The International Conference on Strengths Based Practice 2014 aims to provide a forum for exchange of knowledge and experiences in addressing the challenges of societies in transition. It is a platform for sharing and learning knowledge and practices towards creating a global perspective that concern all communities and societies. The International Conference 2014, being held in the City of Hyderabad, India, provides unique space for interaction with fellow social work practitioners, scholars, professionals from different disciplines engaged in social service or social welfare, non-governmental agencies, policy makers among others.

Introduction

We are living in times of rapid social transformations. Amidst the change, turmoil and
erosion of values and norms there still seems
to be a desire to rekindle cooperation and
build shared visions. Nations, societies, communities, families, and individuals are not
immune to these overwhelming changes.
While we live through these volatile times,
some of us tend to pursue alternatives
that work.

Development has also been the cause of several new social problems; as a result of which more
people are experiencing income inequalities. Poverty, deprivation, malnutrition, powerlessness and violation of human rights are growing shadows of economic growth without development.

With increasing development, more and more people and communities are subject to marginalisation and violation of human rights across the world. We witness ecological degradation and crises in terms of disasters affecting several nations in diverse forms.

New forms of crisis- social, political, economic and ecological – is throwing large population into dependence on social safeguards, protection by state and collaborative efforts transcending boundaries of governmental departments, disciplines of knowledge, or nation states.
Increasing populations affected by involuntary
resettlement, internally displaced people,
refugees, migrants, orphaned kids and the
frail aged, among others, demand attention
of social scientists, human services, allied

In spite of such harsh scenarios, people and communities across the globe withstand crisis and demonstrate active hope regardless of the challenging circumstance and the absence or support of the state.
What furthers such hope and is it possible
to share and learn from the each other’s
experiences?
What are the various social innovations,
interventions and struggles of communities
and civil society reflecting their vast
knowledge and wisdom?

The human creativity incessantly working out solutions ought to be acknowledged, celebrated. The conference aims at recog-nizing every innovation that occurs. We recognize that there are coping solutions just as there are resilience building strategies. For some, the will to never give up and the will to bounce back might be considered as resilience. This conference wishes to see resilience being explained in a fresh perspective.
What if we added active hope into the equation? How would we build hope in our society?

Resilience and coping efforts that enable people in crisis need focus to build knowledge and skills to empower society as a whole and at an individual level to redefine their individual and collective future. This is also necessary for revisiting their iden-tities and ensuring state responses for protection of human rights and to create a social order that will curb the current crisis