This lunchtime event will hear from two social workers.

Precious Matumba, Social Worker with Tusla, will speak about her experience of social work services having come to Ireland from Zimbabwe seeking international protection.

Riyad Arar, Palestinian social worker, will speak about his experience working as a social worker in Palestine.

Speaker Biographies

Riyad Arar

Riyad Arar has worked with Defense for Children International as the Program Manager for Child Protection and Participation for 19 years. Additionally, he has worked with the SOS Children's Villages organization for three years as a National Advisor for child safe guarding and family strengthening to mitigate the risk of separation. He currently works as the lead trainer in the Specialized Diploma for Child Protection at Bethlehem University. He continues to work at SOS Children's Villages and currently manages the PAL- UK Network for Social Workers.

Riyad and his son were arrested on October 25, 2023. Riyad underwent interrogation and torture for 18 days, and was then released. However, his son remains in prison, and Riyad has no information about him.

Precious Matumba

Precious is a social worker in Tusla, a university of sanctuary scholar, former teacher and mother of two. Precious is now settled in Ireland after going through the direct provision system and is passionate about advocating for asylum seekers and refugees.

World Social Work Day takes place on 19 March 2024. This year’s theme is ‘Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change’, which is rooted in the Global Agenda and emphasises the need for social workers to adopt innovative, community-led approaches that are grounded in indigenous wisdom and harmonious coexistence with nature. The International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW), the International Council on Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW) are delighted to launch the theme for the Global Agenda for Social Work and Social Development 2024: “Buen Vivir: Shared Future for Transformative Change“. The theme will also be presented at the 2024 World Conference on Social Work and Social Development in Panama.

This resonates with the contemporary challenges and aspirations of social work around the globe. Our world faces multifaceted crises, ranging from violent conflicts, environmental degradation, to persisting poverty and political disparities. Against this backdrop, social work must evolve and adopt innovative, transformative approaches that are community-led and steeped in indigenous wisdom. Central to this transformative change is the principle of “Buen Vivir”, emphasizing that true well-being is achievable when communities live harmoniously with nature, striving collectively for balanced development.

This indigenous philosophy underscores the significance of interconnectivity, reciprocity, correspondence, and complementarity in human relationships and our bond with nature. Our goal is to champion this principle, fostering an eco-social world that thrives on inclusion, respect, mutual understanding, and the upholding of human rights.