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Submission information
Submission Number: 180
Submission ID: 1177
Submission UUID: 6080c27a-fb48-4573-afec-db7cff3f8563
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Thu, 06/19/2025 - 09:09
Completed: Thu, 06/19/2025 - 09:27
Changed: Thu, 06/26/2025 - 12:52
Remote IP address: 197.184.183.61
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
| Title | Mr. |
|---|---|
| Lastname | Phoswa |
| Firstname | Sthembiso |
| zulanaye@gmail.com | |
| Mobile | 0749232633 |
| Institution | University of kwazulu-natal |
| Biosketch | Sthembiso Phoswa is a PhD candidate in Social Work at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and a mentor at the Ma’at Institute. He has over six years of experience in social work practice, research, community work, and teaching. His scholarly interests include decoloniality, Afrocentric social work, African Indigenous Knowledge Systems, African spirituality, and the role of Ubuntu philosophy in community building and leadership. He is co-author of the newly published book chapter Climate Change: Intervention Strategies and Sustainable Development in the Global South, which advocates for epistemic justice and context-based approaches in trauma debriefing. A DAAD scholar, his research promotes African-centered approaches to social work education and practice |
| Is there a Second Presenter? | Yes |
| Title | Ms. |
| Lastname | Nqayi |
| Firstname | Zamansele |
| NqayiZ@unizulu.ac.za | |
| Mobile | +27 82 545 2880 |
| Institution | University of Zululand |
| Biosketch | Zamansele Nqayi is a dedicated passionate social worker with over 10 years’ experience. Well known for her commitment to excellence in the field of social work. She has experience in supervision and management and have contributed greatly to the node of Afrocentric thought and development through training and facilitation. Of late is a contract lecturer and enjoy interacting with students. She is a leader with a unique blend of creativity acquired by having mentors and peers who critique her to the best version. A PhD candidate at Unizulu, her study focuses on Food security and Indigenous knowledge systems. |
| Is there a Third Presenter? | Yes |
| Title | Dr |
| Lastname | Buthelezi |
| Firstname | Nontobeko |
| Buthenpa@unisa.ac.za | |
| Mobile | +27 83 923 4651 |
| Institution | University of South Africa |
| Biosketch | Dr Nontobeko Buthelezi is an Educational Psychologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and co-founder of the Ma'at Institute. Her work focuses on educational psychology, cognitive development, resilience, student well-being, and integrating Afrocentric and indigenous knowledge systems into practice. She also founded an Edublox cognitive development clinic, offering interventions for children with learning difficulties. Dr Buthelezi is committed to advancing culturally responsive education, psychosocial support, and community empowerment |
| Title of Presentatation | Integrating Afrocentric Epistemologies in Trauma Care: Community-Based Responses to Climate Disasters in South Africa |
| Theme Selection | THEME 1: Green Social Work and Climate Resilience: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in the Face of Environmental Crises |
| Subtheme ONE Selection | SUB 1.3 How social workers support resilience, adaptation, and recovery in affected communities. |
| Select your Presentation Type | Oral Presentation |
| Abstract | On a global level, climate change represents one of the most pressing crises of modern times, resulting in internal and external displacement, destruction of infrastructure and livelihoods, and loss of life. There are urgent calls in social work and psychology to adopt prevention, mitigation, and response strategies that address the climate crisis and promote ecosocial justice. This chapter draws on the Afrocentric paradigm as a guiding theoretical framework to examine trauma-informed interventions led by The Ma’at Institute, located at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Empirical data were collected through community facilitator process recordings, reflective journals, and voices of community participants engaged in group-based interventions. The Ma’at Institute pioneers African-centred scholarship in community psychosocial services, offering an alternative to dominant Western paradigms. Central to the Afrocentric paradigm are epistemologies that value the individual as a whole person, emphasize collective identity, interconnectedness among people (living and non-living), and human relationships with all other species, grounded in egalitarianism, respect, and reciprocity. Co-authored by two academics and four practitioners from the Ma’at Institute, the chapter highlights culturally grounded approaches that integrate lived experiences and African epistemologies to strengthen disaster responses and support trauma debriefing and healing. Key themes include: (1) Afrocentric community entry strategies; (2) culturally sensitive negotiation of gender stereotypes and inclusion; (3) use of indigenous languages to promote epistemic justice; (4) Afrocentric group formation using singing and dancing for acceptance; (5) age-appropriate, issue-based interventions for children; and (6) strengths-based and spiritual approaches to trauma healing. The chapter emphasizes the power of indigenous language and cultural practices to evoke emotional responses that inspire hope and resilience, even amid suffering. Recommendations are made for policy, education, and future research to enhance culturally relevant practice in social work and psychology. Keywords: Afrocentric approaches, Afrocentric trauma-informed care, flood disasters, strengths-based, trauma-care |
| Title | Dr |
| Firstname | Bashizi Bashige |
| Lastname | Murhula |
| Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? | Yes |
| What Area does this Abstract Focus on? | Empirical Research |
| Status | Accepted |
| Title | Ms |
| Firstname | SELLOANE |
| Lastname | PHOOFOLO |
| Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? | Yes |
| What Area does this Abstract Focus on? | Practice |
| Status | Pending Review |