The Association of South African Social Work Education Institutions (ASASWEI) marked World Social Work Day on March 18th, 2025, with the launch of a groundbreaking book titled:
“Social Work in the 21st Century: Scholarship and Praxis Reimagined Towards Vulnerability.”
👩🏫 Volume Editors
- Allucia L. Shokane
- Annaline Keet
- Varoshini Nadesan
📖 Synopsis
This scholarly book is the third volume in the ‘Knowledge Pathing: Multi-, Inter- and Trans-Disciplining in Social Sciences’ book series. It brings together chapters from contributing authors involved in social work practice and education, focusing on issues of poverty, inequality, and vulnerability.
The book’s themes stem from the 2021 ASASWEI conference titled:
“Pandemics, poverty, inequality and disability: Social work in the 21st century.”
The conference sparked rich discussions on how vulnerable communities—already marginalized by poverty and inequality—faced further hardships during major societal disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drawing from these deliberations, the chapters in the book promote:
- Knowledge and skills for addressing vulnerabilities in contemporary social contexts.
- Critical reflections on how social work can respond to poverty and inequality.
- Transformative practices aimed at empowering marginalized communities.
🔍 Key Themes Explored
- Reimagining Social Work Praxis: New frameworks and methodologies to tackle complex social challenges.
- Vulnerability and Resilience: Addressing structural inequalities and individual experiences.
- Decolonial and Indigenous Knowledge: Highlighting locally rooted, context-specific practices.
- Future Directions for Social Work Education: Equipping practitioners with skills for evolving demands.
📥 Access the Book
You can download a free PDF copy of the book here.
For more information, visit: AOSIS Books.
World Social Work Day 2025: A Global Call for Social Justice
The book launch on World Social Work Day underscores the profession’s dedication to promoting human rights, dignity, and social justice. ASASWEI’s contribution through this publication reinforces the importance of continuous scholarship and transformative praxis in tackling vulnerabilities.
🎉 Congrats to the 2019-2021 Executive of ASASWEI under the leadership of these editors on this remarkable achievement!
