Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Hon. Rosy Akbar has urged parents and guardians to encourage children to consider being a social worker as a rewarding and noble career.
This was highlighted by Minister Akbar at the World Social Work Day celebrations held at the University of the South Pacific in Suva this week.
She said the work done by the social workers in the recent aftermath of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston brought to the forefront the important role they played in all phases of disaster management.
“Allow me to pay a special tribute of ‘thanks’ to the many great individuals, social workers, private and overseas organisations, faith-based organisations, NGOs who displayed noble acts of kindness in the aftermath of TC Winston. There is still much to be done, however, their swift act of kindness has lightened the load of the victims and hastened the recovery process,” Minister Akbar said.
“We need to involve our young people in this work. They are the future of our country. When we allow them the opportunity to be involved in uplifting the lives of those who are less fortunate than them, we are opening their eyes to a whole new world of self-sacrifice.”
Minister Akbar stated the Fijian Government placed great emphasis on the dignity and promoting the worth and parity of all Fijians through social welfare benefit schemes such as Care and Protection Allowance, Poverty Benefit Scheme and Social Pension Scheme.
“Government is also supportive of the work done by social workers. Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation works closely with volunteers from various women’s organisations to provide them with the training or funding assistance to improve the lives of their members to enable them to participate fully in the community and in their families,” she said.
The Department of Social Welfare also worked with USP’s School of Social Sciences in the placement of students studying social work to complete their field work within the department.
About 60 individuals, including members of the Fiji Association of Social and Community Workers and USP Social Work Students Association, were part of the celebrations.
The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Promoting the dignity and worth of people’.