Awards Ceremony 2024

Hongera, congratulations to the following people for their successes and for being awarded at the Social Work and Development Awards 2024. The awards were handed at the Africa Day Indaba held on 24 May 2024.

Awardees

Award	Awardees	Work summary
Social Worker of the Year	Thomas Nyangaresi Onsoti, Kenya Diploma and Degree in social work	Working with pit emptiers in Nairobi, Kenya and communities to manage environmental pollution and ensure better practices and policies.
Lifetime Achievement Award	Nomination still open
Mzee Award	Nomination still open
Decolonising Award	Dr Sharlotte Tusasiirwe, Uganda	She has created and produced substantial literature and publications in this area of decolonising social work in Africa which are aimed at increasing African voice, knowledge and literature in Africa and globally. Sharlotte has produced academic and non-academic outputs that advance decolonisation agenda in Africa. She has also dedicated time to organise seminars and symposia that enable knowledge exchange on decolonisation and beyond.
Developmental Work Award	No one awarded this year
Social Work Education Award	Dr Augustina Naami, Ghana	She has been an inspiration to her students, colleagues in academia, the disability, and the general community in Ghana and beyond, through her lived experiences. She is also the Head of the Department for Social Work, at the University of Ghana. She previously taught at the University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls in the United States. She has led several educational research projects and mentored many students and academics. She has completed 2 PHD, 20 masters and 16 bachelors research supervisions. Dr. Naami has a total of thirty-four (34) publications consisting of one (1) book, six (6) book chapters, and twenty-seven (27) peer-reviewed journal articles. She has serviced on several educational committees.
Student Award	Organisers of the Conference: Day of the African Child Social Work and Development Conference 2023	Names •Danzel Rademan, University of the Free State, South Africa (Chairperson) •Atuhairwe Collins, Student, Master of Social Work, Makerere University, Uganda (Vice-Chairperson) •Never Winnie James Sebit, South Sudan; Bachelor in Social Work, RCSS, India (Secretary) •Tatenda Sukulao, Bachelor of Social Work, Midlands State University, Zimbabwe (Vice-Secretary) •Norman T. Manyika, Student, Bachelor of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe (Committee member) •Takudzwa Banda, Bachelor of Social Work, University of Zimbabwe (Committee member)
PhD Student Award	Not yet finalised
Service Award (for organisations or institutions)	Amy Foundation/Ubuntu Foundation, South Africa Official: Kevin Chaplin	The Amy Foundation is a non-profit organisation working to educate, train and develop youngsters from the townships, ensure they don’t drop out of school, or turn to drugs and gangs and to reduce the high levels of youth unemployment and create entrepreneurs our country needs so badly. Their after school programmes in Gugulethu and Bonteheuwel provide an environment that allows school-going children to overcome shortcomings in their education, by focusing on creativity. Their Youth Skills Development programme based at our Head office in Sybrand Park, helps young adults prepare for the world of work, employment and entrepreneurship.
Emerging Researchers Award	Willard Muntanga, Zimbabwe Kudza Mwapaura, Zimbabwe	Increase of research and research publications

Selected pictures

Dr Naami’s work in Ghana

Dr Tusasiirwe’s publications

Nominate for 2024 awards