Neo Ravhuhali is a social worker in the Department of Student Counselling and Development at the University of the Free State. 

World Social Work Day is on 19 March, under the theme: “Buen Vivir: Shared future for transformative change”. Every year, social workers celebrate the resilience of the profession and the generations of professionals who have withstood the test of times to date. International Social Work Day holds immense significance as it offers a platform to acknowledge and celebrate the tireless efforts of social work practitioners worldwide in combating social injustices, fostering equality, and championing the rights and well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

Moreover, it serves as a catalyst for raising awareness about the pivotal role of social work in addressing pressing social issues like poverty, discrimination, mental health, and equitable access to resources and services. This advocacy underscores the imperative for policies and initiatives aligned with the profession’s ethos. The day also sees social workers organising seminars as part of their ongoing professional development. Additionally, it provides an occasion to shed light on the profession’s challenges while commemorating its myriad achievements.

Beacons of hope

Society is transforming at a rapid pace engendering new and complex challenges affecting humanity. As such, social workers find themselves having to adapt to these changing times to provide the best context-specific services to their service users across the globe. This is a caring profession whose services span generations, from children to older persons. It seeks to enhance the well-being for all humanity from the cradle to the grave. In the ongoing battle against societal challenges, social workers stand as the frontline agents of transformation. Despite facing significant challenges within the social welfare sector, including inadequate funding, poor working conditions, high staff turnover, low salaries, heavy workloads, and staff burnout, social workers steadfastly deliver services across a spectrum of interventions.

These interventions encompass prevention, early intervention, statutory support, residential care, alternative care, as well as reconstruction and aftercare services. Social workers offer these vital protective services across both generic and specialised fields. Their approach to service delivery is characterised by humility and dedication, as they quietly fulfil their responsibilities with the utmost care for society’s most marginalised, oppressed, and vulnerable groups. In doing so, they make invaluable contributions to the overall welfare and development of society. Tasked with addressing a multitude of pressing issues, including the pervasive spectres of violence, poverty, substance abuse, and inequality, they serve as beacons of hope in South Africa and many other countries’ quest for a better tomorrow. 

State of balance and harmony

Interestingly, these efforts dovetail with key priorities outlined in the University of the Free State's Vision 130. This visionary framework underscores the imperative of tackling economic disparities, food insecurity, environmental degradation, climate change, political instability, unemployment, and poverty – critical issues not only in South Africa but also on a global scale. Equipped with suitable training, practical experience, a resilient mindset, and a steadfast commitment to service, social workers worldwide ardently endeavour to confront these challenges head-on.

The tradition of the social work profession has long upheld the dignity of individuals and their surroundings, promoting recognition and reverence for all people and their environment in every service provided. Social workers champion and support the autonomy of those they serve, emphasising the importance of individuals being in sync with their surroundings. This year's theme promotes and advocates for attaining a state of balance and harmony. In Spanish, it is known as “Buen Vivir”, emphasising the importance of holistic well-being, alignment with nature, solidarity within communities, and the preservation of cultural heritage as fundamental components of a satisfying life. Furthermore, the theme alludes to the need for social workers to invest in ground-breaking, community-led approaches that are rooted in indigenous wisdom therefore emphasising one of the discipline’s core principles of the right to self-determination of service users. Social workers, accordingly, need to continue striving to do nothing for the people without the people but rather with the people to establish social harmony.

The quest for such a state of equilibrium in society is persistently and significantly disturbed by geopolitical, economic, and climate-related challenges. This disruption leads to a systemic imbalance, evident in conflicts such as those in Palestine, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the impacts of climate change observed in various regions of Sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Unless the welfare of individuals is prioritised in every decision and action, these challenges will persist and escalate, leading to displacement of people, mass migration, xenophobia, Afrophobia, racism, and further civil and regional conflicts, among other issues. Such outcomes can be prevented through a collective effort involving all stakeholders at all levels, starting with instilling a sense of oneness among individuals, families, and communities in the broader society. In a developmental context, social workers, together with other role players, have a critical role to play to bring about the kind of transformative change that people from different and shared backgrounds yearn for and could identify with.

Serving with dedication

On this day of celebration, we honour the unwavering commitment of social workers both within our country and across borders, who persist despite facing numerous challenges. We recognise the hardships endured by those serving in conflict-ridden regions and areas devastated by natural disasters. Additionally, we commend the accomplishments of social workers in under-resourced countries, who remain resolute in their mission to positively impact the lives of those in need.

Despite the daunting obstacles of unemployment, overwhelming caseloads, limited supervision, inadequate wages, and a public perception that often fails to fully appreciate their indispensable contributions, social workers continue to serve their communities with dedication. As advocates of change for the service users, social workers are also committed to advocating for improved wages and working conditions for all practitioners, as well as ensuring that agencies providing practical training placements for students are adequately equipped to meet their needs.

Furthermore, they urge institutions of higher education to provide optimal support to social work students, preparing them to effectively serve the vulnerable communities. In pursuit of a shared future for transformative change on a global scale, it is imperative that no one is left behind.