Often times, we underrate the work done by social workers in our communities and sometimes we even tend to forget that it is a full profession that requires training and to have a set of skills and qualities in order to execute what truly entails social work.
This is partly why World Education Inc. and Bantwana Initiative in support of the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development decided to host this year’s International Federation of Social Workers’ Global Conference in Kampala, Uganda.
The conference, which is set to run for four days next week from Monday October 28 to Thursday October 31, 2019 at Munyonyo Commonwealth Resort will be under the theme, ‘Social Work in Strengthening Human Relations for Social, Economic and Political Transformation.’
In line of the theme mentioned above, the conference will be used to set up a National Council that will monitor and enforce the code of conduct of the social workforce and help in the regulation and professionalization of social work so that social workers operate according to the right knowledge, values, principles and practices.
The conference will also discuss the value of social workers in the country and seek to change the perception of the youth who see the profession as a second or third choice when they fail to achieve their desired sciences.
“Social work is indispensable in the socio-economic transformation of the communities so people will be coming from different walks of life to exchange with us the practices of social work and how social work has glued societies together,” said Mondo Kyateka, the Commissioner for Youth Affairs in the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development.
Kyateka also highlighted the economic benefit of this conference to Uganda, as over 450 participants are coming from different countries and will spend their money in Uganda during the four-day conference, and some may stay a little longer after that to tour the Pearl of Africa.
Neckvilleus Kamwesigye who is part of the organising committee said that the conference is not merely about making social work appreciated, but also respected. Kamwesigye has been a social worker for over eight years and he is currently the Sector Head, Case Management at World Education Inc/Bantwana.
With partners USAID, UNICEF and other academics, other topics of discussion will be refugees, trafficking challenges, social work with children, youth, and elderly among others.