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Embracing diversity, strengthening human relationships and collective responsibility

22 March 2023 | Story Mariette Joubert | Photo Unsplash

South Africa celebrated Human Rights Day and World Social Work Day on 21 March 2023. Social work is a profession that advocates for the human rights of people as well as focuses on the responsibility that comes with these rights. Just as the Bill of Rights is the cornerstone of democracy and protects our rights, the social work code of ethics is the cornerstone that ensures quality social work services.

The University of the Free State (UFS) second-year social work students took an oath on 22 March which binds them to the social work code of ethics. Social workers have the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development which consists of four pillars. Focus is drawn to the last pillar, Strengthening Recognition of the Importance of Human Relationships. Human relationships are the core of social work and social development. These relationships take various forms, including social, personal, interpersonal, and therapeutic relationships, among various people and in various settings. In relationships where people flourish, trust is crucial. In contrast, mistrust skews relationships in a negative way.

Respecting diversity through joint social action

The Ubuntu pan-African philosophical framework is the greatest place to understand the significance of human relationships. To promote and strive for the strengthening of relationships, this year’s theme for Social Work Day is “Respecting Diversity Through Joint Social Action”. If we can stop criticising people that do not live, believe, or think according to our constructed standards of being, we will be able to do so much more as humanity. If we start embracing peoples’ diversities and take time to start building relationships with various people and bridge any existing gaps, we will realise that diversity is an integral aspect of changing the world in a positive manner. Corresponding to human rights and the theme of World Social Work Day, is the theme “Destigmatising intellectual disability through shifting attitudes” for Intellectual Disability Awareness Month [IDAM] which also takes place later in March. Another way through which we can start building relationships and embrace diversity is by participating in this year’s South African Federation for Mental Health challenge where CEOs of different institutions are challenged to spend one day in a wheelchair as part of an awareness-raising campaign to destigmatise intellectual disabilities.

News Archive

Inaugural lecture: Microbial interaction in foods

2005-09-06

Prof Bennie Viljoen from the Department of Microbial- Biochemical and Food Biotechnology at the University of the Free State (UFS) will deliver his inaugural lecture on Wednesday, 7 September 2005 at 19:00 in the CR Swart Auditorium on campus.

The topic of the lecture is “Microbial interaction in foods: Emphasis on yeasts”.

Prof Viljoen was appointed as lecturer in the Department of Food Science at the UFS in 1989. He was promoted to senior lecturer (1994), associate professor (1997) and professor (2004) in the Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology.

Prof Viljoen is a NRF B-evaluated scientist, author or co-author of 63 papers in accredited professional journals and seven chapters in scientific books. He contributed to 31 international congresses; four as keynote speaker and eight on invitation, as well as 84 national conference papers. He successfully guided eight Ph D and 20 M Sc students and currently supervises for six Ph D and four M Sc students. He serves on the International Dairy Federation, the International Commission of Food Mycology and the editorial board of international journals. His research focuses on food microbiology, specialising on yeasts.

For any enquiries, please contact Ms Joan Nel at (051) 401-9301.

Media release
Issued by:  Lacea Loader
   Media Representative
   Tel: (051) 401-2584
   Cell: 083 645 2454
   E-mail: loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
5 September 2005

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