Speaker
Dr Jacob Mati
Senior Lecturer
Sol Plaatje University
Covid-19 and Volunteering for Development: Impacts, Responses, Innovations and Implications
Abstract Narrative
“While the worldwide Covid-19 disruption caught volunteers and volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) off guard, pandemics and other ‘Black swan’ events are often times of great innovations. In addition, by its very nature, the volunteering for development ecosystem (especially in humanitarian crisis and disasters, mass violence and pandemic contexts) is characterised by complex and dynamic interlinkages and interdependencies between various agents ‒volunteers, organisations, communities– and spaces, which, even in the best of times interact in volatile, uncertain, and ambiguous environments, forever teetering between chaos and disorder.
Continuity and survival in this seemingly chaotic ecosystem requires constant adaptive capabilities. Acting in their own interests and with their own view of the situation, volunteerism for development ecosystem agents constantly adapt and re-invent in their work, in networking with, reacting to, and influencing other actors and the wider system (Frej and Ramalingam, 2011; van Nuland et al 2020; Gribbin, 2004; Törnberg 2014; Dickens 2012). How has such adaptability and re-intention been put to use by volunteering for development actors in the face of Covid-19?
This presentation applies the complex adaptive systems perspective (Buckley 1968; Dodder and Dare, 2000) and Gleick’s (1989) chaos theory, to examine how the Covid-19 disruption is impacting on the work of international volunteer cooperation organisations (IVCOs), other VIOs, their partners, volunteers, and the communities they serve. The research seeks answers the following questions: What happened to volunteers in the Covid-19 pandemic? What programme innovations and adaptations signal new growth areas in a post-Covid-19 context? And what does the future hold for volunteering for development? The presentation draws on a findings of a mixed method study involving two online surveys (an organisational survey of 39 VIOs and a survey of 239 volunteers drawn from six IVCOs across the globe); online focus group interviews with VIOs, partners, and volunteers; and select in-depth key informant interviews with IVCOs and government representatives. Findings from this study showcase the innovations and adaptations occasioned by these diverse actors’ responses to Covid-19.
References
Buckley, W. (1968). Society as a complex adaptive system. Modern Systems Research for the Behavioral Scientist. Chicago: Aldine.
Dickens, P.M. (2012). (2012). Facilitating Emergence: Complex, Adaptive Systems Theory and the Shape of Change. Dissertations & Theses. 114. Antioch University. http://aura.antioch.edu/etds/114
Dodder, R., & Dare, R. (2000). Complex adaptive systems and complexity theory: Inter-related knowledge domains. ESD.83. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Massachusetts.
Frej, W., & Ramalingam, B. (2011). Policy and Complex Adaptive Systems: Exploring New Paradigms for Analysis and Action. SFI WORKING PAPER: 2011-06-022. Santa Fe Institute, https://www.eccnetwork.net/sites/default/files/media/file/11-06-022.pdf
Gleick, J. (1989). Chaos: Making a new science. New York, NY: Penguin.
Gribbin, J. R. (2004). Deep simplicity: Bringing order to chaos and complexity. New York, NY: Random House.
Törnberg, P. (2014). Innovation in Complex Adaptive Systems. Thesis, Chalmers University, http://publications.lib.chalmers.se/records/fulltext/203938/203938.pdf
Van Nuland, S., Mandzuk, D. Petrick, K.T. & Cooper, T. (2020): Covid-19 and its effects on teacher education in Ontario: a complex adaptive systems perspective, Journal of Education for Teaching, DOI: 10.1080/02607476.2020.1803050”
Biography
Dr. Jacob Mati teaches sociology at Sol Plaatje University, Kimberley, South Africa. Jacob teaches researchers prosociality and associational life, and their intersections with development. He teaches courses relating to social policy and development.
Dr Zhaoen Pan
School of Arts, Federation University
Examining experiences of Chinese social workers during COVID-19
Abstract Narrative
“Overview: There is growing literature on conceptualizing disaster social work in China. However, the recent pandemic has sharpened the focus on the role of social workers as conduits between the community and the government services, raising consciousness and fostering community action and linking vulnerable members of the population to other services. The paper reports on the mixed experiences of Chinese social workers involved in Wuhan and Zhengzhou city during the Covid-19 pandemic. Methods: The paper used an interpretative phenomenology that supports the study of everyday experiences of people who are interconnected with the world around them (Darbyshire et al., 1999). In order to understand social work experiences, in-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 social workers in Wuhan city and 11 in Zhengzhou city in Henan Province-that is a total of 18 social workers. Results: Findings from the interviews can be analyzed into three broad themes, namely, social work roles/responsibilities in inter/intra agency settings, social worker role in building community based on line networks using Information Communication Technology (ICT) and barriers/challenges to doing disaster work. As a way of conclusion it is argued that social workers were able to work effectively with a range of professionals, namely psychologists, welfare local government workers, doctors, nurses and families by linking resources, showing empathy and promoting mutual help by organizing community volunteers and setting up on-line platforms, and calling for cooperation between various professionals. But they also confronted many challenges including heavy workload, ethical dilemmas, the lack of epidemic prevention supplies, and the attempt of balancing governments’ strict control measures and their caring roles. To improve disaster social work, research participants reported that the current disaster prevention system is inadequate and recommended a number of structural measures that need to be strengthened so coordination between and among different organizations, including local government, psychologists, medical professionals, counselling services and families is improved. Conclusions: The paper contributes to the existing literature by shinning a light on the role social workers played during the pandemic in 2020 in China. By analyzing the enablers and barriers that social workers in China faced in managing the disaster, it will argue that China’s nascent social work disaster management system demonstrated several strengths such as the efficient administration of service delivery and the innovative use of online technology to support communities. Aspects for future enhancements could include support and training concerning ethical dilemmas social workers face in disaster work, and increased collaboration between different parts of service delivery. Key words: Social Work disasters, COVID-19, disaster relief and social work in China, Social work responses to disaster in China. Darbyshire, P., Diekelmann, J., & Diekelmann, N. (1999). Reading Heidegger and Interpretive Phenomenology: A Response to the Work of Michael Crotty. Nursing Inquiry, 6, 17-25. ”
Biography
Zhaoen’s research and teaching has in recent years focused on international social work practice and education, women’s empowerment, gender policies in Australia and China. After completed her PhD study in the Department of Social Work at Monash University, Zhaoen has been engaging as an lecturer teaching social welfare, social work theories and researches, community work, and assessments and intervention. Well acknowledging diverse social work practices on an international scale, Zhaoen is currently engaging researches exploring Chinese social workers’ practices against the Covid-19 pandemic, and the international social work students’ self-reflexivity under multicultural environments in Australia.
- Pan, Z., & Whittenbury, K. (2018). The changing face of social work in China. In Alston, M., Mccurdy, S., & MicKinnon (eds.) Social Work Fields of Practice (pp.326-340). Oxford Press.
• Pan, Z. (2019). Social work’s intervention into rural women’s development in Australia and China [Doctoral dissertation, Monash University]. Figshare.
• Pan, Z., & Vishwanath, T.P. (2021). Australian welfare Portrait. https://www.socialnet.de/en/international/australia.html
Dr Sumaina Yesufu
Senior Lecturer
University of Benin
Social Work and the fight against the new Coronavirus in Nigeria
Abstract Narrative
The new coronavirus disease or Covid – 19 is no respecter of boarders or boundaries. It is the worst pandemic or global public health crisis in the past 75 years. As a pandemic, it has negatively impacted health, economy, education, religion and well-being globally. The fight against the new Coronavirus demands both medical and non-medical interventions. Social workers are expected to be proactive in relation to the non-medical management of the new Coronavirus. In Nigeria, the voices of social workers are not being heard in this regard like their colleagues in other climes. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of social workers in the fight against the new Coronavirus in Nigeria. In this study, fifteen social workers will be purposely selected and interviewed via face-to face method of data collection. The gap in knowledge in the non-medical management of the new coronavirus will be highlighted, and recommendations will be provided on the way forward.
Biography
Social Work Educator and Legal Practitioner
Dr Ning Tang
Assistant Professor
University of Saint Joseph, Macau
The Different Roles of Social Workers during the COVID-19 Pandemic in China
Abstract Narrative
“The COVID-19 started spreading in China in early January. On January 25, Wuhan Social Worker Association published an announcement to call for professional social workers to volunteer in providing online emotional support for hospital staff, community workers and residents in quarantine. The functions of professional social workers in public health emergencies gradually drew a great attention from the public and policy makers. In an important speech, President Xi mentioned the importance of social work as a professional force in providing psychosocial support and community services during the pandemic. It is prompt to conduct a systematic study on the roles and responsibilities of social workers in such emergency. The main research purpose of this study is to understand the different roles of social workers that had emerged during the period of coronavirus outbreak in China, as well as the external and internal factors of choosing and performing those roles for individual social workers. This study used a cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach. Multiple non-probability sampling methods were used to recruit social workers who participated in the work of epidemic prevention or treatment. All data were collected through an online survey between December 2020 and February 2021. The survey included demographic questions, closed and open questions about perceptions, attitudes, knowledge, and experiences about the pandemic, as well as a couple of validated scales, including Job-related Tension Index, Impact of Event Scale, COPE Inventory, and Mental Health Inventory. A total of 285 participants completed survey, including 209 females and 76 males from over 20 provinces. The results present the major tasks and roles of social workers at different stages of the pandemic, the impact of external factors (e.g. agency settings, public health system, interdisciplinary teamwork) and internal factors (e.g. professional identify & commitment, professional knowledge & skills, attitudes toward the epidemic) on social workers fulfilling their roles, as well as the effect of the pandemic on social workers’ mental health. This research creates an empirical picture of social work services in the field during the pandemic. The epidemic crisis has stimulated the potential of social workers in China in participating in public health field. It is necessary to use research to synthesis those efforts and to provide science evidence for future professionalization of public health social work. Keywords: Public health social work, Chinese social workers, pandemic”
Biography
Dr. Ning Tang is currently working at the University of Saint Joseph at Macau as an assistant professor of the social work program. She received her Ph.D in social work from the University of Alabama, USA. She holds a MSW degree from the University of Alabama and a BSW degree from Beijing Institute of Technology, China. Dr. Tang has rich experiences in research as well as practice. Her passion has always been the professionalization of social work in mainland China. She is also interested in program evaluation and service delivery system.
Dr Vibha Kaushik
Postdoctoral Fellow
University of Calgar
Social Work Field Education during COVID-19: Learnings for Social Development Agenda
Abstract Narrative
While there is not any universal definition of social development, it is often accepted as a process whereby people achieve personal growth and self-actualization with wider social effects. This occurs through becoming increasingly competent and responsible in interacting with people. In the process, they contribute to creating a caring and sharing society while also building their capacity to work continuously for the welfare of themself and society. Both social work and social development share the same commitment to promote positive social change through the promotion of human development and community participation. A critical component of social work education is the preparation of social work students for social development practice. Field education, a vital component in social work education, provides students with the opportunity to apply social development theory and skills to promote a social development agenda in a wide range of professional settings and contexts. Field education is essential for preparing students for social developmentally oriented social work practice.
COVID-19 pandemic is a global disaster that has created health, economic, humanitarian, security, and human rights crises worldwide. It has also caused major disruptions in field education and adversely impacted student’s experiential learning. The Transforming the Field Education Landscape (TFEL) is a partnership project that aims to prepare the next generation of social workers. This is achieved by creating training and mentoring opportunities for students, developing and mobilizing promising and wise field education practices, and improving the integration of research and practice in field education including in social development contexts. TFEL brings together a wide array of social work researchers and partners in Canada and internationally. This paper will report on a series of research initiatives launched by the TFEL partnership in 2020-2021 which included online surveys, interviews, and dialogue circles in which undergraduate and graduate social work students, field educators, and practicum supervisors participated. The research initiatives were aimed at understanding the impacts of COVID-19 on field education in Canada which included preparing social work students for working in developmentally oriented contexts. A number of challenges were identified. These included reduced practicum hours and therefore lost learning opportunities; a shift to field education in virtual environments with corresponding shifts in ways of learning; an increase in self-directed, faculty-led, or research-based practica due to the hesitation of community partnerships to take social work placement students; and challenges associated with the use of technology in field education. Findings have implications for future development of social work field education as we adjust to current and potential changing learning environments. The presentation will conclude with TFEL-specific recommendations for the development of practicum learning resources and field placement opportunities to advance social development agenda especially during the pandemic.
Biography
Vibha Kaushik is a registered social worker in Alberta. Based in Calgary, she is currently working at the University of Calgary as a Postdoctoral Associate in two partnership projects with large Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council Partnership Grants: (1) Transforming the Field Education Landscape and (2) Aging in the Right Place. In addition, Vibha teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Faulty of Social Work at the University of Calgary. Vibha’s research program focuses on newcomer settlement and integration. Her research interests include social work with newcomers, newcomer integration, diversity and intersectionality, social gerontology, linguistic challenges of non-native speakers, and mixed-methods research.
Mrs Gillian Joy Bates
CEO
Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa
Covid-19 and Volunteering for Development: Impacts, Responses, Innovations and Implications
Biography
Gill Bates CEO, Charities Aid Foundation Southern Africa Gill’s thirty year career has largely been dedicated to the corporate social investment space. She has managed the trusts and foundations of companies listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, primarily in the financial services sector. Prior to this, Gill practiced clinical social work. With valuable experience both in the corporate and non-profit sectors, Gill understands the pivotal role CAFSA plays as an intermediary in its work to support a strong and vibrant civil society in our young democracy. Gill holds a BA in Social Work and Psychology, an Honours Degree in Education Social Work and a Masters Degree in Public and Development Management, all from the University of the Witwatersrand.