Mpumalanga social worker reflects on 2025 theme for World Social Work Day
This year's theme for World Social Work Day is 'Strengthening intergenerational solidarity for enduring well-being'. It is a day to celebrate the achievements of social workers.
World Social Work Day is honoured annually on the third Tuesday of March to celebrate the achievements of social workers.
This year it was commemorated on March 18. During an interview with Mpumalanga News, a social worker, Nteboheng Lekhuleni, who has four years experience in the field, explained this year’s theme, ‘Strengthening intergenerational solidarity for enduring well-being’.
“This theme places emphasis on bringing generations together for a better future. It is concerned with the importance of different age groups supporting and learning from one another to create a healthier and more sustainable world.”
Reflecting more on the theme, she highlighted how the advancement of technology has created a shift in the social climate between adults, youth and children.
“The younger generation feels misunderstood as times have changed drastically and very few adults have been able to adjust and learn the new world, while others are unwilling to do so.”
Lekhuleni said clear and open communication is imperative when dealing with these challenges.
“Young people need to be given the platform to correctly and respectfully express themselves without being attacked or judged. The world our parents lived in is not the same one our children live in, therefore, solutions to problems are not the same.
“The older generation needs to stay informed with trends and technology. But the information they consume must be correct; they should avoid conspiracy theories. It is good to learn, even if the information makes you uncomfortable,” Lekhuleni said.
She further stressed the importance of building a society of communal support and care for future generations.
“Essentially, we need to build stronger connections across generations. We have shared responsibility and we are all dependent on one another,” she said.
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According to Lekhuleni, social workers play a vital role in bridging the gap between generations by ensuring support is accessible.They help the children and the youth with issues such as bullying, peer pressure, dealing with social media and family dynamics. The services offered to adults address workplace dynamics, unemployment, relationship difficulties and mental health disorders.
“In older adults we mainly focus on grief, general health, cognitive decline, loneliness and loss of independence as a result of the aforementioned issues.
“For children and youth members, we provide programmes such as campaigns, counselling and educational groups. For adults, social workers can implement workplace mental health programmes and crisis intervention services. And for older individuals, we mainly advocate for their rights and home-based mental healthcare,” Lekhuleni said.
