Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe
Using indigenous knowledge systems such as Ubuntu in social work with children empowers them, their families, communities and workers. Yet, the potential of using frames that draw on indigenous ways of knowing, in children’s work, remain unrealised since social workers prefer Western models and theo...
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| Language: | English |
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National Association of Social Workers
2021
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| Online Access: | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajsw/article/view/184222 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4448 |
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| author | Mugumbate, Jacob Chereni, Admire |
| author_facet | Mugumbate, Jacob Chereni, Admire |
| author_sort | Mugumbate, Jacob |
| collection | DSpace |
| description | Using indigenous knowledge systems such as Ubuntu in social work with children empowers them, their families, communities and workers. Yet, the potential of using frames that draw on indigenous ways of knowing, in children’s work, remain unrealised since social workers prefer Western models and theories. Ubuntu inspired models of social work view children from family, community, environmental and spiritual perspectives. In contrast, Western models are inspired by individualitic values, governmental policies and professional viewpoints. However, as will be shown in this article, foreign models have failed to live up to expectations because they tend to disempower and diminish the strengths of everyone involved in case situations. For example, the social worker has to administer a model that they are not fully familiar with or which contradicts their own values. The family is forced to adopt values that they do not know let alone believe in. The community becomes powerless in the process. This article discusses the use of Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Africa. The discussion includes five frameworks of Ubuntu: the orature, scholarly, liberation, practice and integrated. The Ubuntu inspired Zera model of child growth and development was used to aid the discussion. We conclude that, given social work’s emphasis on using strengths perspectives, i.e., those broader frames that deliberately look for and build on the strengths of clients and client systems, social work practice with children in Africa should engage with Ubuntu, as a matter of principle.. |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-4448 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | National Association of Social Workers |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-44482022-06-27T13:49:06Z Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe Mugumbate, Jacob Chereni, Admire Ubuntu Africa Zimbabwe indigenous children social work Using indigenous knowledge systems such as Ubuntu in social work with children empowers them, their families, communities and workers. Yet, the potential of using frames that draw on indigenous ways of knowing, in children’s work, remain unrealised since social workers prefer Western models and theories. Ubuntu inspired models of social work view children from family, community, environmental and spiritual perspectives. In contrast, Western models are inspired by individualitic values, governmental policies and professional viewpoints. However, as will be shown in this article, foreign models have failed to live up to expectations because they tend to disempower and diminish the strengths of everyone involved in case situations. For example, the social worker has to administer a model that they are not fully familiar with or which contradicts their own values. The family is forced to adopt values that they do not know let alone believe in. The community becomes powerless in the process. This article discusses the use of Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Africa. The discussion includes five frameworks of Ubuntu: the orature, scholarly, liberation, practice and integrated. The Ubuntu inspired Zera model of child growth and development was used to aid the discussion. We conclude that, given social work’s emphasis on using strengths perspectives, i.e., those broader frames that deliberately look for and build on the strengths of clients and client systems, social work practice with children in Africa should engage with Ubuntu, as a matter of principle.. 2021-06-10T11:32:13Z 2021-06-10T11:32:13Z 2019 Article 2409-5605 https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajsw/article/view/184222 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4448 en African Journal of Social Work;Vol.9 ; No.1 open National Association of Social Workers |
| spellingShingle | Ubuntu Africa Zimbabwe indigenous children social work Mugumbate, Jacob Chereni, Admire Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe |
| title | Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Using African Ubuntu theory in social work with children in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | using african ubuntu theory in social work with children in zimbabwe |
| topic | Ubuntu Africa Zimbabwe indigenous children social work |
| url | https://www.ajol.info/index.php/ajsw/article/view/184222 http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4448 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT mugumbatejacob usingafricanubuntutheoryinsocialworkwithchildreninzimbabwe AT chereniadmire usingafricanubuntutheoryinsocialworkwithchildreninzimbabwe |