2025 awards announced (Africa Social Work and Development Awards)

The 2024/2025 awards ceremony will be held during the last hour of the online Day of the African Child Students Conference, 16 June 2025, 08AM-1230PM WAT | 09AM-130PM CAT/SAT | 10AM-230PM EAT on 16 June 2025.

You are cordially invited.

Award category	Hongera, congratulations to:
Social Worker of the Year	Ms Valary Cheptoo Mibei, Kenya. More details below.
Lifetime Achievement Award	Prof. Rodreck Mupedziswa, Botswana/Zimbabwe. Read about his outstanding achievements here. Come listen to his speech on 16 June.
Social Development Award	Amanda Ndebele, South Africa. More details below.
Social Work Education Award	Professor Chinwe Rosabelle Nwanna, Nigeria. Read about her outstanding work here. Come listen to her speech on 16 June.
Decolonising Award	Dr Charles Kaninganire, Rwanda
Student Award	Abdirahim Jirde, Somaliland/Somalia

Valary Cheptoo Mibei

ASWDNet: State the reasons for nominating this person. What work did they do or are they doing? Describe where the work was done. It should be clear that the work was done in Africa. How did the work impact people or how is it impacting people?

Faith Waseva (nominee): I am nominating this individual for their impactful work at the Talia Agler Girls’ Shelter (TAGS) in Kenya, where they support at-risk girls, young women, and refugees who have experienced abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. Through TAGS, which operates under the Centre for Domestic Training and Development (CDTD), they play a critical role in reaching, rescuing, rehabilitating, and reintegrating survivors, positively transforming lives in Kenya and neighboring countries. Their work includes conducting thorough assessments, case management, referrals, and psycho-social support for these vulnerable populations. Their dedication extends to managing education activities, monitoring school progress, and fostering relationships with sponsors, helping girls rebuild their lives and gain access to essential resources. This work has directly contributed to the recovery and empowerment of over 700 girls, reinforcing the rights and dignity of marginalized individuals in Africa.

Professor Mupedziswa

Amanda Ndebele

ASWDNet: State the reasons for nominating this person. What work did they do or are they doing? Describe where the work was done. It should be clear that the work was done in Africa. How did the work impact people or how is it impacting people?

Nominee: Amanda Ndebele is a mental health and GBV activists that has been serving in different communities in partnership with different organisations and Government institutions that advocate for the same cause. She has been grooming and mentoring young girls in a low develop community called Braamfischerville in South Africa, Johannesburg through hosting events , workshops , fashion shows and pageant. Amanda is also media personality and an award winning plus size model who has taken upon herself to collect kids from the area , adolescence being a crucial period for developing social and emotional habits which are important for mental mental wellbeing being. The purpose is to take the kids off the streets away from teenage pregnancy, alcohol and drug abuse , violence in schools ,drop out rate, domestic violence, poverty and crime

She has partnered with an organisation called Siyanakekela we care centre and the GBV forum within the region C , she has hosted over 50 workshops and events addressing social and economical issues.

She has organized annual mental health event in the past 3 years and annual women’s day event “For her by her” were she encourages women to gift each other in order to break the stigma that woman can not live well with one another.

Professor Nwanna

Dr Charles Kalinganire

Abdirahim Jirde

I am currently in the horn of Africa. To be specific in Hargeisa, Somaliland. I am an undergraduate student of social work atThe Unity University (TUU), Hargeisa campus. My education goals after achieving undergraduate degree is to develop a model that I hope will be recognised one day as a theory of moral character and uprightness.