2nd National Summer School of Social Work on "Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships"
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Theme and Purpose:
Theme of World Social Work Day for the year 2020 is “Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships”, which will be globally observed. Traditionally, existing relationships in the society based on some tested and sustainable norms and values and production activities are losing their entity at the advent of the forces of disequilibrium and failing to base on alternative legal and economic foundations. Public governance system has already surrendered to the market forces especially in economically challenged countries, where the sovereignty crisis has taken a new form and governments are relentlessly striving to overcome the crisis with all means. The vital work of social workers can be seen in a wide variety of settings “whether we work in physical health, mental health, schools, child protection, aged care, disability, family violence, academia or management, we bring the values of our profession to wherever we work.”
On the other hand, emergence of new version of technologies following cyber and information revolution are superseding individual capabilities as well as curtailing human strengths to control technologies rather controlling human values and behavior. Development, governance and transformation have positive correlation and causal relationship among themselves. They need to be addressed in an integral manner. But currently lack of coordination and integration at conceptual and functional levels has created an adverse situation, a situation of natural and environmental imbalances. All these ultimately are pushing the planet with all species into a devastating situation. It requires insightful holistic and integrative analytical approaches from scholars, academicians, researchers and practitioners across borders, disciplines, functional areas and generations. All of them have their own role and identities in the context of totality and always influence and are influenced by the totality too.
The theme of the summer school highlights the importance of human relationships. This message is important at a time when hatred appears rife and people are divided because of ideology, bigotry and racism. Today is a reminder that we should not give up. Human relationships are important, particularly where they are problematic or absent. Today, as social workers, we’d like to celebrate the life-affirming importance of human relationships and encourage the profession to consider how it can do more to promote positive connections between people.
2nd National Summer School of Social Work on “Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships” will be hosted by the Department of Social Work, University of Peshawar in active collaboration with Punjab University, University of Sindh Jamshoro, University of Calgary, Canada and Community World Service-Asia (CWSA) on September 9-11, 2020 online via Zoom App. It would be a big congregation of renowned academics, experts, students and social work practitioners of the respective fields and will provide a wide possibility of high level interaction, group discussions and debate in a supportive, relaxed and thoughtful environment. The summer school will put more emphasis on the social work practitioners, young social leaders and volunteers and community development thinkers in the context of Pakistan.
Objectives:
- To highlight the barriers which hinders the promotion of human relationships;
- To aware the folks for reducing discrimination in society;
- To empower human strengths by promoting human values;
- To advocate against the discriminatory and abusive policies and structures that continue to oppress some of the most vulnerable groups in society;
- To strengthen the relationships among people for coexistence, peace and harmony.
Who We Are:
Located in the historic city of Peshawar, the University of Peshawar is the oldest and largest university of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The Department of Social Work is one of the oldest and most prestigious departments of the University of Peshawar. It is known as a pioneer of the Social Work profession in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and for many creative initiatives across Pakistan. Collaborating partner of the Summer School, Community World Service Asia, Islamabad (CWSA) is a humanitarian and development organization, implementing initiatives throughout Asia, and aims to address factors that divide people by promoting inclusiveness, shared values, diversity, and interdependence. Other active partners of the Summer School are the Department of Social Work, University of the Punjab, Lahore and the Department of Social Work, University of Sindh Jamshoro.
Structure of the Summer School:
Theme: Promoting the Importance of Human Relationships
Host: Department of Social Work, University of Peshawar
Collaborators: Department of Social Work: Punjab University and University of Sindh Jamshoro; University of Calgary, Canada.
Partners: Community World Service-Asia (CWSA)
Venue: Online via Zoom App.
When: 09 to 11 September, 2020.
Charges: Free
Expected Participants: 50
Methodology: Keeping in view the current pandemic situation and closure of all conference halls across the country, the summer school is now designed to be conducted virtually. All the sessions will be online via zoom app.
Working languages: Urdu and have a basic level** in English.
For Queries: Dr. Muhammad Ibrar (Organizer), Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work, University of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
Email: ibrarsworker@uop.edu.pk