As Akudo Amadiegwu presents at the United Nation World Summit for Social Development in Doha, Qatar, she discusses how social work can strengthen social integration across the globe.

Social work is a practice-based profession and an academic discipline that promotes social change and development, social cohesion, and the empowerment and liberation of people. The International Federation of Social Workers represents 5 million social workers in 128 national organisations. We represent different faiths, philosophies, rights, movements, workforces, generations, traditions and cultures. We promote social justice and human rights globally.

Principles of social justice, human rights, collective responsibility and respect for diversities are the core of social work.  Underpinned by theories of social work, social sciences, humanities and indigenous knowledges, social workengages people and structures to address life challenges and enhance wellbeing across generations. We are social facilitators fostering social integration across demographics, race, culture, age intergenerationally.

Understanding social integration

Social integration involves ensuring that all individuals irrespective of socio-economic background, gender, identity and religion can participate equally in society across social, economic, and political dimensions. This does not delineate or deny identities rather promotes the visibility and viability of marginalised and excluded groups, promoting their right of participation in society, governance, policy and decision making across different divides created by society. In recognizing and acknowledging diversity, it is important to not adopt a  deficit model which focuses on disadvantage but celebrating and respecting the uniqueness of each culture and the values that underpin these. It is therefore imperative to promote equity, access to welfare, healthcare, education and services. Essentially, promoting good quality of life. However, there is need for collaboration between government and community focused organisations to promote these.

Practice across contexts

Social workers practice internationally in different sectors with a majority focus on community initiatives whilst keeping the individual at the centre of practice. Thus, straddling different terrains in individual and state focused nations such as the western countries and community based societies in the global majority and developing world. Our role therefore as agents of change involves reducing inequity and  building relationships intergenerationally in the bid to promote social integration.

Drawing from global perspectives, we can explore ways and approaches that enhance social integration across generations. As a result of advanced capitalism which has an impact of familial structures, UK based initiatives bridge the gap between the young and senior citizens, thereby promoting social interaction between these groups. These include nurseries attached to care homes which build intergenerational communities where residents who may suffer from dementia who ordinarily, would not have access to young children, engage with them in their daily lives.  In community focused societies such as Africa, these intergenerational relationships develop organically where parenting extends beyond parent-caregiver relationship, rather, it literally takes a village to raise a child. However, it is important to highlight that even within these communal groups, modernization and technological advancement can serve as  dividing factors and therefore it is imperative that these tools be used as means of communication and social interaction.

Migration and cultural identity

Increasingly, with globalisation, the march of civilization is migratory with people no longer domiciled in home countries but moving between borders. These can mean that groups or families can be categorised as a whole in the new society. However, acculturation and navigating between two cultures can lead to biculturalism and cultural conflict between members of the same family with the older generation maintaining strong links to ‘home’ and the younger generation leaning towards the new norm. This can lead to intergenerational conflict and in most severe cases, instances of honour killing.

Social integration, in this regard, takes into account, that at individual level people may suffer with their personal and cultural identity and navigating these can be dilemmatic. Firstly,  in an unfamiliar or even unwelcoming environment and then secondly, at the group level. Social structures might change and vary in complexity e.g egocentric vs socio centric, masculine  vs feminine, patriarchal vs matriarchal.  This can lead to social marginalisation, cultural bereavement where people may feel decultured and can respond negatively by adopting a more fundamentalist position.

Intervention therefore needs to be holistic, taking into account the peculiarities of each member of the group and harnessing their strengths even in adversity.  Intergenerational caregiving among indigenous people which rely on cultural traditions ensures family support amidst significant socio-economic challenges. Family members provide ‘informal’ care however this is rooted in historical and cultural traditions and conventions which certainly do not erode from the sense of responsibility that families place on these roles.

The concept of ‘Buen Vivir’ (good living) encapsulates the interrelationship between wellbeing and good living in indigenous communities where individuals feel part of a whole, reinforcing a sense of belonging and personal and group identity with social support being closely linked with wellbeing. This is evident in caregiving practices where the older looks after the younger and in  turn as the older become aged, the younger takes on the responsibility. This reciprocity is evident in Afro-descent communities where for instance a grandmother or mother in law looks after a young mother and the baby (a process called ‘omugwo’ in Eastern Nigeria) and they take on the care of the aged. However, economic factors and migration are beginning to affect these traditions.

A call to action

As social workers we operate within the ‘old’ and ‘new’, the past and the future,  respecting the cultural values that people hold in the face of a rapidly changing world.

The IFSW advocates for human rights and social justice, the need for inclusive and culturally sensitive practice that addresses the needs of the young, the not so young and the younger generation. We represent a global community and present our views to governments and policymakers to address the needs of different groups, western, indigenous, migrant, and Afro-descent, taking into account cultural nuances, personal and cultural identity, socio-economic conditions, acculturation and even government policy. Social workers operate at the intersection of these challenges, employing holistic and ecological approaches that honour the dignity and rights of all individuals.

In line with the principles of Harambe, which signifies a spirit of cooperation and valuing the community, as global social workers, let us Harambe for sustainable shared futures, let’s pull together!

Akudo Amadiegwu is Senior Lecturer and MA Course Director for Social Work in the School of Social Work, Education and Teacher Education.