Child welfares commemorate Social Workers Day
This year’s theme was “Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change.”
Auxiliary and social workers from various Ekurhuleni child welfare branches were last week praised for their invaluable contributions in communities despite facing challenges, including inadequate funding and poor working conditions.
A special function to mark Social Workers Day, on March 19, was held for the social workers at the House of the Lord Church, in Airfield, under the theme ‘Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change’.
The celebrations began with each branch, including Benoni, Boksburg, Alberton, Actonville, Springs and Geluksdal, adding some fun to the event with their prepared performances that had everyone out of their seats.
According to Benoni Child Welfare director Vanessa Carelse, the aim of the event was to celebrate the professionals for their hard work.
“Instead of celebrating in isolation, we decided to get together and network to get to know one another so we can build a good support system. Today was also the launch of what we are going to do going forward.
“As organisations, we will be tapping into one another’s resources – not financial, but human resources. Some people are good at training, compliance and governance so with us connecting, we’ll see where our strengths are and we will help each other.”
Addressing attendees, a former social worker, Fazeela Fayers, said many people chose this profession because they came from broken and traumatised backgrounds.
“Many of those who come from such backgrounds, feel the most and they have the resilience. Things have changed today but back in the 90s when social workers received a call, they would go alone to that family and would walk into a home where they didn’t really know what was waiting for them.”
Fayers said social workers have to adapt to the changing times while facing enormous challenges.
“Government is alienating workers who are needed in the system. We need to exploit every opportunity to build on the resilience and strength of the social work foundation and question the system that we have in place.
“There’s money for other departments every year but there’s never money for social workers and child welfares.”
Fayers encouraged attendees to be proud of being social workers because the work they do has rewards in heaven.
Guests didn’t leave empty-handed as prizes were up for grabs at the event.
Social Workers Day is observed annually on the third Tuesday of March and it serves to celebrate the dedication and hard work of social workers worldwide.
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