The Gauteng Department of Social Development will this year commemorate a two-day Virtual World Social Work Day under the theme Ubuntu:
Ubuntu means "I am because you are" the word is part of the Zulu phrase "umuntu ngumntu ngabantu" which literally means that a person is through other people.
Through this philosophy Social Workers aim to strengthen Social Solidarity and Global Connectedness, which is the international theme for this year. The aim is also to highlight the achievements of social work and to raise the visibility of social services for the future of societies, and to defend social justice and human rights.
According to Sandra Madella, the Programme Coordinator, only 250 participants will be allowed to attend . Attendees include MEC, EXCO, SMS members, guest speakers, task team and event support: Comms and IT representatives.
For the first time, this year's event will be a webinar. It will be held between the 10th and 11th of March and representatives from all the regions and Institutions are expected to participate. Only nominated officials from regions, institutions and head office will be able to log in. Information Technology officials will be on hand to assist with the technical challenges.
"This is the first year of celebrating under this theme, the SW Global agenda spans over 10 year with five themes that are set for 2 years each and the current theme is applicable over 2 years and will be used again next year" says Madella.
"Due to the event being hosted on a virtual platform this year, our programme has had to be greatly reduced, two guests' speakers namely SACSSP Registrar and Commissioner from HRC have been invited to talk to this theme on each day" she added
"Two guests have been invited, per day, to deliver messages of support as we understand that it has been a traumatic year for all essential service workers including SWS. "
"We all need some encouragement and inspiration to drive the work we do as social workers under these difficult circumstances in order to sustain our resilience and motivation to continue our quest to deliver excellent services to our service users."
On the first day, Head of Department, Thembeni Mhlongo, is expected to deliver a message of support and the Gauteng SW Veterans Forum, chairperson.
Then on day two external stakeholders who were invited in the previous provincial WSWD celebrations will deliver messages of support and each speaker has been allocated few minutes.
All the participants will be encouraged to wear green with a touch of black and a slide show will be played in memory of Social Workers and veterans who passed on during the year 2020/2021.