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22 March 2023 | Story Mariette Joubert | Photo Unsplash
Social work

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

Shimlas in front line for Baby Boks
2013-05-07

 

Jacques du Toit and Luan de Bruin
07 May 2013


Our university is very proud of its two Shimla rugby players included in this year’s Junior Springbok team for the International Rugby Board’s (IRB) World Championships in France.

Luan de Bruin (hooker) and Jacques du Toit (prop) will help defend the World Championships, which they won in the Cape last year, from 5 June 2013. The Baby Boks took the prestigious Under-20 title from the New Zealand Baby Blacks in 2012.

Luan matriculated at the Afrikaans Boys’ High School in Pretoria and represented the Blue Bulls at the Craven Week in 2010 and 2011. Jacques, a Grey College alumnus, in 2011 played for the Free State at the Craven Week.

The two Kovsies are also the only players from the Free State in the Baby Boks’ World Championship squad.

They are currently at a training camp in the Cape in preparation for the World Cup tournament.

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