BUILDING RESILIENT FOUNDATIONS: A FOCUS ON SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION IN STRENGTHENING DISASTER PREPAREDNESS IN BOTSWANA
Abstract
Social work, as a dynamic profession, addresses a wide range of issues affecting human society. These issues encompass diverse problems that differ in type, scale, and intensity. Among these challenges are natural disasters, which have global implications, leading to infrastructure destruction, loss of lives, economic setbacks, and environmental harm. Botswana, like many other nations, faces its share of natural disasters, primarily including drought, floods, wildfires, animal diseases, earthquakes, pest infestations, epidemics, and the ongoing challenges posed by HIV and AIDS. Drought is a pervasive issue affecting the entire country, while floods typically occur during the rainy season from October to March. Veld fires are a common occurrence during the dry months from April to November, with a peak in July. In 1999/2000, Botswana witnessed one of the most devastating flood events, which affected 23 administrative districts, cities, towns, and villages. This catastrophe resulted in significant loss of life, extensive damage to over 17,000 structures (comprising both public and private assets), environmental degradation, crop destruction, and the displacement of thousands of people. This paper explores the role of social workers in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by natural disasters in Botswana. It delves into the unique aspects of various disasters, their impacts on communities, and the critical interventions social workers undertake to provide support, relief, and rehabilitation. By examining these disaster scenarios, this study sheds light on the vital role of social work in enhancing disaster resilience, safeguarding lives, and promoting community well-being in the face of these diverse natural challenges.
Keywords:
Social work, Natural disasters, Botswana, Disaster resilience, Humanitarian responseDownloads
Published
Issue
Section
How to Cite
License
Copyright (c) 2023 Molefi Tumelo Kgosi
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
References
Atkinson, R. L., Atkinson, R. C., Smith, E. E., Bem, D. J., & Hoeksema, S. N., (1996). “Introduction to Psychology”, New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
Beauchesne, A. M. (2007) “Natural Disasters: A Governor’s Guide to Emergency Management”, FEMA, Washington DC, Online article. Accessed 2 February, 2009 at: http://www.nga.org/centre
Botswana Government (2004). Botswana country report submitted to the African Regional consultation on disaster reduction workshop, June 2-3, Midrand, South Africa.
Botswana MDG Report (2007). Botswana from independence to Vision 2016, Gaborone: Government Press.
Botswana Government (1996). National policy on disaster management. Presidential Directive No. CAB. 27/96. Gaborone: Government Press.
Department of Social Services (2010). “Strategic Framework for Community Development in
Botswana”. Gaborone: Government Press.
Cayman Institute (2008). Ecomonic cost of Disaster. Online article. Accessed 2 February, 2009 at: http://wwwcaymaintitute.org.ky
Directorate of Public Service Management (2000). Management service review report on the organisational review of the social welfare function of the Ministry of Local Government, Lands, and Housing. (Approved by the Cabinet). Gaborone: Government Press.
Egan, G. (2010). The skilled helper: A problem-management and opportunity-Development approach to helping. 9th Ed. Belmont: Brooks/Cole, Cengage Learning.
Gleason, C. (2008). “Basic concepts in crisis theory: Overview of crisis intervention and characteristics of crisis events,” Online article. Accessed 16 April, 2012 at: http://www.suite101.com/article
Harding, S. (2007). Man-made disasters and development: The case of Iraq. Internationalsocial work 50:295. Online article. Accessed 27 January 2011 at: http://www.isw.sagepub.com
Hawkins, R. L., & Maurer. K. (2010). Bonding, Bridging, and linking: How social capital operated in New Orleans follow hurricane Katrina. British Journal of Social Work 40(1), 1777-1793.
Hedenquist, J. A. (1992). “Introduction to social and development in Botswana,” Ministry of Local Government and Lands, Gaborone: Gaborone Press.
IFRC (2009) Disaster: how the Red Cross Red Crescent reduce risk, IFRC
International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. 2007. “World Disaster Report “Focus on Discrimination.” Bloomfield: Kumarian Press Inc.
International Federation of Social Workers (2000). “Review of the International Definition of
Social Work”, Online article. Accessed 27, January, 2011 at: http://www.eassw.org/definition.asp
United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction (2005). World conference on disaster reduction: Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters 1822 January, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
International Resource Group. 2001. “Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) Disaster Management Committee and Technical Seminar,” 6 - 9 December 2000,
Harare, Zimbabwe. Vol. 1. USAID/Regional Center for Southern Africa/Botswana.
Online article. Accessed 8, August 2013 at: http://rmportal.net/library/content/frame/volume-ii-sadc-conference.pdf
Kadi, M. (2006). Climate risk management in Africa: Learning from Practice, Africa Centre of metrological Applications for Development. USA: Silver Sprint.
Kirst-Ashman, K. K. (2010). “Introduction to Social Work & Social Welfare Critical Thinking Perspective”, 3rd Ed. United States: Brooks / Cole.
Ministry of Local Government and Lands (1968). “Guidelines for Village Development Committees”, Gaborone: Government Press.
Monette, D. R., Sullivan, T. J., and DeJong, C. R. (1998). “Applied Social Research: Tools for the Human Services”, (4th ed.). New York: Harcourt Brace College Publishers.
Morales, A. T. and Sheafor, B., W. (1995). “Social Work: A Profession of Many Faces”, (7th Ed), London: Allyn and Bacon.
National Policy on Disaster Management (1996). Botswana Government Presidential Directive No. CAB 27/96. Gaborone: Government Press.
Newman, L. (2007). “Basic of social research: Qualitative and Quantitative approaches.” Boston: Pearson Education Inc.
Office of the President. 2010. “National progress report on the implementation of the Hyogo
Framework for Action (2009-2011)”, Gaborone: National Disaster Management Office. Online Article. Accessed 25, September 2013 at: http://www.preventionweb.net/english/hyogo/framework/progress/v.php?id=16768&pid:45
Presidential Task Group (1997). “Long term vision for Botswana: Towards prosperity for all”, Gaborone: Government Press.
Revised National Policy on Destitute Persons (2002). Gaborone: Government Press.
Robb, M. (2003). “Mastering disaster-continuing education in crisis response,” Social Work Today, 4(5)34. Skinner, D. (2005). “Human Research Council”: Cape Town (Unpublished). Sweifach, S., Laporte, H. H., & Linzer, N. (2010). “Social Work responses to terrorism: Balancing ethics and responsibility,” International Social Work, 53:822-835.
United Nations Development Programme. (2009). “Botswana National Disaster Risk Management Plan, National Disaster Management Office”, Gaborone: Office of the President.
United Nations Development Programme (2008). “Bridging disaster and Development in Srilanka” GMSL-DMIP.
UNISDR (2005). “World Conference on disaster Reduction: Hyogo Framework for Action 2005-2015 Building the Resilience of Nations and Communities to Disasters, 18-22
January”, Kobe, Hyogo, Japan.
University of Botswana school calendar, 2009/2010. Gaborone: University of Botswana. V EM-DAT: The OFDA/CRED (2009). “International Disaster Database”, University of
Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Bel. Online Article, Accessed 31 October, 2013 at: http://www.preventionweb.net/english/countries/statistics/?cid=23
Victoria L., P. (2008). “Community Based Approaches to Disaster Mitigation”, Regional Workshop on Best Practice in Disaster Management. Centre for Disaster Preparedness. Pp. 269-314.
