“Diversity is the mix. Inclusion is making the mix work.” – Andrés Tapia
As the world evolves, social workers serve as catalysts for change throughout decades, embarking on a journey towards achieving inclusive development in light of the diversity of individuals, societies and communities. Social workers are essential to nation building and therefore deserve to be acknowledged and lauded for their efforts.
Every year, the month of March is set to honor all social workers around the world. According to the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), the theme of the 2022 World Social Work Day celebration is “Co-building a New EcoSocial World: Leaving No One Behind,” with the goal of engaging societies so they can collectively express the world they envision, promoting a sustainable and inclusive global mass movement for change.
This year’s World Social Work Day celebration by the Junior Social Workers Association of the Philippines – Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (JSWAP-PLM) is attuned to the IFSW theme, thus entitled “JSWAP-PLM World Social Work Day Celebration 2022: Katuwang sa Pagbuo ng Bagong Eko-Sosyal na Mundo – Walang Maiiwan, Lahat ay Kabilang.” The five-day is currently on-going with runs scheduled on March 17, 19, 21, 23, and 25, 2022 via Zoom and Facebook Live with various activities prepared to socially engage the social work community as well as the future social workers within and beyond the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila. Such activities will be featuring the social work profession, fostering the understanding and calling of the students to serve the people and the community, aided by the professional expertise of social workers and resource speakers.
The first day of JSWAP-PLM Social Work Day Celebration 2022 was held last March 17, 2022 (Thursday) from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM through the use of the Zoom Conference. This will include the Kick-off Celebration Talk 101, the JSWAP-PLM Tik Tok Advocacy Challenge 2022, and the JSWAP-PLM Academic Excellence Citation and Recognition. This event will be attended by PLM Social Work students and will be open to the entire Department of Social Work community. The JSWAP-PLM will also invite Social Work students from JSWAP Mega Manila to stand in solidarity, among other things. Professor Editha Venus Maslang, RSW, MSW, a lecturer at the University of the Philippines Diliman, will be the resource speaker at this kick-off event, sharing her journey and experiences as a social worker in promoting inclusive development in society.
Moreover, the launch of the JSWAP-PLM Tik Tok Advocacy Challenge 2022 was included in the opening ceremony to support and promote contemporary roles of social workers in gender equality and women empowerment, and in accordance with this year’s National Women’s Month Celebration, “We Make Change Work for Women,” with a sub-theme of “Agenda ng Kababaihan, Tungo sa Kaunlaran.” Lastly, the JSWAP Academic Excellence Award, which is highly anticipated by all PLM social work students, will be presented as well on the first day of the celebration to recognize all of the students’ yielding efforts over the previous semester.
Watch Day 1 here:
The second day of the event is the first part of the Year Level Webinar Series. Undertaken by the JSWAP-PLM freshmen, this activity aimed to strengthen and expand the understanding of students in the fields of social work. Last March 19, 2022 (Saturday) from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM via Zoom Conference, the freshmen webinar, captioned “Fields of Social Work: Exploring Its Challenges and Opportunities,” was embellished by the invited professional resource speakers and well-known individuals from various fields of social work who set forth the uniqueness and opportunities of their journey as a social worker.
These are the notable speakers for the freshmen webinar:
Mr. Ryan Magante, RSW (Social Work Officer II) from the Department of Social Welfare and Development NCR, will be talking through the roles of social workers in the community organization and development practice.
Ms. Marisden M. Casiano, RSW (Social Work Officer III) from the Manila Department of Social Welfare, will discuss the roles of social workers in community education and training.
Mr. Luis S. Cruda, RSW, a consultant of Green Cross, Inc., will talk on the roles of social workers in managing social order in the community.
Ms. Rica Mae Puno Pring, RSW, a Community Organizer of Urban Poor Associate, will be tackling the roles of social workers in poverty alleviation in the community.
Watch Day 2 here:
The second part of the Year-Level Webinar Series, to be managed by the second-year students of the Social Work Department, has a goal of redirecting the students’ character and temperaments. The webinar entitled “Social Worker in Me: Walang Maiiwan Dahil Tayo ay Sama-sama,” took place via Zoom Conference yesterday, from 12:15 PM to 3:00 PM.
This part of the event hoped to inspire students in their respective life skills while assisting them in representing growth to the community as future social workers. The following resource speakers guided the students upon discovering their true purpose:
Prof. Justin Francis Leon V. Nicolas, RSW, MSW, the Chairperson of the Department of Social Work of the College of Social Work and Community Development from the University of the Philippines Diliman on the topic of “Binhi Para sa Kinabukasan”: How Small Actions Lead to Greater Impact.
Prof. John Christopher Dimasaka Castillo, RSW, PhD, an Associate Professor from the School of Social Sciences and Education Mapua University will expound on “Bayanihan”:The Spirit of Filipino Solidarity.
Watch Day 3 here:
You can watch the remaining parts through the JSWAP-PLM Facebook Page for the scheduled live tomorrow (March 23) and on Friday (March 25).
For the third part of the Year Level Webinar Series, activities are to be managed by the third-year JSWAP-PLM students. The webinar is particular to mark the 2022 Women’s Month Celebration. This endeavors to highlight the success made for women and girls, evaluates decisions toward gender equality, and takes a glance forward to the steps that must be taken to ensure progress in empowering women. This webinar will also outline the main role of social workers in women as the beginning of everything, traversing boundaries, and representing women as agents of change.
“Breaking Boundaries: Women in Power and the Progressive Social Workers” will be held via Zoom Conference on March 23, 2022 (Wednesday) from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM, and will be attributed by respected resource speakers who advocates for women empowerment and gender equality in an educative conversations on the role of women and the social work profession as catalysts for change and development.
As the world transitions in terms of women’s rights, aspects, and values, the following speakers will undoubtedly benefit the social work department and the university, particularly the students:
Dr. Jean Suzanne A. Lindo, Physician who specializes in Anesthesiology and Community Medicine in the Brokenshire Memorial Hospital, and the chairperson of Gabriela in Southern Mindanao, on the topic of Women as Change Agents Towards Co-Building A New Eco-Social World: Leaving No One Behind.
Dr. Finaflor F. Taylan, the Program Chair of Social Work and Women and Development in UP Open University, Vice President of NASWEI Luzon, will provide her narrative as part of HERstory: Experiencing Social Work as a GAD Advocate.
The final day of the celebration will primarily focus on the culminating activities, which will feature the addresses from renowned social workers, the awarding of the winners of the JSWAP-PLM Tik Tok Advocacy Challenge 2022, testimonies of PLM social work students from each year level, and the introduction of JSWAP-PLM Juniors Officers.
The addresses from the following speakers are the most-anticipated segment of the closing event as their words will undoubtedly leave a mark on the hearts of the students as they embark on their social work journey:
Atty. Maria Lourdes Fugoso-Alcain, RSW, Executive Director in the Commission for the Welfare of Children, will elaborate on Dear Future Social Worker.
Hon. Glenda de Rama-Relova, RN, RSW, MSSW the Assistant Secretary for Operations Group of Statutory Programs of the Department of Social Welfare and Development will share an inspirational message about From Passion Into Action.
Additionally, testimonies of social work students will take place on this day to share their learnings, realizations, and insights regarding the JSWAP-PLM’s various projects, and since this is the last day of the week-long celebration proposed by the JSWAP-PLM, the activities from days one to five will be featured as well.
Indeed, there is no more interesting and delightful celebration than one that involves everyone and the same goes for social work. Social workers work not only for the people, but also with the people, upholding their individuality and self-determination while respecting their strengths and capabilities. Through the celebration of the World Social Work Day 2022, may current and future social workers recognize the power that inclusivity provides. May we take part in transforming the world for the better, as we leave no one behind.
This series of activities is made possible by the generosity of the following sponsors: Motivo, an electronics company with over two decades of experience in developing innovative technology products and solutions, has truly proved that they are one of the reasons why we keep going. Sentinote PH, a one-stop shop for stationery, art, and cute stuff for every artistic and sentimental soul out there, as well as Luscious Bites (LB21), a company that brings cravings to life, has expressed interest in collaborating with this event. Furthermore, The Noob Baker, a company that absolutely delights one’s taste buds, and our major sponsor, Megawide Foundation, which works to improve the lives of marginalized Filipinos, have also lent their support to make this five-day event even more exciting.
These media partners also contribute to the buzz surrounding the World Social Work Day 2022. IKOT.PH and Kwelang Social Worker have pledged their full support in sharing and disseminating event information, so that more people are reminded not only of the World Social Work Day celebration, but also of the importance of the social work profession in many people’s lives promoting social change and development that will enable people to contribute and work within the community. Meanwhile, in order to show support and solidarity among social work students, the Unibersidad De Manila-Junior Social Workers Association of the Philippines (UDM-JSWAP) and PLM Tugon-ResCUE have committed to be the official JSWAP-PLM partner organizations.
