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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.

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UFS trains 122 teachers in the Free State
2008-02-27

 

Altogether 122 tearchers from the Department of Education in the Free State recently registered for the Advanced Certificate in Mathematics, Science and Technology which is presented by the University of the Free State’s (UFS) Research Institute for Education Planning (RIEP). The project is sponsored by the national and Free State Departments of Education. The duration of the programme is two years and contact sessions are presented in Bloemfontein and Kroonstad. Here are, from the left: Mr Haroon Mahomed (Director of Education Development, national Department of Education), Ms Sarina Cronjé (Project Administrator at RIEP), Prof. Jack van der Linde (Director of RIEP), Ms Sandra Plekker (Project Manager at RIEP); Mr Jerry Zitha (Project Manager, national Department of Education), Mr Donovan Cornellisen (Learning Area Co-ordinator for Technology, Free State Department of Education), and Mr Tsoai Tsoai (Learning Area Co-ordinator for Mathematics, Free State Department of Education). The tender for similar training in the Northern Cape and North West provinces was also awarded to RIEP.
Photo: Supplied

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