Prof Reineth Prinsloo honoured as IASWG International Honoree 2018

The International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG) honoured Prof Reineth Prinsloo with a lifetime award as their IASWG International Honoree 2018 at their 40th annual international symposium held in Skukuza, Kruger National Park, in June this year. Reineth has been a member of IASWG since 2000, has developed the South African Chapter of the IASWG, and is the South Africa Chapter representative.

In awarding her the 2018 international honoree award, Reineth is recognised for her tireless dedication to social group work and to the IASWG, her “enthusiasm, dedication, and warm approach" as well as for always bringing “a joyful, unifying, and inspiring message” to the IASWG organisation.

As Chair of the South Africa Symposium Planning Committee, Reineth and the members of the committee were responsible for the arrangements and coordination involved in the presentation of the symposium. Fifty-eight student volunteers from North America, Zimbabwe, Namibia and South Africa assisted in the efficient running of the conference. The students were sponsored by IASWG while the University of Pretoria’s Department of Social Work and Criminology sponsored the student accommodation in the Skukuza Youth Hostel.

Papers focusing on group work in different contexts were delivered by presenters from South Africa, the USA, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Israel and Germany. Reineth and Dr Lorrie Gardella from Southern Connecticut State University did the opening plenary with a Photo Voice research project on how social work students, social work academics and friends of social work from around the world understand the concepts of “social divide” and “social justice” and the role of group work in “bridging the divide.”

Apart from the conference bags being made by women from the communities surrounding the Kruger National Park, attendees had the opportunity to visit two child care centres in the communities adjacent to the Park that provide services to vulnerable children.

The symposium was opened with a performance by a Tsonga choir of 30 older people from Giyani. Furthermore, a visit to the Kruger Park would not be complete without the African experience of the Boma braai dinner next to the river, the night game viewing drive and the bush braai dinner which were hosted during the conference.

As the staff of the Department of Social Work and Criminology, we would like to convey our sincere congratulations to Reineth for her award, as well as for hosting a very successful IASWG conference.