Networking "Social work, as an activity and profession, full of humanism and mercy"
On March 18, 2026, the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Social Work hosted a networking event "Social Work as an Activity and Profession Full of Humanism and Mercy", dedicated to World Social Work Day for applicants of group 111 of full-time study in the specialty I10 Social Work and Counseling.
Networking is an activity aimed at exchanging information between people united by common professional or personal interests, which usually takes place in an informal setting. Therefore, it was in an informal setting that the guarantor of the educational program "Social Work and Counseling", Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences, Associate Professor Shvets T.M. introduced 1st-year students to the features of celebrating this holiday on a global scale.
The Head of the Department of Philosophy, Sociology and Social Work, Doctor of Philosophy, Professor Kostyuchkov S.K., addressed the students with words of congratulations on the holiday, noting that social workers are people who are not afraid to take responsibility, take care of those who need it, and bring hope to those who find themselves in difficult circumstances.
The first-year students learned that World Social Work Day is celebrated annually on the third Tuesday of March. The holiday was initiated by the International Association of Schools of Social Work together with the International Federation of Social Workers in 1983.
The purpose of World Social Work Day is to draw the attention of the authorities and society to the problem of social insecurity, exchange experiences between representatives of different countries and develop the social sphere.
In 2026, World Social Work Day fell on March 17. The global theme, chosen by the International Association of Schools of Social Work (IASSW, Iassw-aiets), the International Council of Social Welfare (ICSW) and the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW, IFSW International Federation of Social Workers), is: “Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Harambee Call to Unite a Divided Society”. The key messages of this year’s theme are:
▪️ “Peace is not just the absence of violence, but the active presence of justice, participation and trust”;
▪️ “No one person or organization can solve today’s challenges alone – only joint efforts provide hope and harmony”;
▪️ “Social workers, guided by the values of dignity, justice and inclusion, have a unique opportunity to support collective efforts, especially in a world where there are conflicts, inequalities, displacement of people and environmental crises”.
World Social Work Day is dedicated to discussing key areas of development of professional activity and problems of social work. Every year on the third Tuesday of March, different countries of the world celebrate professionals who support people, communities and society as a whole every day, talk about the profession and the needs of those who need the help of others.