CSWE Focus January 2012

Volume 2012, Issue 1

Social Welfare Services - International Disaster

Durban, South Africa, May 3 – May 24, 2012

This program prepares students to work effectively with diverse and vulnerable populations in international disasters such as hurricanes, tornados, earthquakes, floods, toxic exposures, and other environmental crisis scenarios. Specific emphasis is placed on the need for social workers who are deployed abroad for International disaster relief work to have the skills to identify and advocate for diverse and vulnerable populations in disaster preparation, planning, recovery, and mitigation.

The first three weeks of this ‘hybrid’ program are taught in Durban, South Africa. Students will visit non-governmental organizations such as the Durban Refugee Center and Gift of the Givers, the largest disaster relief agency in South Africa. Students will also visit the University of KwaZulu-Natal. While in Durban, students will use the city to examine social work roles and responsibilities in relation to transnational work with immigrants in disaster relief and recovery. Durban – South Africa’s second largest city and the continent’s largest port – is blessed with the beautiful beaches of the Golden Mile, balmy weather year-round, and the country’s most multicultural population. In addition to academic field trips, the program includes an overnight safari trip on which students will see a variety of big game, like giraffes, elephants, and rhinos.

An additional three weeks of this program are taught online when students return to the United States.