By Gosego Phutieagae
When final-year social work students at the North-West University (NWU) gathered for their annual conference, their message was clear: transformation begins with small acts of service.
The subject group Social Work hosted the event to showcase how students have translated classroom theory into real-world community engagement, demonstrating their readiness to serve as ethical and responsive professionals.
At the 24 October conference, headlined by keynote speaker Donald Molema, a senior social worker at the NWU, students were urged to reconnect with their reasons for choosing the profession and to appreciate the value of seemingly small gestures in people’s lives.
“Even the smallest act can create a ripple of change that extends far beyond what we can imagine,” Donald said, using the example of a young social worker named Maya, who always believed that even the smallest action could create a level of change.
As students were about to showcase their community work projects, he reminded them that growth in social work is a gradual process that requires patience and persistence.
“Believe in yourself, value your dreams and never underestimate the power of small actions. You are enough,” Donald said, encouraging them to maintain integrity and courage as they advocate for others.
In their presentations at the event, students showed how they had applied social work models in their field placements and contributed to improving community well-being.
Adding a practical dimension to the discussions, Seleka Hitler Sekhitla, registrar of the South African Council for Social Services Professions, explained the new online registration platform for social workers. The system allows applicants to upload identification, certified qualifications and academic records electronically, a move expected to reduce administrative delays and enhance accessibility.
He emphasised that ethical practice remains central to the profession, noting that all complaints from the public about social workers will continue to be addressed through transparent and fair processes.
It was clear from the event and the students’ presentations that the NWU is achieving its goal of producing graduates capable of addressing pressing social challenges through evidence-based practice and compassion.
Donald Molema, a senior social worker at the NWU, urged students to reconnect with their reasons for choosing the profession.
