College of Human Sciences
Zanele Mbeki, former social worker, among speakers at CHS lecture
On 27 July 2017, The Department of Social Sciences in the College of Human Sciences hosted a public lecture, themed International Social Work veterans: perspectives on making difference in the profession and the society.
Professor Linder Cornwell, Director of the Social Sciences welcomed audience and panel members, acknowledging the presence of the social work practitioners who attended the public lecture. She said the role of the social worker had change over the years and continues to do so. She said the Department of Social Development requires the social worker to follow the transformative agenda, focusing on engaging with the root causes of the poverty and inequality.
The keynote speaker was social work veteran as well as alumnus and former Dean at the University of Massachusetts from United State of America, Professor Carolyn Jacobs. She retired in 2015 after working for 35 years within the social work field at the University of Massachusetts. She shared international best practices and experiences about the broad narrative of serving society as a social worker and social work veteran.
Speaking on retirement, she said there is something interesting of slowing down, and as a retiree, you begin to pay attention to things that you never thought were important in life and you become more grateful when you get up every morning.
Retirees, she said, have family responsibilities because they may need to raise grand children or care for other relatives and they may find themselves engaging in community activities that they never thought they would and caring for those who are not their relatives.
“I have a responsibility towards the next generation, not just an African American but for all of humanity who need someone’s shoulders to lift themselves up,” she said, adding that retirees must connect with something that is very important, their body, mind and spirit.
Also attending was former first lady, Zanele Mbeki. She said social workers are invisible but they are dealing with lot of the problems in the country. She said 25 years after her return to South Africa; she has not seen what has emerged out of the black social work association in South Africa. “If we are still using the old method we shall continue to get the same results as we did in the past,” she said.
Mbeki said when she completed her social work degree in 1965, she was working under apartheid but they continued with their humanitarian work to assist poor people with their challenges. They dealt with family issues, the community, government regulations and policy. She advises social workers to stand stronger and advise the government to effect policy change.
Pictured are Zanele Mbeki (former first lady of South Africa) and Prof. Carolyn Jacobs (retired Dean: University of Massachusetts, USA).
*By Ian Mabaso (CHS communications and marketing)
Publish date: 2017-08-14 00:00:00.0
Groundbreaking milestone as Unisa exceeds 100 patents granted
Unisa counsellors address lack of opportunities in Duncan Village
A go-getter at heart and in spirit obtains PhD at 35
Integrating ancient remedies in modern healing
Meaningful student campaign invests in access to education