Meeting World Social Work Day Celebration
An event providing space for reflection and dialogue on hope, harmony and solidarity to unite communities and strengthen the profession.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)
As part of the celebrations for World Social Work Day, on 17 March, a meeting organised by the Institute of Social Work will take place, offering a space for reflection, sharing and debate on the contemporary challenges facing the profession.
The 2026 theme, Co-Building Hope and Harmony: A Call to the Harambee Spirit for Uniting a Divided Society, launched by the International Federation of Social Workers (IFSW), calls on social workers to engage in collective action based on solidarity, cooperation and a commitment to social justice. Inspired by the African concept of Harambee, meaning “pulling together”, the theme highlights the central role of Social Work in building bridges between individuals, communities and institutions in a context marked by inequalities, social polarisation and fragmentation.
The event will bring together professionals, students, lecturers and researchers to reflect on practices, experiences and contributions of Social Work in promoting hope, social harmony and community cohesion, valuing professional knowledge and interdisciplinary dialogue.
Open to students, social workers, lecturers and all interested individuals, this event represents a valuable opportunity to deepen knowledge, strengthen networks and reaffirm the ethical and transformative commitment of Social Work in contemporary society.
Programme
9:15 am | Registration and Welcome
9:30 am | Opening Session
- Speakers: Representative of the Administration; Paula Ferreira | Director of the Institute of Social Work; and Representative of the Order of Social Workers
10:00 am | Conference: Social Work, Hope and Harmony in Times of Social Fragmentation
- Speakers: Paulo Mendes Pinto | Assistant Professor | Lusófona University (FCSEA) and Helena Belchior | Assistant Professor | Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa
- Moderator: Jacqueline Marques (ISS/FCSEA)
11:20 am | Musical Performance
11:30 am | Coffee Break
12:00 pm | Harambee in Action: Social Work in Building Social Cohesion
- Speakers: Ana Matias | Social Worker at CPR - Conselho Português para os Refugiados and Cristina Rodrigues | Social Worker at CERCI Lisboa
- Moderator: Nélson Ramalho (ISS/FCSEA)
1:30 pm | Closing Session
- Speaker: Hélia Bracons | Director of the Bachelor's Degree in Social Work (ISS/FCSEA)
