Uganda gears up to International Social Work Week

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By Irene Nafungo

March 17 2015 is International Social Work day and Uganda has agreed to commemorate it to highlight the contribution of social work in social development as well as raise awareness about the social work and its services to the individuals, families and communities.

The theme is 'Promoting the dignity and worth of peoples'. This is set by the International Federation of Social workers.

Why this particular theme/ how does this theme relate to Uganda social work practice.

Dignity means self-esteem, self respect that contributes to confidence while worth refers to value – This refers to human value that is inherent in every person regardless of their situation.

Due to the position of social workers in as far as working with individual and groups faced with social problems, there is a risk that threaten the erosion of this human value and esteem ( dignity and worth). (There is apparent vulnerability by the fact that they are faced with the social problems). Therefore, due-professional diligence should be applied not to cause more damage.

Social worker’s mandate is to enhance the functioning of individuals and groups in society to assure peoples wellbeing. It helps people to adjust to their environment.

Social workers play the roles of educator, broker, behaviour changers and advocates of broad change through activism for social policy changes that promote the wellbeing of marginalised/ disadvantaged members of society.

Therefore, social work as a profession is concerned with adding value to human development programmes encompassed in social development for the wellbeing of the people with the intent to improve their livelihoods.

All initiatives should be mindful of the process as much as the outcomes to ensure that those initiatives are harmonious with the dignity of the potential beneficiaries respect their individual liberties and involve them in the efforts to shape their destiny.

These processes are critical for sustenance of the outcomes. Adherence to the established social work principles and code of conduct by the social workers is at the centre of promoting the dignity and worth of those they serve.

These principles include confidentiality, individualisation, nonjudgmental, client-worker relationship, controlled emotional relationship, purposeful expression of feelings and self determination. (Rights based understanding programming as an approach is very relevant in practicing the principles).

The social worker must always ethically, with total commitment, offer the highest quality of service to anyone using social services. As well as maintain the highest ethical standards to both the clients, employers, colleagues and society.

The Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development (MoGLSD) is taking lead in the preparatory activities for the day, in conjunction with the National Association of Social Workers of Uganda (NASWU), social work teaching institutions and  non government actors in the field of social development and  social protection .

The plan is to hold week long activities with sub activities climaxing into one joint event on the D-DAY -17th.

The writer works with the National Association of Social workers of Uganda