A Good Foundation In Social Work Matters

Foundations of a Sustainable Career: Why You Chose Social Work and Why That Still Matters

Busy social workers at work

Reconnecting with your original passion for social work can reignite meaning & purpose and help you navigate challenges with resilience.

Like many who enter this profession, my motivation came from a deep-rooted desire to help others navigate life’s challenges, advocate for justice, and create positive change in communities that often go unheard.

I got into social work career without realising it was my calling. Upon reflection, I realised that I had been following my life path from a very young age.  I observed human suffering daily in our village community. I started questioning so many things. I accompanied my mother (of blessed memory) when she was doing humanitarian works such as visiting the elderly, the sick, and praying for families, checking and providing basic daily essentials. My father was ‘a man of the village’ who knew everyone by name regardless of their ages.

A significant event happened during the summer holiday after I completed primary school and being excited to start secondary school.  On 21^st of August 1986, there was a volcanic gas eruption from the Lake Nyos in the Northwest region of Cameroon, that triggered the emission of carbon dioxide killing any living thing within a 15 miles radius of the lake, with an approximate of 1,746 people and 3,500 livestock killed.  Most of the gas disaster victims died in their sleep as it struck in the early hours of the morning (BBC, 1986). Makeshift camps were created to accommodate the survivors who were either physically or psychologically damaged.  My mother was the secretary general at the local council, and she played a significant role to care and support the survivors. As the administrator of the foreign aid and supplies, her role as a mother was reduced. My family got involved to play our part to support our mother in the huge responsibility for thousands of people. We visited the makeshift camps daily. It was painful to see people struggling both physically and emotionally. They had lost everything and could not return to their village due to contamination.

I chose social work because I believed in people. I believed that healing is possible, that change is real, and that no one should have to walk alone through hardship. Social work was the bridge between my values and the world’s needs.

It wasn’t about ‘saving’ anyone. It was about standing with people in their pain, their power, and their transformation.

I wanted to work in a profession where empathy was a strength, not a weakness. Where speaking up for the silenced was encouraged. Where I could be both practical and idealistic - offering hands-on support and challenging unjust systems.

Social work gave me that.

Today’s world is increasingly complex - rising inequality, mental health crises, displaced populations, generational trauma, racial injustice... People are struggling to feel safe, and be true to themselves.

Social work still matters because human needs haven’t changed - but they have become more urgent.

Social workers who can navigate chaos with compassion are needed.

📌Who understand the impact of trauma.

📌Who champion equity, not just empathy.

📌Who are not afraid to sit with pain, while holding space for healing.

Whether in child protection, schools, hospitals, communities, or policy rooms - social workers are the connective tissue of a fragmented society.

💡We witness what others don’t.

💡We advocate when others won’t.

💡We believe when others have stopped trying.

 The problem is that many social workers forget the “WHY” behind their career, especially under chronic stress. This disconnection can lead to job dissatisfaction and burnout. For instance, starting my first job role with the Child Protection and Child In Team, I wanted to work with children and parents to ensure the children feel safe. However, years later, the volume of caseloads, paperwork, policies and COVID distracted me from what brought me joy in my role.

Every problem has a solution - when you realise that you are feeling conflicted, reduced job satisfaction and performance, confusion or doubting your career,

🌟Revisit you core values and reasons for getting into social work in the first place.

🌟Reflect on personal stories and early career inspirations to help bring you clarity and meaning.

🌟Write a short letter to your younger self, asking yourself these questions:

❓Why did I choose this path?

❓ What would I want to remind myself today?

Share your “WHY” with a colleague or journal about it this week. Comment below.

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