The Staff of the Department of Social Development is celebrating Social Work Week 2019. Activities began on Saturday 16th March with an early morning hike along the western coast of the island. This was led by Farah Mukhida, Executive Director of the Anguilla National Trust. On Sunday the staff worshipped at the Zion Methodist Church and participated in the morning worship through the reading of Scripture, while the Commissioner, Mr. Sanford Richardson, gave a brief address on the mission, structure, composition and work of the Department.
The highlight of the week is always Social Work Day observed this year on Tuesday 19 March. The day began with a radio address by the Hon Minister of Social Development, Evans McNeil Rogers, under the theme, ‘Social Workers: Elevate Social Work.’ Early in the morning the staff participated in a motivational session led by Mr. Christopher Richardson, Public Speaker, who explored the concept of Positive Intelligence – a concept made popular by Shirzad Chamine. It speaks to having mastery over one’s mind in order to reach one’s full potential for both happiness and success.
The remainder of the day saw the staff gather at Sandy Island to engage in a series of teambuilding exercises. Effective communication, especially listening, cooperation, valuing the contribution and respecting the views of each member of the team, as well as coping with adversity, were highlighted through the activities. The activities were facilitated by Lavelle Niles and Brittany Christopher two Social Workers in their probationary year, who, along with Social Worker, Marcia Rogers, coordinated the week’s activities.
The final activity for the week was the annual soup day at the department on Friday 22nd March between the hours of 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Clients of the department were encouraged to visit the department and enjoy a bowl of delicious soup. The department is grateful to retired Social Worker, Mr. James Carty, who introduced the idea and coordinates it each year.
This year’s observance of Social Work Day will be the last for the Commissioner who retires later in the year. He was responsible for introducing the idea using the annual themes of the National Association of Social Workers [NASW]. Anguilla’s first observance was in 2011.
