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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

ABSA sponsors Sports Weekend at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus

2004-09-23

Mr Banny Macholo Retail Banking Services Manager: ABSA (Student Bureau Bloemfontein) , Mr D T Zoko Sports Officer (UFS Qwaqwa Campus), Ms P Rabotapi Social Worker (UFS Qwaqwa Campus) and Mr Timmy Mohlakoana Retail Banking Services Manager : ABSA (Qwaqwa Branch)

In spite of the gale force winds and dust on the weekend of the 17th September, the University sporting clubs braved it in a sports gala at the Qwaqwa Campus of the University of the Free State. The sporting codes comprised soccer, netball, basketball aerobics, chess, volleyball, dance, athletics and body–building.

ABSA Bank donated R15 000.00 to facilitate the event, which began with indoor activities on Friday 17th and continued through Saturday with field sports and more indoor contests.

On behalf of ABSA, Mr Banny Macholo RBS Manager Student Bureau Bloemfontein and Mr Timmy Mohlakoana RBS Manager Phuthaditjhaba, attended the sports day. They said that the relationship that has been developed between ABSA and the UFS Qwaqwa Campus during this event, has been very profound and helpful to our immediate community, which is very rural and poor and from which most of the students are drawn They also assured the organisers that ABSA would seriously consider making it a yearly event.

Media release

Contributed by Ms Jabu Dakile

Senior Liaison Practitioner

UFS Qwaqwa Campus

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