of incarcerated mothers use to portray their mothers as very good persons. They do so to hide the reality of their mothers. They deny the fact that their mother had committed a crime and that is why she was sent to prison. They justify their mother’s position by insisting that people saying bad words about their mother are indeed bad themselves. They even begin to justify the crime committed by their mother. They insist that crime may be permissible in certain circumstances such as they justify that stealing is a right act if done to provide clothing and food for family. They consider themselves and their mother as a victim of situations such as poverty that had forced their mother to commit a crime. Criminal justice system seems unfair in their eyes. As a result, anti-social behavior begins to develop in such children (Feldman et al. 1999). Poverty Usually incarcerated mother had been the finance provider for children. Incarceration of mother results in lack of funds. They do not get proper nutrition and basic things that are the rights to get by all children. As children face poverty, they consider stealing as permissible and thus commit crimes to fulfill their needs. They want to get the things that children living with their mothers usually get; proper nutrition, good clothing, education, healthy environment etc. The absence of such facilities fosters the likelihood to commit a crime (Greene & Hurtado 2000). Absence of Adult Guidance When mother is sent to prison, children do not receive any guidance and supervision from an adult any more. Adults know better how to guide young children so that they become a part of a safer environment. The absence of adult supervision make children suffer and struggle in society and school. They stop going to school, face difficulties in their jobs, and get involved in relationships that exploit or abuse them. They may get involved in drug culture and even in the sex trade (Gabel & Shindledecker 1993). Strategies for the Minimization of Harm There is a great need to implement strategies that can minimize the harm posed to the children of incarcerated women. Following are some useful strategies to combat this issue: Mothers Should Not Be Incarcerated There is a need to keep the whole family together and for this purpose the mothers should not be incarcerated. In case they commit a crime, there should be some alternatives in place of incarceration. Community based interventions should be implemented. The threat of imprisonment will lead towards betterment. Conditional sentencing will not require any imprisonment and justice system will accomplish the goals that were expected to be obtained from the incarceration of women. Training should be provided to important professional groups Educators, child protection workers, mental health professionals should be trained in a way to support the children of incarcerated mothers. They should be able to explain the children about the connection of crime to punishment. Children should be taught about rights and wrongs. School attendance should be encouraged. Caregivers should be trained in a way to provide the children of incarcerated mothers the best nurturing environment. The visits of children to their mothers should be supervised and motivated in positive manners. Conclusion Children of incarcerated women are at a greatest risk of being traumatized and get involved in criminal behavior. Their personalities are badly affected due to the absence of their mother in the time of their needs. Caregivers are not providing the required care. Criminality of women can be reduced by using effective strategies. Children of incarcerated women should be given under the supervision of an adult to help them grow in a safer environment. Strategies to cope up with the bitter reality of their mother’s incarceration should be implemented in a positive way. Schools and society should be encouraged to help such children instead of making fun of them or taunting them. Good neighbors can also play good roles. Children should be provided with the basic facilities that are essential for nurturing them. Mothers with offensive background should be provided with the support to get reasonable jobs to fulfill their basic needs. This way the crime rate among women can be minimized. Society should let such women improve their criminal behavior by motivating them to quit their crimes. Such women should be appreciated to do meaningful activities that can help them become mentally healthy. Children should never be taken away from the children due to incarceration.

Wednesday, October 23, 2019

Game and Passage Essay

Great agony of spirit, went into the bright moonshine, mounted his horse and rode off into the world. He met holy hermits of the Vindhya Mountains and talked to them but he was not satisfied. Then he went to the jungle with five disciples and there he gave himself up to fasting and penance. But it brought no sense of truth achieved. Then he gave up fasting and began to feed himself fully. He realized that whatever truth men may reach is best by a nourished brain in a healthy body. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: a) What did Buddha find? (1) b) What news was brought to him and what was his reaction? (2) c) What desire took hold of him? (1) d) Why did he give up fasting? (1) e) What did he realize? (1) f) Find words from the passage, which are similar in meaning to the following: (2) i. Very bad pain. ii. A strong wish. 2. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Once a famous tennis player was scheduled to play in a championship game with her most formidable rival. At the last minute, she gave the excuse of not feeling well and refused to play. Her reputation was ruined. Until the day of her death, she was regarded as a ‘poor sport’ afraid of defeat. Why is such a high value put on good sportsmanship in the playing games? The games themselves are not so important. No, but the traits a person shows in playing a game, reveal his 3 | P a g e character and breeding. The qualities needed in games are the same needed for decent living, fairness, honour, self control, willingness to abide by the rules, just tempered by restraint and ability to win or lose with good spirit. If you cannot muster up any interest in a game, you had better stay out of it. A half-hearted player who does not keep his mind on the game ,is for ever asking, â€Å"Oh, is it my turn? † and plainly does not care how things turn out, and is an annoyance. The ideal player plays for the fun of playing. He tries to win; yet he is not so eager that he jumps in ahead of his turn or claims victory before the game is over. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the questions briefly: a) How was the reputation of the famous tennis player ruined? (2) b) How do games reveal a person’s character? (1) c) Which qualities of decent leaving are also needed in games? (2) d). Why should a disinterested player stay out of the game? (1) e) What is on the mind of the ideal player? (1) f) Find words from the passage that are similar in meaning to the following: i) A person who tries to do better than others. ii) An experience or event in which an opponent beats you up. CLASS -VII Reading Passage 1. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Buddha found that all men are unhappy, rich or poor. Wealth brings comfort but no real happiness. While he was in this mood, he came across one of the saints who still performed penance away from the madding crowd. A passionate desire to do likewise took hold of Buddha. Just then the news was brought to him of his firstborn son. â€Å"This is just another tie to break†, said Buddha. At night he awoke in great agony of spirit, went into the bright moonshine, mounted his horse and rode off into the world. He met holy hermits of the Vindhya Mountains and talked to them but he was not satisfied. Then he went to the jungle with five disciples and there he gave himself up to fasting and penance. But it brought no sense of truth achieved. Then he gave up fasting and began to feed himself fully. He realized that whatever truth men may reach is best by a nourished brain in a healthy body. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: a) What did Buddha find? (1) b) What news was brought to him and what was his reaction? (2) c) What desire took hold of him? (1). d) Why did he give up fasting? (1) e) What did he realize? (1) f) Find words from the passage, which are similar in meaning to the following: (2) i. Very bad pain. ii. A strong wish. 2. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Once a famous tennis player was scheduled to play in a championship game with her most formidable rival. At the last minute, she gave the excuse of not feeling well and refused to play. Her reputation was ruined. Until the day of her death, she was regarded as a ‘poor sport’ afraid of defeat. Why is such a high value put on good sportsmanship in the playing games? The games themselves are not so important. No, but the traits a person shows in playing a game, reveal his 3 | P a g e character and breeding. The qualities needed in games are the same needed for decent living, fairness, honour, self control, willingness to abide by the rules, just tempered by restraint and ability to win or lose with good spirit. If you cannot muster up any interest in a game, you had better stay out of it. A half-hearted player who does not keep his mind on the game ,is for ever asking, â€Å"Oh, is it my turn? † and plainly does not care how things turn out, and is an annoyance. The ideal player plays for the fun of playing. He tries to win; yet he is not so eager that he jumps in ahead of his turn or claims victory before the game is over. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the questions briefly: a) How was the reputation of the famous tennis player ruined? (2) b) How do games reveal a person’s character? (1) c) Which qualities of decent leaving are also needed in games? (2) d) Why should a disinterested player stay out of the game? (1) e) What is on the mind of the ideal player? (1) f) Find words from the passage that are similar in meaning to the following: i) A person who tries to do better than others. ii) An experience or event in which an opponent beats you up. CLASS -VII Reading Passage 1. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Buddha found that all men are unhappy, rich or poor. Wealth brings comfort but no real happiness. While he was in this mood, he came across one of the saints who still performed penance away from the madding crowd. A passionate desire to do likewise took hold of Buddha. Just then the news was brought to him of his firstborn son. â€Å"This is just another tie to break†, said Buddha. At night he awoke in great agony of spirit, went into the bright moonshine, mounted his horse and rode off into the world. He met holy hermits of the Vindhya Mountains and talked to them but he was not satisfied. Then he went to the jungle with five disciples and there he gave himself up to fasting and penance. But it brought no sense of truth achieved. Then he gave up fasting and began to feed himself fully. He realized that whatever truth men may reach is best by a nourished brain in a healthy body. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: a) What did Buddha find? (1) b) What news was brought to him and what was his reaction? (2) c) What desire took hold of him? (1). d) Why did he give up fasting? (1) e) What did he realize? (1) f) Find words from the passage, which are similar in meaning to the following: (2) i. Very bad pain. ii. A strong wish. 2. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Once a famous tennis player was scheduled to play in a championship game with her most formidable rival. At the last minute, she gave the excuse of not feeling well and refused to play. Her reputation was ruined. Until the day of her death, she was regarded as a ‘poor sport’ afraid of defeat. Why is such a high value put on good sportsmanship in the playing games? The games themselves are not so important. No, but the traits a person shows in playing a game, reveal his 3 | P a g e character and breeding. The qualities needed in games are the same needed for decent living, fairness, honour, self control, willingness to abide by the rules, just tempered by restraint and ability to win or lose with good spirit. If you cannot muster up any interest in a game, you had better stay out of it. A half-hearted player who does not keep his mind on the game ,is for ever asking, â€Å"Oh, is it my turn? † and plainly does not care how things turn out, and is an annoyance. The ideal player plays for the fun of playing. He tries to win; yet he is not so eager that he jumps in ahead of his turn or claims victory before the game is over. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the questions briefly: a) How was the reputation of the famous tennis player ruined? (2) b) How do games reveal a person’s character? (1) c) Which qualities of decent leaving are also needed in games? (2) d) Why should a disinterested player stay out of the game? (1) e) What is on the mind of the ideal player? (1) f) Find words from the passage that are similar in meaning to the following: i) A person who tries to do better than others. ii) An experience or event in which an opponent beats you up. CLASS -VII Reading Passage 1. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Buddha found that all men are unhappy, rich or poor. Wealth brings comfort but no real happiness. While he was in this mood, he came across one of the saints who still performed penance away from the madding crowd. A passionate desire to do likewise took hold of Buddha. Just then the news was brought to him of his firstborn son. â€Å"This is just another tie to break†, said Buddha. At night he awoke in great agony of spirit, went into the bright moonshine, mounted his horse and rode off into the world. He met holy hermits of the Vindhya Mountains and talked to them but he was not satisfied. Then he went to the jungle with five disciples and there he gave himself up to fasting and penance. But it brought no sense of truth achieved. Then he gave up fasting and began to feed himself fully. He realized that whatever truth men may reach is best by a nourished brain in a healthy body. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: a) What did Buddha find? (1) b) What news was brought to him and what was his reaction? (2) c) What desire took hold of him? (1) d) Why did he give up fasting? (1) e) What did he realize? (1) f) Find words from the passage, which are similar in meaning to the following: (2) i. Very bad pain. ii. A strong wish. 2. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Once a famous tennis player was scheduled to play in a championship game with her most formidable rival. At the last minute, she gave the excuse of not feeling well and refused to play. Her reputation was ruined. Until the day of her death, she was regarded as a ‘poor sport’ afraid of defeat. Why is such a high value put on good sportsmanship in the playing games? The games themselves are not so important. No, but the traits a person shows in playing a game, reveal his 3 | P a g e character and breeding. The qualities needed in games are the same needed for decent living, fairness, honour, self control, willingness to abide by the rules, just tempered by restraint and ability to win or lose with good spirit. If you cannot muster up any interest in a game, you had better stay out of it. A half-hearted player who does not keep his mind on the game ,is for ever asking, â€Å"Oh, is it my turn? † and plainly does not care how things turn out, and is an annoyance. The ideal player plays for the fun of playing. He tries to win; yet he is not so eager that he jumps in ahead of his turn or claims victory before the game is over. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the questions briefly: a) How was the reputation of the famous tennis player ruined? (2) b) How do games reveal a person’s character? (1) c) Which qualities of decent leaving are also needed in games? (2) d) Why should a disinterested player stay out of the game? (1) e) What is on the mind of the ideal player? (1) f) Find words from the passage that are similar in meaning to the following: i) A person who tries to do better than others. ii) An experience or event in which an opponent beats you up. CLASS -VII Reading Passage 1. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Buddha found that all men are unhappy, rich or poor. Wealth brings comfort but no real happiness. While he was in this mood, he came across one of the saints who still performed penance away from the madding crowd. A passionate desire to do likewise took hold of Buddha. Just then the news was brought to him of his firstborn son. â€Å"This is just another tie to break†, said Buddha. At night he awoke in great agony of spirit, went into the bright moonshine, mounted his horse and rode off into the world. He met holy hermits of the Vindhya Mountains and talked to them but he was not satisfied. Then he went to the jungle with five disciples and there he gave himself up to fasting and penance. But it brought no sense of truth achieved. Then he gave up fasting and began to feed himself fully. He realized that whatever truth men may reach is best by a nourished brain in a healthy body. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the following questions: a) What did Buddha find? (1) b) What news was brought to him and what was his reaction? (2) c) What desire took hold of him? (1) d) Why did he give up fasting? (1) e) What did he realize? (1) f) Find words from the passage, which are similar in meaning to the following: (2) i. Very bad pain. ii. A strong wish. 2. Read the following passage carefully: (8 marks) Once a famous tennis player was scheduled to play in a championship game with her most formidable rival. At the last minute, she gave the excuse of not feeling well and refused to play. Her reputation was ruined. Until the day of her death, she was regarded as a ‘poor sport’ afraid of defeat. Why is such a high value put on good sportsmanship in the playing games? The games themselves are not so important. No, but the traits a person shows in playing a game, reveal his 3 | P a g e character and breeding. The qualities needed in games are the same needed for decent living, fairness, honour, self control, willingness to abide by the rules, just tempered by restraint and ability to win or lose with good spirit. If you cannot muster up any interest in a game, you had better stay out of it. A half-hearted player who does not keep his mind on the game ,is for ever asking, â€Å"Oh, is it my turn? † and plainly does not care how things turn out, and is an annoyance. The ideal player plays for the fun of playing. He tries to win; yet he is not so eager that he jumps in ahead of his turn or claims victory before the game is over. On the basis of your reading of the passage, answer the questions briefly: a) How was the reputation of the famous tennis player ruined? (2) b). How do games reveal a person’s character? (1) c) Which qualities of decent leaving are also needed in games? (2) d) Why should a disinterested player stay out of the game? (1) e) What is on the mind of the ideal player? (1) f) Find words from the passage that are similar in meaning to the following: i) A person who tries to do better than others. ii) An experience or event in which an opponent beats you up.

Tuesday, October 22, 2019

How to Write the Hook of an Essay

How to Write the Hook of an Essay You can think of the first sentence of your essay as you would a fishing hook. It grabs your reader and allows you reel the person into your essay and your train of thought. The hook for your essay can be an interesting sentence that captures a persons attention, it can be thought-provoking, or even, entertaining. The hook for your essay often appears in the first sentence. The opening paragraph includes a thesis sentence. Some popular hook choices can include using an interesting quote, a little-known fact, famous last words, or a statistic. Quote Hook A quote hook is best used when you are composing an essay based on an author, story, or book. It helps establish your authority on the topic and by using someone elses quote, you can strengthen your  thesis if the quote supports it. The following is an example of a quote hook: A mans errors are his portals of discovery. In the next sentence or two, give a reason for this quote or current example. As for the last sentence (the thesis) : Students grow more confident and self-sufficient when parents allow them to make mistakes and experience failure. General statement By setting the tone in the opening sentence with a uniquely written general statement of your thesis, the beauty is that you get right to the point. Most readers appreciate that approach. For example, you can start with the following statement: Many studies show that the biological sleep pattern for teens shifts a few hours, which means teens naturally stay up later and feel alert later in the morning. The next sentence, set up the body of your essay, perhaps by introducing the concept that school days should be adjusted so that they are more in sync with the teenagers natural sleep or wake cycle. As for the last sentence (the thesis):  If every school day started at ten oclock, many students would find it easier to stay focused. Statistic By listing a proven fact or entertaining an interesting statistic that might even sound implausible to the reader, you can excite a reader to want to know more.   Like this hook: According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, teens and young adults experience the highest rates of violent crime. Your next sentence can set up the argument that its dangerous for teenagers to be on the streets at late hours. A fitting thesis statement might read: Parents are justified in implementing a strict curfew, regardless of a students academic performance. The Right Hook for Your Essay The good news about finding a hook? You can find a quote, fact, or another type of hook after you determine your thesis. You can accomplish this with a simple online search about your topic after youve developed your essay. You can nearly have the essay finished before you revisit the opening paragraph. Many writers polish up the first paragraph after the essay is completed. Outlining the Steps for Writing Your Essay Heres an example of the steps you can follow that help you outline your essay. First paragraph: Establish the thesisBody paragraphs: Supporting evidenceLast paragraph: Conclusion with a restatement of the thesisRevisit the first paragraph: Find the best hook Obviously, the first step is to determine your thesis. You need to research your topic and know what you plan to write about. Develop a starting statement. Leave this as your first paragraph for now. The next paragraphs become the supporting evidence for your thesis. This is where you include the statistics, opinions of experts, and anecdotal information. Compose a closing paragraph that is basically a reiteration of your thesis statement with new assertions or conclusive findings you find during with your research. Lastly, go back to your introductory hook paragraph. Can you use a quote, shocking fact, or paint a picture of the thesis statement using an anecdote? This is how you sink your hooks into a reader. The best part is if you are not loving what you come up with at first, then you can play around with the introduction. Find several facts or quotes that might work for you. Try out a few different starting sentences and determine which of your choices makes the most interesting beginning to your essay.

Monday, October 21, 2019

Free Essays on Women In The American Revolution

During the American Revolution thousands of women took an active role in both the American and British armies. Most were the wives or daughters of officers or soldiers. These women, who maintained an almost constant presence in military camps, were known as "camp followers." Here at Stony Point Battlefield, there were 52 women who were captured with the British garrison on the night of July 15, 1779 by the American Corps of Light Infantry. In spite of the fact that these women were not considered to be part of the army they were still included in the list of British prisoners taken at Stony Point. Because women frequently did not serve any military function during the war, their individual names were never listed in the records of the day and are therefore unknown to us. It is also difficult to state accurately what their duties were as camp followers. It may be surmised though that their duties consisted primarily of cooking, mending, laundry, childcare, and nursing the sick. As a c amp follower a woman was paid a small wage and was supplied with a half ration of food for herself. While the above mentioned tasks were performed by the majority of women found within camp life, an occasional woman found herself placed or placed herself in extraordinary circumstances. Her participation in such situations were frequently well beyond the roles dictated by 18th-century society. One of the most remarkable individuals of the Revolution was a young lady by the name of Deborah Sampson. It was her desire to avoid hard labor on the family farm that led her to impersonate a man and join the American army. Sampson first enlisted under the name Timothy Thayer early in 1782. When she failed to report for duty after a night spent imbibing at a local tavern, her true identity was discovered. In May of 1782, she re-enlisted, this time in Captain George Webb's Co. 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the name of Robert Shurtleff. She participated in several ... Free Essays on Women In The American Revolution Free Essays on Women In The American Revolution During the American Revolution thousands of women took an active role in both the American and British armies. Most were the wives or daughters of officers or soldiers. These women, who maintained an almost constant presence in military camps, were known as "camp followers." Here at Stony Point Battlefield, there were 52 women who were captured with the British garrison on the night of July 15, 1779 by the American Corps of Light Infantry. In spite of the fact that these women were not considered to be part of the army they were still included in the list of British prisoners taken at Stony Point. Because women frequently did not serve any military function during the war, their individual names were never listed in the records of the day and are therefore unknown to us. It is also difficult to state accurately what their duties were as camp followers. It may be surmised though that their duties consisted primarily of cooking, mending, laundry, childcare, and nursing the sick. As a c amp follower a woman was paid a small wage and was supplied with a half ration of food for herself. While the above mentioned tasks were performed by the majority of women found within camp life, an occasional woman found herself placed or placed herself in extraordinary circumstances. Her participation in such situations were frequently well beyond the roles dictated by 18th-century society. One of the most remarkable individuals of the Revolution was a young lady by the name of Deborah Sampson. It was her desire to avoid hard labor on the family farm that led her to impersonate a man and join the American army. Sampson first enlisted under the name Timothy Thayer early in 1782. When she failed to report for duty after a night spent imbibing at a local tavern, her true identity was discovered. In May of 1782, she re-enlisted, this time in Captain George Webb's Co. 4th Massachusetts Regiment, under the name of Robert Shurtleff. She participated in several ...

Sunday, October 20, 2019

How to Find Your Career Type Based on Your Personality

How to Find Your Career Type Based on Your Personality Decades from now, when you’re sipping some bubbly at your retirement party, what do you want the theme of the day to be? â€Å"She didn’t hate her career all of the time†? â€Å"He broke the record for the number of career jumps in a 10-year period†? Of course not. You want that day to be a celebration of a career that was satisfying and fruitful for you. But in the meantime, how do you achieve that long-lasting career satisfaction? The folks at LifeHacker have a system for determining your career personality, or the type of job that fits your own skills, abilities, values, and preferences. This is important for a variety of reasons.This flowchart from  Truity helps you find your career personality type:  It’s your path forward.Basically, knowing your career personality can not only help you settle on a specific path, but it can also help you set goals. If you have trouble visualizing a five-year plan for yourself, it might very well be because you’re on a career path that makes you uncomfortable. If you majored in accounting in college because it seemed like the thing to do at the time, but now you want to scream after spending hours knee-deep in spreadsheets, well†¦maybe you and accounting aren’t a good match.Figuring out your career personality can help you avoid that spreadsheet rage by narrowing down what would interest and challenge you. Maybe you and your accounting degree would be better suited to a different kind of financial environment- or maybe you should be on cable news talking about the economy. There are ways to adapt skills and interests to different career paths, but you won’t know how to take advantage of that until you take the time to figure out what you can do, and where you should be doing it.Money shouldn’t be the only career consideration.Yes, of course you want the job that pays your bills and maybe even lets you save up for that dude ranch vacation you’ve b een eyeing on Groupon. But if that paycheck comes at the expense of a job that bores the heck out of you, or an intense office environment that leads to epic crying jags in the restroom, that doesn’t seem like a great career investment. Know yourself, know your limits, and know what will make you a satisfied employee.It’s never too late to make a change.Think about the choices you made when you were young. That haircut. The summer you spent as a boy band groupie. The first boyfriend/girlfriend, whose cringe-inducing Facebook posts always make you wonder, â€Å"What was I thinking?† It stands to reason that a career choice you may have made just out of high school or college wouldn’t line up with your life and interests as you get older.Gone are the days where you’d start entry-level with a company, then park there for 40 years. You’re not tied to a particular job, and you’re not even tied to a particular career. It’s totally le gitimate to re-evaluate who you are right now, and what you want out of your professional life. Figuring out your career personality is an excellent first step.You can always do some fine-tuning.If you take the time to map out your career personality, you might figure out you’re on the right general career path. If so, that’s fantastic! You chose well. Your next step should be taking that knowledge, and deciding whether you’re getting all you can out of your career. Perhaps your values and skills would be a better fit at a different company within your field. That’s the kind of self-knowledge that will come in handy if/when you decide to make a job change and start searching for your next step.It makes you a stronger employee.Much like you want to find a workplace that aligns with your own needs and personality, companies are seeking new hires who mesh well with their day-to-day operations. One of the main purposes of a job interview is talking with candi dates and evaluating how they’ll fit in with not only the job, but the company’s existing employees and culture. Knowing where you fit best will make it easier for you to demonstrate confidently how and why you’d be a great hire.So think about what you want, what makes you tick career-wise. You have plenty of time before that retirement party, so make the most of it!

Saturday, October 19, 2019

A Comparative Analysis of Two Texts Related to Gender Studies of Youth Essay

A Comparative Analysis of Two Texts Related to Gender Studies of Youth in London - Essay Example The researcher states that while both of these studies are gender related, each approaches the problem from a distinctly different viewpoint. In fact, both these studies covering aspects of gender and their reverberations in the social and cultural context of British society have started off from a historical and cultural perspective. Both comment on the changes that have occurred in the external environment that have an impact on how today’s youth think and feel. Included also is the change brought about by individualism, consumerism and the economic difficulties in making ends meet. The importance or uselessness of education, the need for money and the need to explore choices and have a good time are all covered being aspects of today’s teenager’s lives. They are confused and distraught at the lack of guidance that will enable them to achieve their dreams and aspirations, and look for true and valuable input that really makes logical sense rather than being sol d courses that may or may not pay off in the long run. The second study by Francis makes special mention of the ethnic background of the children studied in three schools across the social strata Vietnamese Asians, Chinese, Indian and Afro-Caribbean children are mentioned. Elements of culture are also visible in classifications of the males as macho lads, academic achievers, new enterprisers and real Englishmen from the British perspective as compared to conformists, innovators, retreatists and rebels from an Afro-Caribbean viewpoint. Reasons for the Research and its Significance in the Social and Historical Context Although both books can be regarded as gender studies in their own right a review of each shows that these studies have a very different genesis and raison d’etre. While the Francis study is limited to boys and girls of adolescent ages and their achievements in a classroom context, the Ball et al. study has a distinctly wider perspective and reach. It touches upon choices relating to post high school primarily relating to work and employment. So in a sense the Ball study starts where the Francis study ends. Nevertheless, both studies it can be seen have their own utility and impact on life in the classroom and on the route to work and employment. Although the context and duration of the Francis study is limited to achievements in the classroom, it also relates the fact that gender discrimination can be seen here in various contexts and must be reduced. It is commendable that some changes have been evident since the 1990s, where boys and girls achievements in the GSCE examinations have been decreasing. Similarly we find that even out at work, there still exists a glass ceiling for females in management, disciplines like teaching and nursing are female dominated, and females are paid less than males for similar work. Added to this is the fact that a married woman has to play the role of wife, mother, office worker, cook, carer and confidante f or her boss, family and kids in the course of 24 hours day after day. Admittedly all this is changing in the modern era where we have househusbands and working wives- but the work culture is still male dominated and will take some

Friday, October 18, 2019

Negative Effects of Advertising on American Youth Essay

Negative Effects of Advertising on American Youth - Essay Example One of the ways through which companies use technology is through advertising and marketing. Through this, companies communicate with consumers, mainly creating awareness about their new products, or promoting their companies, for increased profitability. Marketing and advertising benefits the company the most, since this promotes company products, hence more sales for the company. On the other hand, consumers too benefit from marketing and advertising, as this makes them aware of the products in the market by different companies, thus are able to make their purchasing decision, after comparing various products in the market. However, advertising and marketing is also known to have negative influences on the target population for which the adverts are aimed. Marketing and advertising has negative effects on the youth in America, and these include eating disorders and obesity, body dissatisfaction, violence, and consumerism. Commercial broadcasting is highly used by different companie s today. The television is the most known for airing most commercials advertisements today. This is probably because more people have access to the television; therefore, companies can reach a larger number of people through the television. On the other hand, print magazines are also a channel for advertisements, which is used by different companies. Most youth, especially the females, are highly attracted to fashion magazines, which are available and produced by various companies. Similarly, outdoor advertising, which involves different outdoor activities planned by a company, are mainly aimed at promoting the company and its products. Other forms of outdoor advertising include transit posters, bus adverts, bench advertising, and highway billboards, which communicate various messages from a company to the public. Nonetheless, apart from promoting and boosting company sales, these different forms of advertising have negative effects on the youth in America. Advertisements and the ap proach used therein are considered to brainwash most people and affect the perspective of people on morals and self-image (Harper, Brit and Tiggemann 645). In the United States, there is the right to freedom of speech for advertisers, and this could probably be the reason why these sometimes ignore the negative implications of most of their advertisements. With regard to body dissatisfaction, most youth in America are influenced by the body images in various advertisements, and therefore, think of those as the ideal body images (Hargreaves and Tiggemann 469). In television advertisements for beauty products for both male and females, model women and men are used. In the past, women models were portrayed as plumb and healthy, however, today, models are portrayed as skinny (Sparks 217). On the other hand, male models on television advertisements today are portrayed as men with steroidal masses, with muscles, and great strength. According to Hargreaves and Tiggemann, the exposure to th e model body images in television advertisements has a negative impact on the perceptions of the youth about their bodies (470). These might therefore, look for ways of attaining the â€Å"ideal† body, as portrayed in television advertisements. The second negative effect of advertisements to the youth in America is obesity and eating disorders. Obesity is a growing problem in the United States today. This problem affects the youth also, and this is highly attributed to the massive advertisements shown on the television and other advertising platforms, promoting fast food. Obesity is lethal, since this could lead to type 2 diabetes. The main factor promoting this in the United Sta

Family Business Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Family Business - Research Paper Example Critical Issues Involved Within Family Business In accordance with survey report of KPMG (2009), it has been observed that family businesses mainly deal with such features or aspects that are unique to their business. Therefore, there exist certain issues with regard to the accumulation as well as the preservation of occupational assets along with wealth by implementing and applying various measures. Family business also entails issues such as management, ownership along with governance. Succession planning, growth and progression are also pertinent issues that are being faced by family businesses. Compensation issues related with reimbursing the family members is also a matter of concern as it creates a significant extent of problem within the management of family business. Another prominent issue that depicts rivalry among family members or siblings also creates a hurdle in the growth and the development of the family business (PWC, 2012; CBIA, n.d.; ICFIB, 2009; KPMG, 2009; Mass M utual Financial Group, 2007). In the opinion of the survey report published by ICFIB (2009), it has been assessed that issues with regard to governance is a primary problem of family business. ... e selection of appropriate member for a designated position in the organizational hierarchy is at times not done which results in creating an issue with regard to fairness as well as justice. In the survey report, it has been further revealed that family businesses do not maintain or inculcate written documents concerning employment policies. Communication gap and conflicts within in-laws are issues that have been recognized through the survey in the above article (PWC, 2012; CBIA, n.d.; ICFIB, 2009; KPMG, 2009; Mass Mutual Financial Group, 2007). According to the survey report of Mass Mutual Financial Group (2007), it has been taken into consideration that labor costs, estate taxes and health care costs are certain issues that arise within family business. Furthermore, it has also been ascertained that family businesses mainly rely upon their close associates for assistance and advise which at times creates a major issue in terms of rivalry within family members. In the opinion of P WC (2012), it has been determined that in family businesses there are issues related to taxation as well as accessibility with regard to capital. According to the survey report, it has been revealed that in Finland, key issues that are being faced by family businesses include staff recruitment as well as prevailing market conditions. The reviews and the survey reports depict the current prevailing issues within family business that are affecting the growth and development of the organizations. Family businesses are executed worldwide inculcating common issues within its system (PWC, 2012; CBIA, n.d.; ICFIB, 2009; KPMG, 2009; Mass Mutual Financial Group, 2007). Mitigating Issues for Growth and Development Succession planning is a major issue within family business. In order to resolve such

Thursday, October 17, 2019

Industrialization in the USA during the 19th century Essay

Industrialization in the USA during the 19th century - Essay Example This trade led to a surplus of raw materials into the United States causing the need to industrialize the manufacturing industries so that they could meet the external demand for their products. In addition, industrialization took place due to migration of large populations from England to the USA, which marked an influx of labor forces to work on the different sectors in USA. This was then coupled with rural-urban migration of the American population leading to creation of urban settlements that were well planned (Hirschman & Mogford, 2009). Consequently, the skilled and semi-skilled population took to commerce and other urban economic activities, which further saw industrialization take root in the USA. Advancements in transport and technology also saw industrialization take place due to the ability to move bulky goods within a shorter period in the case of transport. In regard to technology, mechanization of certain aspects of production saw industrialization take place due to the ease of manufacturing and processing of certain goods. Altogether, technology and trade were the most significant factors responsible for the industrialization of the USA during the 19th century because trade brought demand and technology eased production. Wizard of Oz The wizard of Oz goes as far as to present numerous angles to which the story of the Wizard of Oz can be translated and even understood by looking at it through different literary forms.

Attitudes Toward Autism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 5000 words

Attitudes Toward Autism - Essay Example The data available with the survey has made use of the one-way ANOVA test and compared the ethnicities of users with their responses to the question of whether they personally knew a person known to suffer from Autism. In this context, it is assumed that the respondents’ answers were considered with the assumption that personally knowing someone with Autism was equivalent to the presence of such suffering individuals within friends and family. The one-way ANOVA test presented the following outputs results. The purpose of the ANOVA test in this context is to identify variations over the extent to which different ethnicities are aware of the existence of Autism within their communities. The null hypothesis assumes that there is no difference amongst the various ethnic groups over the presence of Autism. However, the ANOVA analysis presents a significance value (0.000), which is less than the confidence levels of 0.05, leading to a rejection of the null hypothesis. This establishes that different ethnicities have different opinions and knowledge over the existence of Autism within their groups. The above tests still provide a significance value well below the confidence intervals ( The reason for choosing the Games Howell post-hoc test was due to fact that it does not rely on homogeneity of variance. SPSS marks significant differences with an asterisk as shown in the figure above. From the figure, it is clearly evident that the understanding of existence of Autism varies significantly amongst the different groups. Most importantly, there were significant differences observed between different groups including Afro-Caribbean &

Wednesday, October 16, 2019

Industrialization in the USA during the 19th century Essay

Industrialization in the USA during the 19th century - Essay Example This trade led to a surplus of raw materials into the United States causing the need to industrialize the manufacturing industries so that they could meet the external demand for their products. In addition, industrialization took place due to migration of large populations from England to the USA, which marked an influx of labor forces to work on the different sectors in USA. This was then coupled with rural-urban migration of the American population leading to creation of urban settlements that were well planned (Hirschman & Mogford, 2009). Consequently, the skilled and semi-skilled population took to commerce and other urban economic activities, which further saw industrialization take root in the USA. Advancements in transport and technology also saw industrialization take place due to the ability to move bulky goods within a shorter period in the case of transport. In regard to technology, mechanization of certain aspects of production saw industrialization take place due to the ease of manufacturing and processing of certain goods. Altogether, technology and trade were the most significant factors responsible for the industrialization of the USA during the 19th century because trade brought demand and technology eased production. Wizard of Oz The wizard of Oz goes as far as to present numerous angles to which the story of the Wizard of Oz can be translated and even understood by looking at it through different literary forms.

Tuesday, October 15, 2019

Mid 2 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Mid 2 - Essay Example Firstly, the Articles had no separation of powers (Brinkley, 201). Another problem with the Articles is that there was no strong form of central government (with a President) as seen today, as much of the power rested with the States themselves (Brinkley, 208). Bearing this in mind, it was very difficult to change the Articles because any amendment to them had to have universal approval from the 13 states and any law passed had to be approved by at least 9 (Brinkley, 211). The original Constitution did not have a bill of rights, so the first major amendment was to add this in 1789, with many states ratifying the Constitution before this date on the premise that this would be added to protect citizens (Brinkley, 220). The Federalists also acknowledged that to make the more centralized system work would require that the central government would need to take on existing debt, which would create a very large national debt (Brinkley, 220). Washington and Hamilton played large roles in mak ing the new federal government work. Hamilton founded the federal bank to ensure that there was a developed banking system in the United States (Brinkley, 225), which was needed to tackle the aforementioned problems of national debt. Hamilton was also the founder of the first U.S. political party (the Federalists) which made him an important player in developing the U.S. political system as we know it today. Washington played a role in securing national identity and developing the constitution, as seen by his role in the Whiskey Rebellion (Brinkley, 243). Despite this initial strong start for the Federalists, there was a split between this group and so-called Anti-Federalists (or Republicans), partly because of some of the dangers that were posed by a one-party state. The Republicans opposed the Federalist structure because they felt it resembled British structure (Brinkley, 243), which was evidently not popular and believed to be corrupt. Additionally, Republicans like Jefferson we re believed in the need for independent farmer citizens (Brinkley, 235). After Washington retired, the next President was John Adams. There was increasing tension during his rule between the U.S. and France, partly because France wanted Jefferson to be president (Brinkley, 235) and the Washington and Adams both wanted to stay out of European conflicts (Brinkley, 240). The Quasi-War with France had led to the passing of the Alien and Sedition Acts (Brinkley, 240), which led to more fighting between Federalist and Republican parties. The 1800 election was important because it was one way of figuring out the divide and coming to some sort of resolution between the two political parties (Brinkley, 249). The votes for Jefferson and Burr were tied so Congress had to choose a winner (Brinkley, 250). Evidently, Jefferson won the 1800 election which began an important time for Democratic-Republicans in the United States and allowed some of the more important founding features of the era to c ome to the fore in politics. Part TWO: From Jefferson to Jackson: Tell me how Jefferson’s vision of America contrasted with the Federalist one. How did Louisiana, Marbury vs Madison, the North African war and strained relations with Britain modify Jeffersonianism in practice? How did the War of 1812 become a Second War of Independence? What was the war’

Monday, October 14, 2019

Us Foreign Policy With Respect To Iraq Essay Example for Free

Us Foreign Policy With Respect To Iraq Essay During the immediate post 911 period, President George W. Bush spent ample time addressing the United States and the world on the need to pursue and install democracy in Middle East as a long term strategy to winning the war against terror. This came in the wake of the events of the September 11th terror attack that left America shaken to its core. Such address by President Bush clearly defines in a summary the contemporary US foreign policy on Iraq. This paper will inadvertently analyze the foreign policy of the United States on Iraq. It will look at the motivation behind such policy, its achievement and the criticism that such a policy has attracted. Iraq has been a core subject in the United States foreign policy of long to an extent that it has been instrumental in shaping domestic and global politics. The nature of the United States foreign policy on Iraq is a reflection of the relationship that these two nations and the kind of the interaction that there leaders have been having. A look at the past decades of this relationship reveals that it has been full of conflicts and hostility, with the United States being the dominant player and Iraq, despite its immense resources, being on the receiving end although in defiance. The events that have shaped this modern foreign policy began taking shape in the 1980s. In the 1980s, Iraq was under the tutelage of the United States, benefiting from immense economic aid and also non-direct military support. By the time of the Iran-Iraq war, the United States did not issue sanctions despite Iraq’s bombing of the Kurds; instead it resulted to appeasing the then Iraq leader Saddam Hussein and intervening on his behalf. This relationship soured in the early 1990s after Iraq forces invaded and began an occupation in Kuwait citing unpaid up debts and oil feud. With the takeover highly condemned by the United Nations, the United States moved in with speed by sending its troops to the region signifying the commence of the Operation Desert Storm aimed at dislodging Iraq from Kuwait. Allied forces led by the United States liberated Kuwait and enforced a United Security Council resolution to dismantle all the held weapons of mass destruction by Iraq through an operation by the United Nations Monitors. The United States in a bid to extend its presence and occupation erected what came to be known as the â€Å"no-fly zones† heavily putting a stiff restriction on Iraq’s sense of sovereignty. This would indicate the start of a conflict that has by far come to shape today’s United States foreign policy in Iraq and by extension in the Middle East (Chollet, D. and James G. , 2008, 33). The United States since the end of the Operation Desert Storm has maintained its presence unleashing a series of air strikes towards Iraq. As a formal protest towards this transgression, Iraq began restricting the presence of the United Nations weapons inspectors terming them as a part of a larger espionage effort by the United States. Air strikes to this region have become a common event since 1993 by both the British and the United States forces. In a policy that has been sanctioned and appropriately defended by the successive American regimes, the United States has taken over the air space and heavily patrolled Iraq’s naval bases during Saddam’s regime to restrict any movements or any aggression towards Iraq’s neighbors. The United States took an active role in enforcing the sanctions as placed by the Security Council of which it is a key member possessing veto powers. Such sanctions were put in the hope that the hardships experienced would have a resultant effect of producing negative sentiments against Saddam’s rule. They were counter productive though as they strengthened Saddam’s resolve towards his stand in Iraq. One of the negative sides to the US supported sanction was that they only affected the citizens but not the ruling elite, while producing a generation that was anti-United States (Glenn P. ,2003, 58). The focus of the United State foreign policy as can be obviously discerned has been influenced by two things; terrorism and the first Gulf war. It is important to note that those that have largely supported the United States policy on Iraq have seen it as a necessary measure to â€Å"free up the Middle East military for further actions against Al Qaeda, to liberate the Iraqis people from their danger and establish, â€Å"a bunch bed of Arab democracy† (Richard A and Howard F. , 2004, 69). Such arguments have been widely criticized and indeed the United States foreign policy in Iraq has continued to draw mixed controversies with those in support of it being seen as pro war. There are those that see the United States policy as motivated by self interests and oil needs believing that if successful, such a foreign policy â€Å"would prompt US and multinational petroleum giants to rush into Iraq, dramatically increasing the out put of a nation whose oil reserves are second only to that of Saudi Arabia â€Å". (Nafeez M. , 2003, 234). Such sentiments have become prevalent in view of the raging debate over a foreign policy that has led the United States to be on a war path with the rest of the world. Most people in the world did not see the essence of the United States invasion. Polls taken prior to the commencement of the war had indicated that they did not favor the invasion which they did not see as justified. This would explain why the international community, the likes Russia, China and France failed to support the war, at the backdrop of the growing negative sentiment at home. The United States and the United Kingdom were alone in this war (Robert J. P. , 2005, 23). It is important though in the same light to analyze Presidents Bush’s fears over the possibility of Iraq harboring terrorists and the presence of weapons of mass destruction. As aforementioned, terrorism and the Gulf War of the early 1990 have had a significant impact on the structure of the current foreign policy towards Iraq. The United States during the Iran/Iraq was as history holds it, playing a crucial role in arming Iraq and probably turned a blind eye as Saddam Hussein stockpiled dangerous arsenals in readiness for an aggression with Iran. By then, the relations between the US and Iraq were what can be described as cordial with the United states hoping to use Iraq to contain the extremities characterizing Iran. Through this appeasement, Saddam Hussein was becoming dictatorial figure with little concern from the United States. The Kuwait invasion changed all this. With the search for weapons of mass destruction being in the fore several years after the Gulf War, President George W. Bush saw a perfect opportunity to invade Iraq citing the former’s reluctance to allow the search by the United Nations weapons inspectors. Since then, reference to the WMDs became an important tool in the formulation of foreign policy and in drumming up support for the war at home. The reluctance of the United Nations to sanction a strike against Iraq prompted the United States to near unilaterally take the matter into its own hands and wage war against Iraq. Capturing and hanging Saddam Hussein tragically ending decades’ long rule. The demise of Saddam and the fall of his regime would bring another key phase to the United States foreign policy, centering on how to contain the warning factors and maintain peace (Thomas E. Ricks, 2006, 54). Whether the terrorist attack by al Qaeda on September 11th prompted the renewed vigor in the foreign policy or it was a mere excuse to end Saddam’s rule is not clear. What is clear is that, the events of 911 prompted a radical shift in the policy of United States towards Iraq (Thomas G. et al, 2003, 86). The United States has been for long grappling with terrorism and maintains a huge list of suspected terrorist organization as well as nations that have links with such terrorist groups, either those that provide them with financial support or operation bases. The al Qaeda tops this list followed by other terrorist organizations from the Middle East. Indeed the nature of us foreign policy towards Middle East is structured in a way that insinuates that it regards the Middle East as the hot bed of terrorism. A visibly angry President Bush in the wake of the terror attacks warned that â€Å"states that harbor terrorists would be subject to military action† further warning the rogue states that in his Bush Doctrine, â€Å"either you are with us or you are with the terrorists† (Harvey W. , 2003,401). This was the vague link that was being used by Bush’s administration in the bid to garner domestic support for a war that proved afterwards to be grossly unpopular. Indeed, a huge portion of the Americas current foreign policy towards Iraq was influenced by this attack. President Bush exhibited an unrestrained impulse to install a new regime in Iraq and hence the excuse of the terror attack was a prefect opportunity. Bush’s administration had gained a lot of support both domestic and international in the war against terror especially directed towards al Qaeda in Afghanistan. The Afghanistan war commenced immediately after the 911 strike and was unanimously sanctioned by the congress. This was done in the belief that al Qaeda had formed a base in the mountainous region of Afghanistan. By extension, President George W. Bush believed that the existence of an unfriendly regime in Iraq would exacerbate the war against terror. The initial claims by the Bush administration that Saddam was harboring and aiding terrorists could not hold water. The reasons for the attack are still unclear, as Stefan H and Jonathan C (2005, 155) notes â€Å"weapons of mass destruction links with al-Qaeda, human rights abuses covered a wide and ever changing kaleidoscope†. This is because the claims on the presence of weapons of mass destruction â€Å"have been largely discredited and is retrospectively seen as a politically convenient pretext† (155) Indeed the general feeling is that the main reason for this war revolved around oil. It is worth noting that the United States foreign policy took a new turn after the toppling of Saddam Hussein. The United State had commenced a war without the proper authorization and sanctioning by the United States. With Saddam gone, the war had to be legitimized by installing a democratically elected government. Iraq conducted elections towards the beginning of 2005 under the watch of the United States military. Many argue however that such elections were used to disguise the huge discontent characterizing the Iraqis population with the hope of showing how united they were. History is rife with such examples where elections have been used to show national unity in the face of a brewing conflict underneath. With the rubberstamp of the United Nations, through the passage of resolution to oversee the elections, the United States had set the terms and conditions of the elections and was keen eyed to ensure that its candidate of choice emerged the winner. The Transitional Administrative Law which is playing a huge role in the governing process of the Iraq’s government, has given the United States a clear mandate, though defacto, to control Iraq. The post Iraq policy has been facing a number of challenges which mostly have been centering on the waging ethnicity in Iraq. Anna Mulrine (2008) identifies four challenges that are being encountered in the post war policy towards Iraq. The first one is the local militias. The United States has commenced a program that seeks to integrate the local militias into the police force to take advantage of their basic training and loyalty to the government especially the Sunni citizens. This fact however is exacerbated by the fact that these militias owe divided loyalty to both the government and to the insurgents. The rebuilding of Iraq is also hampered by the reduction of US forces in Iraq. There are plans to slash the number of US Army in Iraq due to the domestic opposition to surge at home. This creates a problem because the general feeling is that the Iraq police are too biased to be left to implement the reconstruction policies alone (Condoleeza R. , 2008, 52). The success of the United States foreign policy towards Iraq has not been largely seen by many especially in the knowledge that the war in Iraq had been largely criticized. Any success garnered so far is overshadowed by the intense criticism and the news of the numerous deaths and attacks suffered by the United States soldiers in a foreign land (Robert J. P. , 2005, 67). Most protagonists of war identify the toppling of Saddam and his consequent hanging as a major step towards democratization. In the words of President Bush, his toppling was a signal to all dictators that their numbers are numbered. The aim of the war was to make the world a safer place and secure American interests. This however is yet to be achieved as the war against terrorism is far from won. The recent elections and the setting up of a government however may be seen as a success to such policies but the war is yet to be over considering the huge insecurity charactering major towns in Iraq. United States soldiers are being killed daily and cases of suicide attacks are common, an indication that this war is far from over (Allawi, Ali, 2007, 46). The United States foreign policy has been largely criticized both domestically and internationally. Most of these criticism centers on the military intervention and the justification behind such intervention. Bush administration had misrepresented information on the urgency of the war due to the presence of weapons of mass destruction. This proved to be exercise in futility as the weapons were never found. The United States decided to take unilateral steps despite there being no evidence to indicate that indeed Iraq possessed WMDs. The links to terrorist could also not be established indicating that the evidence was largely manipulated. The fact that the US invaded Iraq without a proper mandate from the United Nations has also drawn criticism as it was in violation of the resolution 678 which was passed at the height of the Gulf War. Bush’s immense criticism was emanating from the public which led to the decline of the governments approval ratings to below thirty percent making president Bush the most unpopular president to be in office. International criticism centers on the unilateralism of America and also using democracy and terrorism as a disguise to the pursuits to secure oil resources in Iraq. It is apparent that the United States and Iraq have not been enjoying the best of relations in the past years. To Americans since the gulf war in the early 1990s, Iraq was the biggest threat to the world’s security as long as Saddam Hussein was on the driving seat. The United States foreign policy had been structured to reflect this. It is this suspicion that would lead the Bush administration to invade Iraq, topple and hang the despotic leader in the bid to install a democratic government in one of the most defiant nation in the Middle East. President Bush used lies and manipulation of evidence to initiate a war that has lead to the down fall of his presidency. The United States effort to install a democratic government and curb insecurity is yet to materialize as it is facing a myriad of challenges in addition to the growing criticism back at home. Crucial concern now to the United States foreign policy on Iraq is how to maintain peace and stability in a volatile country so as to implement the set program towards reconstruction. Bibliography Richard A. Falk, Howard Friel, 2004. The Record of the Paper: The New York Times on US Foreign Policy and International Law, 1954-2004. Verso. Nafeez Mosaddeq Ahmed, 2003. Behind the War on Terror: Western Secret Strategy and the Struggle for Iraq. CLAIRVIEW BOOKS. Harvey W. Kushner, 2003. Encyclopedia of Terrorism. SAGE. Anna Mulrine, September 16, 2008. Four Challenges Petraeus Leaves Behind for His Successor in Iraq. News World Report. Retrieved on 0ctober 15, 2008 from http://www. usnews. com/articles/news/iraq/2008/09/16/four-challenges-petraeus-leaves-behind-for-his-successor-in-iraq. html? PageNr=2 Stefan Halper, Jonathan Clarke, 2005. America Alone: The Neo-Conservatives and the Global Order. Cambridge University Press. Robert J. Pauly, 2005. US Foreign Policy and the Persian Gulf: Safeguarding American Interests Through Selective Multilateralism. Ashgate Publishing, Ltd. Robert J. Pauly, Tom Lansford, 2005. Strategic Preemption: U. S. Foreign Policy and the Second Iraq War. Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Thomas George Weiss, Margaret E. Crahan, John Goering, 2004. Wars on Terrorism and Iraq: Human Rights, Unilateralism, and U. S. Foreign Policy. Routledge Thomas E. Ricks, 2006. Fiasco, The American Military Adventure In Iraq. Penguin. Chollet, Derek and James Goldgeier, 2008. America Between the Wars. Public Affairs, Perseus Books Group Allawi, A. , 2007. The Occupation of Iraq: Winning the War, Losing the Peace, New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Sunday, October 13, 2019

Return on Investment for Emergency Obstetric Care Training

Return on Investment for Emergency Obstetric Care Training Social Return on Investment for Emergency Obstetric Care Training in Kenya Dedication â€Å"To philanthropy and all those contributing to making the world a better place† List of tables Table 1‑1: Summary table of social impact assessment methods Table 2‑1: WHO emergency obstetric care signal functions.. Table 3‑1: Krlev et al. 12-point quality assessment framework Table 3‑2: Sources of retrieved SROI studies. Table 3‑3: Criterion quality scores of health SROI studies across the 5 dimensions Table 3‑4: Health interventions that have been measured with SROI Table 3‑5: Summary table describing application of the SROI methodology in Health Table 3‑6: Summary of duration of health SROI analysis. Table 4‑1: Outputs of the current phase of the Making it Happen programme Table 4‑2: Content of the LSS-EOC NC. Table 4‑3: Distribution of Kenyan population across age groups. Table 4‑4: Kenyan Key development indicators.. Table 4‑5: EmONC indicators in Kenya compared to UN standards. Table 5‑1: Description of SROI principles. Table 5‑2: MiH outcome and output data indicators relevant for SROI analysis Table 6‑1: Stakeholder analysis of the EmONC training component of the Making it Happen programme Table 6‑2: Primary and secondary data required from the included stakeholders List of figures Figure 1‑1: Types of Social Return on Investment Studies Figure 2‑1: Annotation of the logic model (version 1). Figure 2‑2: Annotation of the logic model (version 2). Figure 2‑3: DFID 3Es + CE framework for Value for Money.. Figure 3‑1: Schematic representation of the conceptual framework underpinning the review Figure 3‑2: PRISMA flow diagram summarising the search process. Figure 3‑3: Mean quality scores of health SROI studies since 2005. Figure 3‑4: Number of public health SROI articles published since 2005. Figure 3‑5: Number of health SROI studies published by year, showing countries where the methodology was applied Figure 3‑6: Distribution of countries conducting SROI studies Figure 4‑1: Map of Kenya showing the eight provinces and the surrounding countries Figure 5‑1: SROI process map Figure 5‑2: Methods to be used within the SROI data collection stages.. Figure 6‑1: Analysis of stakeholders related to EmONC training in Kenya List of appendices Appendix 1: Search strategy Appendix 2: Systematic review results Appendix 3: Ethics Appendix 4: Materials relating to Making it Happen Appendix 5: Questionnaires Abbreviations ACAFIAtkisson Compass Assessment for Investors AIDSAcquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome BACOBest Available Charitable Option BEmOCBasic Emergency Obstetric Care BEmONCBasic Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care BoP Base of Pyramid BScBalanced Scorecard BVABlended Value Accounting CAQDAS CEmOCComprehensive Emergency Obstetric Care CEmONCComprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care CBACost Benefit Analysis CEACost-Effectiveness Analysis CMA Cost-Minimization Analysis CMNHCentre for Maternal Newborn Health CRTCluster Randomised Trials CSOCivil Society Organisation CUACost-Utility Analysis DALYs Disability-Adjusted Life Years DFIDDepartment for International Development DHDepartment of Health DHS Demographic and Health Survey EEEconomic Evaluation EmOC Emergency Obstetric Care EmONCEmergency Obstetric and Newborn Care EOC NCEssential Obstetric Care and Newborn Care FGFocus Group FGDFocus Group Discussion GRIGlobal Reporting Initiative HCPHealth Care Providers HEFCEHigher Education Funding Council for England ICPIntegrated Care and Prevention IDIIn-Depth Interview KHSSIP Kenya Health Sector Strategic and Investment Plan KIIKey Informant Interview KPIKey Person Interview LADSILabour and Delivery Satisfaction Index LATHLiverpool Associates in Tropical Health LEMLocal Economic Multiplier LMICsLow and Middle Income Countries LSS-EOCNCLife Saving Skills – Essential Obstetric Care and Newborn Care LSTMLiverpool School of Tropical Medicine MARPMost At Risk Population MDG-ScanMillennium Development Goal Scan MICSMultiple Indicator Cluster Survey MIFMeasuring Impact Framework MiHMaking It Happen MMRMaternal Mortality Ratio MNHMaternal and Newborn Health MOHMinistry of Health MOMSMinistry of Medical Services MOPHSMinistry of Public Health and Sanitation MSCMost Significant Change nefNew Economics Foundation NGOsNon-Governmental Organisations OASISOn-going assessment of Social Impacts OVCOrphan and Vulnerable Children PLHIVPeople Living with Human Immuno-deficiency Virus PLHWAPeople Living With AIDS PSIAPoverty and Social Impact Analysis PTOPerson Trade-Off QALYsQuality-Adjusted Life Years QIQuality Improvement RCOGRoyal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists RCTRandomised Controlled Trials REDFRoberts Enterprise Development Fund RFRoberts Foundation ROIReturn on Investment SAASocial Accounting and Auditing SBASkilled Birth Attendant SCStakeholder Consultation SCBASocial Costs-Benefits Analysis SDRSocial Discount Rate SIASocial Impact Assessment SIAASocial Impact Analysts Association SRASocial Return Assessment SRHSexual and Reproductive Health SROISocial Return on Investment SSQSix Simple Questions STDsSexually Transmitted Infections SVAStakeholder Value Added TBLTriple Bottom Line ToCTheory of Change TSOThird Sector Organisation UKUnited Kingdom UNUnited Nations UNICEFUnited Nations Children’ Fund VfMValue for Money WBWorld Bank WHOWorld Health Organization 1 Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the chapter This chapter introduces the social return on investment methodology – its definition, history as well as strengths and weaknesses of its application. It then proceeds to identify examples of previous applications of the method, explores any previous intersection of the methodology with the maternal and newborn health field and provides the rationale for the study. Finally, the objectives of this research and an overview of the thesis are provided. 1.2 What is Social Return on Investment? The first definition of Social Return on Investment (SROI) is â€Å"a simple financial assessment of socio-economic value. SROI compares a project’s net benefits to the investment required to generate those benefits over a certain period of time† (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000). Over time, this definition has been modified. In the most recent SROI methodology guidance, SROI is defined as â€Å"a framework for measuring and accounting for the much broader concept of value. It seeks to reduce inequality and environmental degradation and improve wellbeing by incorporating social, environmental and economic costs and benefits† (Nicholls et al., 2012). This definition is most commonly referred to in the literature, when authors define SROI, probably because it is stated within the SROI guidance. New Economics Foundation (nef) also defines SROI as â€Å"an analytic tool for measuring and accounting for a much broader concept of value, taking into account social, economic and environmental factors† (nef, 2014). SROI measures change from the perspective of stakeholders that experience or contribute to a particular activity, intervention, project, programme or policy. â€Å"It tells the story of how change is being created by measuring social, environmental and economic outcomes and uses monetary values to represent them† (Nicholls et al., 2012). Data collection and subsequent analyses allow calculation of a benefits-to-costs ratio. For example, a ratio of 4:1 indicates that an investment of  £1 delivers  £4 of social value. There are two types of SROI (Nicholls et al., 2012) [Figure 1-1]: Evaluative SROI: This retrospectively measures outcomes that have already happened. Forecast SROI: This estimates how much social impact will be generated if the activities to be conducted meet their intended outcomes. Figure 1.1: Types of Social Return on Investment Studies 1.3 History of SROI A review of the development of the SROI methodology would aid understanding of the initial considerations of those who developed the tool and the capabilities and potentials of the tool. This understanding is critical for this research as it provides a foundation upon which the application of the SROI framework in the maternal and newborn health (MNH) area can be better understood. Roberts Foundation (RF) developed the initial SROI framework in 1996, presented in a report titled New Social Entrepreneurs: The Success, Challenge and Lessons of Non-profit Enterprise Creation (REDF, 1996). The purpose of the first SROI report by REDF was to demonstrate the blend of financial, social and environmental value that all the social enterprises within REDF’s funding portfolio were producing compared to the total investment the organisation was making. This first SROI did not attempt to account for all benefits accrued from a programme, but estimated the cost savings or revenue contributions that are attributed to the programme. The framework utilised a modified discounted cash flow analysis for this calculation to demonstrate impact (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000; Emerson et al., 2000). In 1997, the RF, under its new initiative Roberts Foundation Enterprise Development Fund (REDF) updated the framework so to have the capacity to account for total organisational social return on investment and adjusted to be able to account for actual performance that could be continuously updated. REDF recognised more limitations in the methodology (Emerson et al., 2000), but has since not produced any further SROI reports or guidelines. However, the concepts that underpinned the development of this initial framework have been built upon in the subsequent development of the methodology over the past two decades (Tuan, 2008). Guidelines for SROI application have been produced in year 2000 (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000), 2004 (Lingane and Olsen, 2004) and 2006 (Scholten et al., 2006). In 2008, the United Kingdom (UK) Office of the Third Sector (Now referred to as Office for Civil Society (Civil Society Media, 2010)), which is responsible for charities, social enterprises and voluntary org anisations in the Cabinet Office (UK Government, 2014) launched the Measuring Social Value project (Arvidson et al., 2010) and this led to the development of an updated guideline in 2009 (Nicholls et al., 2009) and the production of another revision three years later (Nicholls et al., 2012). These revisions have over the years integrated the initial REDF SROI methodology, which was essentially a social impact measurement tool with principles and processes normally used in economic evaluations and financial return on investment to build a framework that captures social, economic and environmental impacts of interventions (Rotheroe and Richards, 2007). This concept of capturing the broader impacts is widely referred to as the â€Å"triple bottom line† (Norman and MacDonald, 2004), which is in itself encapsulated within the â€Å"blended value accounting† theory (Emerson, 2003). Furthermore, through this evolution, a more detailed stakeholder analysis is now included, shorter time frames are used for estimations and a process to adjusts the results for outcomes that may be attributable to different organisations has been incorporated into the calculation of the SROI ratio (Tuan, 2008). Discussions on how best to structure the methodology are on-going and networks such as the European SROI Network (ESROIN), formed in 2004, the SROI Network (international), formed in 2008 and subsequently affiliated networks formed in Sweden, Canada and Australia, are constantly leading and shaping this process (SROIN, 2014a). The methodology is gradually gaining interest in Africa and Asia too. The drive to develop the methodology has come from within and without the third sector, as third sector organisations (TSOs), such as not for profit organisations, charities and voluntary organisations, are increasingly getting involved in delivering public services and are viewed as development partners who need to show ‘value for money’ (Netten et al., 2010). On one hand, TSOs are pushing to become better in being accountable and demonstrating the value of their activities to donors. On the other hand, the focus of funding organisations has shifted from â€Å"output† to â€Å"outcome† and â€Å"impact† and from â€Å"generous giving† to â€Å"accountable giving†, through which they can demonstrate that evidence-based decisions have informed their choice of funded interventions, projects or programmes (Leat, 2006). 1.4 Application of the SROI methodology The application of the SROI framework can vary from measurement of the impact and social value generated by a project to a programme or indeed to an entire organisation (Millar and Hall, 2013). A rapid search of academic databases does not retrieve substantial amounts of research work that have used the SROI methodology, however the methodology is very popular within the third sector and has been widely embraced by the Office of the Civil Society, donors, commissioners and the public sector (Ainsworth, 2010; Heady, 2010). Its wider practice-based use but limited application within academia restricts its development and could potentially be the reason for its minimal uptake (Arvidson et al., 2010; Ebrahim and Rangan, 2010). Since its first use by REDF in 1996 (Emerson and Cabaj, 2000), the SROI methodology has been broadly applied to many organisations and within many industries. Examples of its use across different sectors include agriculture, where it was used to account for impact of care farming (Leck, 2013); environmental, where it was used to account for impact of a natural regeneration project (Weston and Hong, 2012); energy, where it was used to account for impact of energy efficiency of homes in Germany (Kuckshinrichs et al., 2010); social, where it was used to account for impact of providing training and employment for blind people (Sital-Singh, 2011), transport, where it was used to account for impact of a co-ordinated shared transport service which provides access to workplace, training and childcare in rural Scotland, where no alternative transport is available. (Wright et al., 2009) and indeed health, where amongst other examples, has been used to account for impact of a community-based pa ediatric asthma programme and provision of highly nutritious breakfast for school children in Sydney, Australia (Bhaumik et al., 2013; Varua and Stenberg, 2009). As regards its application in health [described in detail in Chapter 2: systematic review of SROI application in health], It is worth noting that in 2009, the UK Department of Health (DoH), with the support of the Cabinet Office, commissioned an action research project on which five health focused social enterprises were supported to conduct SROI analysis (Department of Health, 2010). This research demonstrated the relevance of the SROI methodology to the health sector and proved that there were additional benefits of using the methodology (Millar and Hall, 2013). However, to the best of our knowledge, though relevant and appropriate, there is no reported evidence of the application of the SROI methodology in the field of maternal and newborn health. 1.5 Difference between SROI and other related methodologies As mentioned above, the SROI methodology has evolved from a combination of social impact assessment tools and economic evaluation tools. It is therefore important to understand how SROI differs from these existing tools and identify what innovative approach it actually offers. When compared to other social impact measurement tools, there are subtle differences. There are several tools that have been previously or are currently being used in measuring and accounting for social impact (Acumen Fund, 2007; Brest and Harvey, 2008; Brest et al., 2009; Centre for High Impact Philanthropy, 2008; Clark et al., 2004; Emerson et al., 2000; Maas and Liket, 2011; Maas, 2008; Maughan, 2012; Nicholls et al., 2012; Owen and Swift, 2001; Schaltegger et al., 2004). Table 1‑1: Summary table of social impact assessment methods Method Primary application to Date Process Outcome Impact Monetisation Non Profit For Profit Government Acumen Scorecard à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Atkinsson Compass Assessment for Investors (ACAFI) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Balanced Scorecard (BSc) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Benefit-Cost Analysis à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Best Available Charitable Option (BACO) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Base of Pyramid (BoP) Impact Assessment Framework à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Cost per Impact à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Expected Return à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Global Reporting Initiative à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Local Economic Multiplier (LEM) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Measuring Impact Framework (MIF) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Millennium Development Goal Scan (MDG-Scan) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Most Significant Change à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Ongoing Assessment of Social Impact (OASIS) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Poverty and Social Impact Analysis à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Accounting and Auditing (SAA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Costs-Benefits Analysis (SCBA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Return Assessment (SRA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Social Return on Investment (SROI) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Stakeholder Value Added (SVA) à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ Theories of Change à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ à ¯Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ã… ¸ [Table 1-1] shows the key characteristics of these different social impact measurement tools described in the literature, identifying the tools that monitor efficiency and effectiveness of outputs, indicators or variables (process); tools that relate outputs and outcomes and to substantiate incremental outcomes above what would have occurred if the intervention was not implemented (impact) and tools that monetize outcomes and/or impact by transforming them to monetary value (monetization). Finally the table details the sector(s) in which the method has thus far been applied – non-profit (third sector), for profit (commercial) or public sector (government). Of these tools, SROI appears to have gained wide acclaim because of its involvement of all stakeholders, who independently define the value they have experienced because of the intervention. In addition, SROI monetises costs and benefits and also ticks all the boxes of the logical framework, as it accounts for processes, outcomes and impact (Arvidson et al., 2010; Nicholls et al., 2012). The other similar methodologies to SROI are Economic Evaluation (EE) tools. These compare two or more alternative interventions in terms of their costs and benefits (Drummond et al., 1997). Economists have distinguished four types of economic evaluation: Cost-minimization analysis (CMA), Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), Cost benefit analysis (CBA) and Cost-utility analysis (CUA). While the definition of cost remains the same, the manner of accounting for the benefits differs across the types (Drummond et al., 2005). These different types of EE are described below: Cost-minimization analysis (CMA): In which, there is proven evidence that equivalent effectiveness of the comparators in question. Thus the more cost-effective option would be the cheaper one (since both options have similar outcome). Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA): Effectiveness is measured in ‘natural units’ such as life years gained. Cost benefit analysis (CBA): Costs and benefits are monetised, with the cost-effective option being the one that results in a lower monetised ratio. Cost-utility analysis (CUA): Outcome is measured in Quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) or Disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), which is a composite metric of both length and quality of life. When compared to the SROI methodology, whereas a large focus of economic evaluation tools is on the microeconomic evaluation of the impact of any intervention, SROI accounts for not just economic value, but social and environmental impacts. It has been described as an extension of the cost-benefit analysis that incorporates broader socio-economic outcomes (Westall, 2011). In addition, SROI focuses on stakeholders, uses financial proxies, is more of a management tool, is more likely conducted by organisations themselves, while CBAs are usually conducted by external agents and the most up to date guidance does not recommend comparing estimated SROI ratios, unlike CBAs that are designed to be comparable. However, these differences appear to be largely based on â€Å"the style of each approach, rather than the true substance† (Arvidson et al., 2010). 1.6 Strengths and limitations of the SROI methodology 1.6.1 Strengths of the SROI methodology Practitioners and previous authors have identified some of the key strengths of the SROI methodology. Firstly, the fact that the SROI process generates a singular ratio that captures the broader impact (positive and negative) of an intervention is perceived as a key strength (Millar and Hall, 2013). One other strength is its meaningful engagement of stakeholders and its representation of their benefits in ways that are unique to the stakeholders themselves (Millar and Hall, 2013). More so, the fact that this benefits experience or impact experience is being explained from the perspective of the stakeholder is a unique characteristic of SROI, and this important stakeholder view is often neglected in conventional impact evaluation tools (Rauscher et al., 2012). In addition, the method provides a platform for social enterprises to leverage and/or effectively communicate their impact. This ultimately promotes better communication amongst all partners, whether they are beneficiaries, funders or implementers (Mdee et al., 2008). The SROI process also strengthens accountability and transparency systems of social enterprises (Arvidson et al., 2010). Finally, the SROI process is a very useful auditing tool to aid management decisions and service improvement (Social Ventures Australia (SVA) Consulting, 2012). 1.6.2 Limitations of the SROI methodology However, there are limitations of the methodology, just as there are of other impact evaluation methodologies (Arvidson et al., 2010). Some methodological limitations that have been raised include the difficulty of attaching financial values to â€Å"soft outcomes† that require subjective evaluation to generate â€Å"financial proxies† (Lingane and Olsen, 2004) such as self-esteem or confidence (Bertotti et al., 2011). Albeit still in developmental stage, is the Wiki Values, Outcomes and Indicators for Stakeholders (VOIS) database of the SROI Network is an attempt are to standardise such outcomes by recommending indicators and values of such outcomes that can be used to account for them (Rauscher et al., 2012). An example of a health related outcome on WikiVOIS is â€Å"change in incidence of abortion†. Contributors to the database have suggested that â€Å"cost of medical termination of pregnancy† can be used to value this outcome in Canada (The Global Value Exchange, 2013). In addition, the methodology needs an estimation of â€Å"what would have happened anyway† to calculate the value that can be attributed to the specific organisation, programme or intervention, however, this counterfactual data is seldom available (Cordery, 2013; Heady, 2010). Furthermore, the lack of comparability of SROI ratios across different organisations and/or interventions is perceived as a limitation (Ryan and Lyne, 2008). On practical grounds, SROI methodology is adjudged to be cost-intensive and requires the expertise and know-how of professionals and in some cases training, some of which small organisations cannot afford (Wood and Leighton, 2010). 1.7 Rationale for the study Though applicable and relevant, to the best of our knowledge, there is no documented application of the SROI methodology in the area of maternal and newborn health. For most MNH interventions, the key beneficiaries are the women and their families. There is currently no tool that captures the perspectives of all these stakeholders on impact of any intervention in one summary figure. This underscores the need to explore the use of primary data that will include inputs of those benefiting from MNH interventions, as this may potentially be useful in identifying the most complete estimate of the impact of these interventions. To buttress this, some authors have pointed out that this complete evaluation of MNH interventions needs to include identification of the most culturally appropriate intervention for each local setting and peculiar issues unique to the setting. Those who are the major beneficiaries of the intervention are better positioned to identify these culturally appropriate in terventions. Thus the call for culturally sensitive impact evaluations, which attempt to identify specific causes of problems, rather than basing decisions on â€Å"superficial† indicators such as maternal mortality rate, which is only quantitative and does not capture softer outcomes that also demonstrate impact of an intervention (McPake and Koblinsky, 2009; Pradhan, 2008). Secondly, data used as maternal health indicators are usually generated from relatively credible sources such as the Demographics and Health Survey (DHS), Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) and World Development Indicators, but the problem of lack of uniformity in the process by which the indicators were generated remains (Pradhan, 2008). This is complicated by the fact that a large number of developing countries, that receive aid, do not have accurate or complete secondary data to base impact evaluation on (WHO,