Click here to view this email in your browser or to see past issues of this newsletter. If your email account blocks pictures and images that may be in this newsletter, we suggest that you unblock or allow for a better view. Thank you.
End of Year Message
The ASWNet creates, aggregates and disseminates information and resources to facilitate Social Work and Development on the African continent. The Network started in 2020 with a few members. In 2021 we had 30 members but these tripled to 100 this year. To become a member and to know the membership benefits, please view this page.
In 2023, we had three major events in collaboration with the Association of Schools of Social Work in Africa (ASSWA): Africa Day Indaba with Social Work Award, Research Grants Writing and Ubuntu Annual Lecture. We had several meetings and online engagements of our different groups: the Kuumba mentoring group; the Ubuntu Research Group; the African Independent Ethics Committee and different journal boards. We introduced a new journal, Journal of Social Issues in Non-Communicable Conditions and Disability, now indexed with an international standard serial number (ISSN) and its own website and the African Journal of Social Work (its position increased in Scopus) and the Journal of Development Administration (now indexed under the prestigious African Journals on Online AJOL) got more regional and global recognition. This year each journal got its own website and the main website increased resources that decolonise social work and development and value indigenous philosophies, values, theories, frameworks and literature.
As the year comes to a close, we would want to wish you good time with your families and communities. A common feature among Africans, whether on the continent or in the diaspora, is to travel to their permanent homes, in most cases these homes are in the village. It is always a time to reconnect with family, tribe, community and the environment. Be safe in your travels or celebrations, and enjoy the connections.
And when you come back to your routines in social work and development in 2023, we wish you success. We have put together resources to help you with this, including but not limited to over 70 African theories and models of social work and development; over 80 African research methods, designs and approaches; a student conference; an online library; a decolonisation calculator; three journals covering social work, development and disability and NCDs; Ubuntu resources, including a database; a biography of African social work; and more importantly an ethics committee to provide advice on your research before you start it.
As a Network in 2023, we aim to recruit more members, introduce new committees on fieldwork and political social work. More importantly, we will transform the Nework to incorporate more developmental work in its identity (name and logo) and resources. The ASWNet creates, aggregates and disseminates more information and resources if we keep working together. If you feel you can contribute to any of the committees or programs and events, please email us at asw@africasocialwork.net.
Founded in 1966, Kwanzaa (first fruit) is a festival and holiday celebrated by over 18 million African-Americans annually from 26 December to January 1. It is also celebrated in other parts of the world.
Founding of Kwanzaa
Dr Maulana Karenga (also known as Ronald McKinley Everett) founded Kwanza in 1966. As an African-American, he was constantly disturbed by how often black people celebrate western holidays, histories, religions and ideas while neglecting their own. Western holidays include Christmas, Easter and many others. In Africa, first fruits or harvests are celebrated by thanking God and sharing food through feasts. This became the background to the Kwanza holiday.
Issued in 1997, this was the first US postage stamp to commemorate Kwanzaa. Credit for image and some information below: Kwanzaa website.
Seven principles (nguzo saba) of Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa principles were derived from African values, histories and cultures. The principles are:
Umoja (Unity): To strive for and to maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race.
Kujichagulia (Self-Determination): To define and name ourselves, as well as to create and speak for ourselves.
Ujima (Collective Work and Responsibility): To build and maintain our community together and make our brothers' and sisters' problems our problems and to solve them together.
Ujamaa (Cooperative economics) To build and maintain our own stores, shops, and other businesses and to profit from them together.
Nia (Purpose): To make our collective vocation the building and developing of our community in order to restore our people to their traditional greatness.
Kuumba (Creativity): To do always as much as we can, in the way we can, in order to leave our community more beautiful and beneficial than we inherited it.
Imani (Faith): To believe with all our hearts in our people, our parents, our teachers, our leaders, and the righteousness and victory of our struggle. Read more.
Journal of Social Issues in Non-Communicable Conditions and Disability
https://sinccd.africasocialwork.net
The journal is always open for submissions. Please email your submission to asw@africasocialwork.net. There are no charges for publishing in the journal.
African Journal of Social Work (AJSW)
Indexed & accredited with: African Journals Online (AJOL) | University of Zimbabwe Accredited Journals (UZAJ) | SCOPUS (Elsevier’s abstract and citation database) | Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ) | Society of African Journal Editors (SAJE) | Asian Digital Library (ADL) | African Social Work Network | EBSCO
....................................
Current and previous volumes available at https://africasocialwork.net/current-and-past-issues/
Website: www.ajsw.africasocialwork.net
People centred - The Journal of Development Administration (JDA)
ISSN (Print): 2218 4899, ISSN (Online) 2788-8169
The JDA is now indexed in the African Journals Online (AJOL) database.
Our growing website contains information for academics, practitioners, students and our communities. Inline with our decolonisation plan, the information and the resources we share are carefully checked to prevent or remove colonial content. We value African knowledge.
Subscribeto the ASWNet website to receive an email each time we publish a new blog post.
Use the links below to connect with us on social media
