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Submission information
Submission Number: 24
Submission ID: 765
Submission UUID: 0f043c47-ea63-4cd7-9330-f57727e97a02
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Mon, 04/07/2025 - 09:05
Completed: Mon, 04/07/2025 - 09:17
Changed: Sun, 08/03/2025 - 13:25
Remote IP address: 196.253.240.13
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
| Title | Dr. |
|---|---|
| Lastname | Xweso |
| Firstname | Mzukisi |
| Mzukisi.xweso@nwu.ac.za | |
| Mobile | 0832403486 |
| Institution | Department of social work, northwest university |
| Biosketch | Dr Mzukisi Xweso is a Senior Lecturer in the Social Work Department with a strong research focus on informal workers, including day labourers and waste pickers. He is the Secretary of the ASASWEI Journal Club, actively contributing to academic discourse in social work. Passionate about school social work, he advocates for the integration of social services in educational settings to support vulnerable learners. His work aims to promote social justice and economic inclusion for marginalized groups, bridging research and practice to create meaningful change in communities. He has conceptualized the Ubudlelane philosophy and is planning a project on how social workers can apply it in providing support for funerals of those without financial means. |
| Is there a Second Presenter? | Yes |
| Title | Dr. |
| Lastname | Gwam |
| Firstname | Zukiswa |
| Zukiswa.gwam@mandela.ac.za | |
| Mobile | 0836712282 |
| Institution | Department of Social Development Professions, Nelson Mandela University |
| Biosketch | Dr Zukiswa Gwam is a passionate researcher with interests in women's economic empowerment, sustainable development and gender equality. She has published work on gender-based violence (GBV) and supervises postgraduate students on topics related to domestic violence and sustainable livelihoods. Dr Gwam specializes primarily in qualitative research. She is the originator of a new African philosophy, Ubudlelane, which she plans to apply as a framework for poverty alleviation. |
| Is there a Third Presenter? | No |
| Title of Presentatation | APPLYING UBUDLELANE PHILOSOPHY IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE TO SUPPORT DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY DISASTER-INDUCED HOUSING LOSS |
| 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 | Disasters such as heavy rains and flooding often result in devastating consequences for disadvantaged communities, particularly the loss of housing and basic shelter. Social workers play a critical role in disaster response and recovery efforts, particularly in providing psychosocial support, linking affected families to essential services and facilitating community rebuilding processes. This paper explores how the ubudlelane rooted in African communal values of interconnectedness, solidarity and collective responsibility can enhance social work interventions during disaster crises. Ubudlelane, which emphasises the importance of relationships, mutual care and community-centered problem-solving, aligns closely with the principles of disaster social work, which prioritises holistic, person-in-environment approaches. In the context of housing loss due to heavy rains, social workers can leverage Ubudlelane practices to mobilise community support systems, foster resilience through shared coping strategies and encourage collective rebuilding efforts. This philosophy can also strengthen disaster preparedness by reinforcing existing community networks and enhancing local capacity to respond to future crises. By integrating Ubudlelane into disaster intervention frameworks, social workers not only address immediate material and emotional needs but also foster long-term social cohesion and sustainable recovery. The paper further highlights practical approaches such as facilitating community healing circles, organising collective resource mobilisation initiatives, and collaborating with local leadership structures to co-develop culturally responsive disaster interventions. In conclusion, the use of ubudlelane philosophy in disaster social work contributes to culturally grounded, context-specific and community-driven responses that empower disadvantaged communities to rebuild not just their homes, but also the social fabric essential for resilience and wellbeing. Keywords: Ubudlelane, disaster social work, housing loss, disadvantaged communities, heavy rains, community resilience, collective recovery, African communal values |
| Title | |
| Firstname | |
| Lastname | |
| Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? | Yes |
| What Area does this Abstract Focus on? | Empirical Research |
| Status | Accepted |
| Title | Mr |
| Firstname | Jean-Paul |
| Lastname | Pophaim |
| Does the Abstract fit the selected Theme? | Yes |
| What Area does this Abstract Focus on? | Empirical Research |
| Status | Accepted |