Kuumba/Mentoring future leaders in social work and development

Abstract

The Africa Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet) creates, aggregates and disseminates information and resources to facilitate social work and development on the African continent. It was formed in 2020. The pan-African focus that the Network adopted has its history in the work of the Association of Social Work Education in Africa (ASWEA) which was formed in Alexandria, Egypt, in 1965 and operated from 1973-1989. The ASWDNet has developed ways of moulding and mentoring young people, for, they are the future of social work and development. These are the Kuumba | Mentoring Group (K|MG) and the Social Work and Development Student Conference (SWDSC) held annually on the Day of the African Child, beginning 2023. Kuumba (mentoring) means transferring knowledge and skills to muumbwi (mentee), usually younger that the muumbi (mentor) in a manner that is appropriate and acceptable to a cultural, natural or artificial setting. Kuumba mentoring services are for students or upcoming professionals who will work with established senior professionals in mentoring focused on learning, research, practice or careers in general. The mentor and mentee/s establish a mentoring relationship that allows the mentee/s to grow professionally and to be confident in their practice. The Ubuntu mentoring model is used. The elements of this model are (1) critical mentoring, a commitment to Africanism and decolonization (2) organic mentoring - as much as possible, organic mentoring is promoted, which is mentoring relationships grow naturally, on their own (3) continuum of mentoring - we build on the past and contribute to the anticipated future because mentoring is not a once-off thing (4) family and community focused mentoring (5) group mentoring and (6) age group or peer mentoring. This presentation will provide information about these two programs and how they contribute to the future of social work and development in Africa.

How to cite using ASWNet style

Mugumbate, R. (2023). Kuumba/Mentoring future leaders in social work and development. People centred – The Journal of Development Administration (JDA), 8(4), 93. Social Work and Development Student Conference (SWDSC), 16 June 2023. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/jda.v8i4.5         

Visit journal website: https://jda.africasocialwork.net