Centre for Social Work Innovation and Research

World Social Work Day 2021

World Social Work Day
16 March 2021

WSWD 2021 collage
 

CSWIR is delighted to share our global network map and photo collage in celebration of World Social Work Day 2021.

Members of the CSWIR global network sent in pictures of objects that represented social work for them in their own specific national context. Submissions ranged from the role of social work and social worker, ethics and values of social work, concepts in social work such as hope, happiness, resilience, strength, focus on those who are particularly vulnerable, social work and everyday life, movements within social work, the Covid-19 pandemic and challenges for social workers and service users, the new normal of social work with online collaborations and the need to encompass digital tools to remain close to people.

These images emphasised the WSWD 2021 theme, Ubuntu: I Am Because We Are - Strengthening Social Solidarity and Global Connectedness.

See the picture gallery below to view the images and their descriptions.

UBUNTU: I AM BECAUSE WE ARE - Strengthening Social Solidarity and Global Connectedness

The theme for World Social Work Day 2021

Different layered building blocks in Social Work: Historical, contextual, glocal, societal and the practice on top that remains open (Ilse Julkunen, Helsinki) Partnership to achieve shared visions for reconciliation: SWIRLS committed to truth telling about the history of social work education, research and practice in Australia (SWIRLS, Flinders University) Holding the course: The role of social work to join people as a watchful guide as they walk along with us along their path (Rachel Burr, Sussex) The complexity of Social Work and human relationships: Knots understood as difficult situations in people's lives, and the almost invisible networks woven by social work, which allow people to continue to recognise themselves and to be recognised after our interventions in their life processes (Esther Mercado Garcia, Spain) Playful creativity and togetherness: Central for social work in all its forms and illustrated by this temporary artwork of ice. The unique colors & patterns in each ice block is beautiful when placed side by side unevenly, balanced & connected to each other (Mona Livholts, Helsinki, Finland) Essential everyday household gadgets: A pestle & mortar are essential household gadgets which help to store and grind food. This ensures food security and combats household poverty in many families in southern Africa (Pioneny Colvile, Sussex) “Tears” by Safet Zec: Located where 8,372 Bosnian Muslim men and boys lived their last moments prior to the Srebrenica genocide. (Reima Ana Maglajlic, Sussex) “Hell on earth” by Damir Šagolj: Migrants trapped on the border between BIH and neighbouring Croatia. Despite our own experiences as internally displaced refugees and migrants, their presence in BiH resulted in growing social tension. (Reima Ana Maglajlic, Sussex) Families...hard to reach within lockdown!: Family as a habitat. Photographic bonding study by artist Lena Biesalski. (Barbara & Matthias Müller & Anja Lentz-Becker, Neubrandenburg, Germany) The real face of social workers and the often vulnerable people they work with: Photobook 'Pride' released at the first Social Work Conference - the start of a movement in Flanders of 'strong social work'. (Wendy Eerdekens, Ghent, Belgium) Digital tools and social networks, to stay close to people and services: Screenshot from an album in the Facebook group of ASit Servizio Sociale su Internet. These are the faces and thoughts of social workers and students. (Vittorio Zanon, Italy) Resilient, committed, strong ...in these harsh times (Emilio Jose Gomez Ciriano, Spain) Social work online collaboration across the continent for World Social Work Day: Karen (Northern Ireland), Esther (Spain), Wendy (Belgium) & Inger-Sophie and Randi (Norway) Ireland), Esther (Spain), Wendy (Belgium) & Inger-Sophie and Randi (Norway)