Testimonials

My name is Okima Innocent Lawrence. I am deeply passionate about social work, community empowerment, and ethical social work practice across Africa. My professional journey over the past eight years has involved community stakeholder engagement, psychosocial support coordination, survivor restoration, mentorship, and grassroots mobilization. I have worked closely with vulnerable communities, facilitated over 100 stakeholder mentorship engagements, supported survivors of gender-based violence and land injustices, and helped establish women’s support groups.
What attracts me to Mtandao/ASWDNet is its strong commitment to advancing African-led social work knowledge, contextual practice, and professional solidarity. I believe in strengthening indigenous approaches to social work and contributing to knowledge production that reflects African realities.
I bring practical field experience, research interest in trauma-informed care, documentation skills, and commitment to ethical and transformative practice. I hope to contribute through active engagement in discussions, sharing practice insights from Uganda, contributing articles where possible, and collaborating in regional knowledge exchange initiatives.
Okima Innocent Lawrence
Mtandao Member Number 143, Joined February 2026

I am from the Gambella region, specifically Gambela City in Ethiopia. I joined ASWDNet after searching for membership related to my academic and professional background and was inspired by your mission and goals. I envision collaborating through knowledge and skill sharing, as well as joint initiatives that address common challenges in our communities. I recommend enhancing research, training programmes, and networking opportunities. See my interview here.

Bikila Tesfaye
 

Dear ASWDNet Team,
I hope this message finds you well.
My name is Hilda Ngaja a social worker based in Tanzania. I recently came across the African Social Work and Development Network (ASWDNet) and was deeply inspired by its mission to create, aggregate, and disseminate African knowledges and to promote social work and development rooted in our values, languages, and lived realities.

As a social worker I strongly resonate with your emphasis on African epistemologies and values such as Ubuntu. I am especially drawn to your commitment to building emancipatory knowledge spaces for social work professionals, students, academics, and communities across the continent.
With this in mind, I would be honoured to join ASWDNet as a member and contribute to its efforts in advancing socially relevant and culturally grounded practice and scholarship in Africa.
Kindly receive the details required
Hilda Ngaja, Bachelor Degree in Social work
Referee, Dr Leah Omari, Lecturer, The Institute of Social Work
Thank you for your important work, and I look forward to hearing from you.