This is to help students to understand about social welfare system

1. DESCRIBE THE EXISTING TRADITIONAL AND MODEL WELFARE SERVICE IN
SIERRA LEONE
Introduction
A welfare system is an established program aimed at assisting the needy people as well as their
families meet their basic needs. A welfare system is a term used to indicate government programs
created in order to offer support to the needy citizens. Various types of welfare programs that
have been created for this purpose include social security, financial aid, corporate welfare, and
welfare provisions. The government provides assistance to the people through various programs
such as housing assistance, unemployment compensation, health care, child care assistance, and
food stamps. In the Sierra Leone, the government offers grants to every district through a
program referred to as the NaCSA.
What Is Welfare?
The term welfare refers to a range of government programs that provide financial or other
aid to individuals or groups who cannot support themselves. Welfare programs are typically
funded by taxpayers and allow people to cope with financial stress during rough periods of
their lives. In most cases, people who use welfare will receive a biweekly or monthly
payment. The goals of welfare vary, as it looks to promote the pursuance of work, education,
or, in some instances, a better standard of living.
The welfare system is usually aimed at providing a base level of income to people who are
disabled, elderly, retired, or unemployed. It should be noted that the welfare system deals with an
absolutely large number of people and, therefore, total commitment of the government is
required. The government, according to O’Connor, has a social responsibility and a moral
obligation to ensure that all activities carried out by various welfare organizations come to a
successful completion.
Even though the work of the welfare system is beneficial, these programs together with the
involvement of the government have in the recent past faced criticism from opponents who argue
that the main intentions of these programs are totally different from what the public is made to
believe.
The pros and cons of the welfare system
It is important to note that welfare systems are beneficial for a modern society. Despite the fact
that members of modern communities are very productive, they are usually faced by a wide range

2. of problems that may negatively impact on their normal lives. Welfare systems have been shown
to come in handy and support individual members deal with these problems.
Even though welfare programs do not offer a life that is 100% free from challenges, it acts as a
means through which vulnerable members of society can be cushioned from the possible adverse
effects of poor health, unemployment, lack of housing, and poor education.
Opponents of this initiative argue that these programs are usually developed with the intent of
promoting certain businesses for certain people. Welfare programs are also described as indirect
support of the government to various business entities. Opponents argue that the government
should not interfere with the free market as this may lead to the collapse of certain businesses.
They also point out that these programs do not offer lasting solutions to most of the problems that
people may be facing. It has been argued that rather than the government providing
unemployment compensation to millions of people, it should come up with a strategy to ensure
that all people are incorporated either in the formal or in the informal employment sectors.
It is important to note that welfare programs are meant to assist people who may be going
through difficult situations to get back on their feet. However, some people may use these
programs as a way of escaping their responsibilities. Some people may neglect their duties and
solely rely on welfare programs for help. These are the people who develop the mentality that
there is no need for them to work for minimum wage when they can get a similar amount of
money for actually doing nothing.
It has been revealed that some people have been living in social houses for decades without signs
of vacating. Despite the fact that these people may have attained financial stability, most of them
are not willing to vacate those buildings to help other needy citizens. This cycle continues as
children grow up thinking that this is the only kind of life there is.
Welfare programs, as stated by Sather, play a significant role in ensuring that social disparities
and health problems do not advance to critical stages . They help people maintain a living
standard that is almost similar to that of financially stable people. For instance, despite low
income and unemployment, people are able to maintain their homes; thereby eliminating cases of
homelessness.

3. It is also important to note that welfare programs have played a significant role in the health
sector. The establishment of Free Health Care and Free Education are referred to by many as God
sent initiatives that have helped millions of financially unstable Sierrra Leonean citizens. These
programs offer low-cost health care to people from poor backgrounds, and as a result the general
wellbeing of society is maintained and the level of education is upgrading.
Opponents argue that welfare programs do not offer a lasting solution to major problems in the
lives of the people and may create unnecessary dependence. It has been argued that instead of
providing financial assistance to the unemployed, they should be provided with basic skills
necessary for them to earn a living.
It has also been pointed out that continued assistance from welfare may lead to deterioration of a
person’s basic skills and comprehension of proper workplace behavior. Economists also assert
that welfare programs are a huge financial burden to the local government.
Conclusion
It can, therefore, be concluded that even though the welfare system has in the recent times faced
criticism from opponents, the work carried out by these programs is undoubtedly beneficial.
Welfare has been termed as an insignificant temporary assistance that cannot solve the people’s
problems, but nevertheless it provides those in need with a means to exist in addition to
encouraging them to look for employment in order to have a stable life. Welfare programs play a
significant role in ensuring that social disparities and health problems do not advance to critical
stages.
Works Cited
 Hill, Michael. Social Policy in the Modern World: A Comparative Text. Mahwah, NJ:
John Wiley & Sons, 2006. Print.
 Hill, in his work, provides a coherent and concise test that offers a thematic account of
social policies, particularly the welfare system.

4.  Kildar, Nanna and Kuhnle, Stein. Normative Foundations of the Welfare State: The
Nordic Experience. Philadelphia, PA: Routledge, 2005. Print.