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Submission information
Submission Number: 1
Submission ID: 709
Submission UUID: 9b05d25d-a8f4-4e6d-95ee-03b6c8ab9a28
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Tue, 02/25/2025 - 06:52
Completed: Tue, 02/25/2025 - 07:02
Changed: Thu, 05/29/2025 - 10:09
Remote IP address: 196.21.236.4
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
| Title | Dr. |
|---|---|
| Lastname | Makhanya |
| Firstname | Thembelihle brenda |
| Thembelihle.Makhanya@ump.ac.za | |
| Mobile | 0736949327 |
| Institution | Mpumalanga university |
| Biosketch | Dr Makhanya is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Leader in the department of Social Work at the university of Mpumalanga. Makhanya holds a BSW, MA and DPhil in Social Work obtained from University of KwaZulu-Natal. Dr Makhanya is also a secretary for Human Social Science Alumni Association Executive Committee (The NIHSS alumni). Previously worked as a practice coordinator, and lecturer at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (2017-2023) and contract lecturer at the University of Zululand (2018). She is a founder and chairperson of Imbewu Youth Empowerment Centre. She previously offered professional services to the Department of Correctional Services, as a facilitator and a coordinator for Victim Offender Mediation Dialogue (VOM-D) (2016-2022). She has presented papers at international, national, and regional conferences. Produced peer reviewed publications around decolonisation, higher education access, social justice, climate change, green social work, fatherhood and ubuntu. She received several awards, including Working Groups Programme research funding from NIHSS 2022-2023, and Emerging Social Work Educator of the Year 2021 from ASASWEI. Listed among 13 young academics on spotlight at UKZN in 2021. She won a first price award for the best paper at the 2019 NIHSS Annual National Doctoral conference and won a best paper award at the NIHSS 2021 Alumni conference. |
| Is there a Second Presenter? | Yes |
| Title | Ms. |
| Lastname | Ajodhia |
| Firstname | Santham |
| Sajodhia@ufh.ac.za | |
| Mobile | 0782501325 |
| Institution | Fort Hare University |
| Biosketch | Santham Ajodhia is a social work alumnus from the University of KwaZulu- Natal. She is extremely passionate about serving humanity and therefore followed her dream of becoming a social worker. In 2007 she obtained her social work degree followed by her master’s degree in 2016. Santham is currently a PhD candidate at the University of KwaZulu-Natal Social Work Department. Her PhD is a mixed method study focusing on intimate partner violence and depression among women. Her practice experience in the field (11 years) centered around child and family protection. In 2013 she ventured into academia as a social work supervisor and workshop facilitator for UNISA and UKZN. In 2016 she joined UKZN Social Work Department as a lecturer. At UKZN she further developed her skills as a mentor supervisor when she worked at the MA’AT Institute as well as served on the Board of a non-profit organization namely KZN CORE who focus on rendering social work services to those vulnerable and in need. In 2022 she was trained by the Valued Citizens Initiative and became a training officer serving the KZN province. As a valued citizen she was actively involved in training social service professionals on sexuality education and on the Ichoose to be responsible parent program where she trained parents on parenting skills. In 2024 Santham joined the University of Fort Hare, East London Campus as a lecturer. Santham is a social worker and lecturer with 17 years of experience, who brings a unique blend of real-world experience and academic expertise. She translates her experience from direct social work practice into engaging and insightful lectures, fostering a dynamic learning environment. Santham’s research interests lies in mental health, gender-based violence, child protection and disaster management/climate change. |
| Is there a Third Presenter? | No |
| Title of Presentatation | The Discourse of Climate Change Disasters and the Implications for Green Social work: The Lived Experiences of Floods Survivors in KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape Province |
| Theme Selection | THEME 1: Green Social Work and Climate Resilience: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in the Face of Environmental Crises |
| Subtheme ONE Selection | SUB 1.2 The impact of climate-related disasters (e.g., floods, wildfires, droughts) on marginalized and vulnerable populations. |
| Select your Presentation Type | Oral Presentation |
| Abstract | The increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters driven by climate change presents profound threats to vulnerable populations, demanding urgent and contextually relevant responses from the social work profession. Guided by the Sustainable Livelihoods Theory and principles of green social work, this qualitative study explores the lived experiences of 23 flood survivors from KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape Province, two South African regions severely affected by climate-related disasters in 2022 and 2024. The primary objective of the study is to explore the psychosocial and material impacts of climate-induced disasters on survivors, identify their coping strategies, and assess the implications for social work practice and education. Using purposive sampling, semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with individuals who had been directly impacted by severe flooding events. Data was analysed using thematic analysis to identify patterns and meanings within the survivors’ narratives. Findings reveal the devastating impact of environmental disasters on emotional wellbeing, housing, livelihoods, and community stability. Survivors described experiences of trauma, displacement, and economic insecurity, alongside resilience practices rooted in social networks and cultural knowledge. The study highlights a critical gap in the current social work response and advocates for the urgent realignment of social work education and practice to integrate ecological justice, trauma-informed care, disaster preparedness, and culturally sensitive interventions. It calls for a paradigm shift in the profession to respond effectively to the lived realities of those affected by climate change. By centring African experiences and promoting sustainable and inclusive interventions, this study contributes to the growing discourse on green social work and its relevance in the context of global environmental crises. Keywords: Climate change, lived experiences, green social work, resilience, South Africa, culture. |
| Title | Dr |
| Firstname | Thabisa |
| Lastname | MATSEA |
| Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? | Yes |
| What Area does this Abstract Focus on? | Empirical Research |
| Status | Accepted |
| Title | Dr |
| Firstname | Emmi |
| Lastname | Muleya |
| Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? | Yes |
| What Area does this Abstract Focus on? | Empirical Research |
| Status | Accepted |