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Submission information
Submission Number: 86
Submission ID: 869
Submission UUID: acc0b765-9258-47b6-9e95-c4d5d10bd037
Submission URI: /2025/abstracts
Created: Tue, 04/29/2025 - 12:56
Completed: Tue, 04/29/2025 - 13:45
Changed: Tue, 07/29/2025 - 07:03
Remote IP address: 163.195.32.11
Submitted by: Anonymous
Language: English
Is draft: No
Current page: Complete
Webform: Abstract
Presenters
Ms.
Kwena
Kelebogile
Department of social development
Kelebogile Kwena is a dedicated and registered Social Worker (Registration No. 10-40127) currently serving as a Social Work Coordinator for Partial Care at the Department of Social Development. Born and raised in the small town of Theunissen in the Free State, she completed both her primary and secondary education in her hometown.
Kelebogile holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, which she obtained from the University of the Free State in 2015. She began her career at the Department of Social Development in 2016 as a contract Social Worker and was appointed permanently in 2018. Over the span of five years, she gained extensive experience as a generic Social Worker before transitioning into coordination in 2023.
Coming from a close-knit family of six, including her parents and three sisters, Kelebogile is passionate about community development and child welfare, and she continues to make a meaningful impact through her work in the social services sector.
Kelebogile holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, which she obtained from the University of the Free State in 2015. She began her career at the Department of Social Development in 2016 as a contract Social Worker and was appointed permanently in 2018. Over the span of five years, she gained extensive experience as a generic Social Worker before transitioning into coordination in 2023.
Coming from a close-knit family of six, including her parents and three sisters, Kelebogile is passionate about community development and child welfare, and she continues to make a meaningful impact through her work in the social services sector.
Yes
Mr.
Douw
Pharryl
Department of Social Development
My name is Pharryl Clifford Douw colored male. I'm a qualified social worker, currently employed by The Department of Social Development at Lejweleputswa Welkom Office since 2014. Thus, I have been working for a period of ten (10) years. Firstly started working with a focus on child protection, but subsequently progressed to working with Older Persons. I am fairly fluent with English, Afrikaans, South Sesotho and understand isiXhosa, isiZulu, Setswana which are languages utilized within the Lejweleputswa Service Area. I am a staunch believer in life-long learning.
No
Abstract
Green Social Work: Integrating Environmental Justice into Social Work Practice
THEME 1: Green Social Work and Climate Resilience: Supporting Vulnerable Communities in the Face of Environmental Crises
SUB 1.1 How social work integrates environmental justice, sustainability, and ecological perspectives into practice.
Oral Presentation
Green Social Work: Integrating Environmental Justice into Social Work Practice
Authors: P. S. C Douw and K. C Kwena
The Department of Social Development in the Free State (Lejweleputswa-Welkom)
Presentation format: Parallel Session Presentation (PowerPoint)
1. BACKGROUND
The problem that was identified within the field of social work practice is how the environmental issues disproportionately affect vulnerable groups and exacerbate existing social inequalities. The hypothesis was tested through service delivery within the community. The environmental and ecological challenges affecting specifically Older persons and Persons with disabilities e.g. floods (which occur every rainy season without disaster preparedness plan in place) and residents needs to travel to Odendaalsrus to access other resources e.g. Police Station, Banks, Shops, etc. The community of Allanriidge with an estimated population 18, 879 as of 2025, with estimated 10% disability and 14,31 % of Older persons which forms part of the community).
2. Aims
The primary objective of the research is to promote social justice for these groups by integrating core social work principles with environmental sustainability and ecological well-being. This integration aims to enhance the resilience of older persons and persons with disabilities in the face of climate change and related environmental crises.
3. METHODS
Social worker are well placed to collect/analyse numerical data from the organisations, as monthly statistics, attendance registers are constantly engaged and patterns and/or challenges identified.
4. RESULTS
The focus groups (Older persons 60+, persons with disabilities), face multiple stressors, including and not limited to economic instability, lack of access to resources, and inadequate infrastructure, making them more susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
5. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this paper advocates for transformative shift in social work that embraces green principles, positioning social workers as key agents of change in the pursuit of social and environmental justice. By adopting a green social work approach, practitioners can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future, ensuring that the needs of both people and the planet are met.
Authors: P. S. C Douw and K. C Kwena
The Department of Social Development in the Free State (Lejweleputswa-Welkom)
Presentation format: Parallel Session Presentation (PowerPoint)
1. BACKGROUND
The problem that was identified within the field of social work practice is how the environmental issues disproportionately affect vulnerable groups and exacerbate existing social inequalities. The hypothesis was tested through service delivery within the community. The environmental and ecological challenges affecting specifically Older persons and Persons with disabilities e.g. floods (which occur every rainy season without disaster preparedness plan in place) and residents needs to travel to Odendaalsrus to access other resources e.g. Police Station, Banks, Shops, etc. The community of Allanriidge with an estimated population 18, 879 as of 2025, with estimated 10% disability and 14,31 % of Older persons which forms part of the community).
2. Aims
The primary objective of the research is to promote social justice for these groups by integrating core social work principles with environmental sustainability and ecological well-being. This integration aims to enhance the resilience of older persons and persons with disabilities in the face of climate change and related environmental crises.
3. METHODS
Social worker are well placed to collect/analyse numerical data from the organisations, as monthly statistics, attendance registers are constantly engaged and patterns and/or challenges identified.
4. RESULTS
The focus groups (Older persons 60+, persons with disabilities), face multiple stressors, including and not limited to economic instability, lack of access to resources, and inadequate infrastructure, making them more susceptible to the impacts of climate change.
5. CONCLUSION
In conclusion, this paper advocates for transformative shift in social work that embraces green principles, positioning social workers as key agents of change in the pursuit of social and environmental justice. By adopting a green social work approach, practitioners can contribute to a more equitable and sustainable future, ensuring that the needs of both people and the planet are met.
Reviewer ONE Feedback
Dr
Martha
van Straaten
Yes
Practice
Accepted
Reviewer TWO Feedback
Dr
Thabisa
Matsea
Yes
Empirical Research
Accepted