Celebrating World Social Work Day: strengthening generational bonds

On World Social Work Day, Tafta embraced the theme “Strengthening Intergenerational Solidarity for Enduring Well-being.” Our Social Workers and PR team spent the morning at Vega School, engaging with young people and fellow NPOs to build meaningful connections across generations.

We also took the opportunity to honour our dedicated Social Work professionals by showcasing their diverse roles within Tafta. These welfare champions shared their personal journeys—why they chose this profession and why they believe intergenerational solidarity is vital for a thriving society.

	Sunitha Naidoo My compassion and humility came from watching my mother selflessly help those around her, even though she had so little herself. It’s important to me to ensure that elders maintain their dignity in their last years.
	Siphelele Myeni A sense of belonging, community and support reduces isolation and promotes holistic care. Collaborations with local organisations could make a huge impact in connecting more older people and their families to information required for their care.
	Jackie Snyman It warms my heart when I see how an elder’s eyes light up when interacting with the younger generation. They start to share stories and memories from their past. In that moment, elders feel that they have not lost their worth and their contribution to society.
	Kasthuri Naidoo Since I consider social work my calling and not a job, I sometimes get frustrated because I cannot solve all the social problems in our community. I remind myself of this quote by Edward Everett Hale. “I am only one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. And I will not let what I cannot do interfere with what I can do.”
	Mennessa Peters By nurturing intergenerational connections, we can build stronger, more resilient communities and celebrate the diversity of age, experience and culture.
	Robyn Coetzee Social work allows me to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Through individual counselling, group work and community programmes, I assist elders to overcome their challenges.
	Analisa Naidoo I believe that God appointed me to be a Social Worker. It’s incredibly rewarding to know that I bring hope, love and restoration to people. I may not be able to change their world, but I try my best to make a small part of their world happy, safe and worth living.
	Bongekile Hllongwane What I love most about social work is that I have an opportunity to make a real difference in people’s lives.
	Carmel Murugen By the age of 12, I had already decided that I wanted to be a Social Worker. I wanted to bring healing to people who were hurting, to reunify children with their families and empower the vulnerable with services and resources that would improve their lives and bring them happiness.
	Marshnee Naidoo When we nurture connections through meaningful communication and interaction, we learn from our past, appreciate our present and plan better for our future.