Social workers’ month observed
Marthie Maritz, the Solidariteit Helpende Hand's social auxiliary worker for the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and Easter Cape, visited different social workers' offices during social worker's month.
THE Solidariteit Helpende Hand celebrated International Social Workers Day on March 21 as part of observing the month of March as Social Workers Month.
Marthie Maritz, the Solidariteit Helpende Hand’s social auxiliary worker for the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast and Easter Cape, visited different social workers’ offices during the month. She said during a survey done in the communities it was clear that there are a lot of misperceptions and information regarding this profession.
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“Some of these perceptions are that social workers have no qualifications and only remove children and destroy families. This is not true. On the contrary, a social worker tries interventions with all parties to preserve the families and removal is the last resort,” said Marthie.
To qualify as a social worker, one needs to complete a four-year degree at an accredited tertiary institution.
“They also work under the supervision of a supervisor. The field of social work is wide and very interesting. We find social workers in hospitals, schools, old age homes, correctional facilities, and at child protection organisations. The profession of the social worker in private practice focuses on support and therapy to name a few interventions,” she said.
During March, she said she would like to emphasise the critical role of social workers in our communities. She would also like to thank each social worker for their dedicated service to communities as it is most often a very unthankful profession with challenges every day.
“Solidariteit Helpende Hand focuses on community development through a social approach and believes in the strength of every community in South Africa. The group of social workers and an auxiliary worker work hand in hand with volunteers in communities all over South Africa. They focus on sustainable projects that will make a difference in the future of our country,” she said.
Some of the offices visited by Marthie include Mooi Hawens, Umbumbulu, and Amanzimtoti.
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