The initiative will bring together academics, policymakers, and professionals from the social sector to discuss the contemporary challenges of social cohesion.
 

The Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences at the Portuguese Catholic University in Braga is hosting an event on March 27 dedicated to the theme “Building Hope and Harmony Together: A Call to Unite a Divided Society,” in observance of World Social Work Day. The Deputy Secretary of State for the Presidency and Immigration, Rui Armindo Freitas, has confirmed his attendance.

The initiative brings together academics, policymakers, and professionals from the social sector to reflect on contemporary challenges to social cohesion, with a particular focus on the dynamics of migration, integration, and social sustainability.

“In a context marked by complex social challenges, this meeting in Braga aims to reinforce the role of social work as an agent of social cohesion, promoting dialogue, inclusion, and the joint development of fairer and more humane responses to issues of migration and social diversity,” says Catarina Vieira da Silva, coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work at the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences of the Portuguese Catholic University in Braga and a member of the event’s organizing committee.

The session will begin at 9:30 a.m., featuring Catarina Vieira da Silva, Coordinator of the Bachelor’s Program in Social Work, and Bruno Nobre, Dean of the Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences, as well as the director of the Braga District Social Security Center and the councilor for Social Cohesion of the Municipality of Braga.

The program includes a roundtable discussion on the topic “Migration, Integration, and Social Sustainability: Strategies for the Future,” bringing together experts from various academic and social institutions, followed by a Q&A session with the audience.

The conference will also feature a keynote address on “Cohesion, Responsibility, and Hope: Paths to Uniting a Divided Society,” as well as the presentation of the SerSocial Award, which this year will be awarded to Professor Margarida Silva in recognition of her contribution to the development of social work in Portugal.

Observed annually on the third Tuesday of March, World Social Work Day is organized by the International Federation of Social Workers and serves as an opportunity for global mobilization around the role of social work in building more just and inclusive societies. In 2026, the chosen theme, “Co-Building Hope and Harmony,” highlights the need for collective responses in the face of a global context marked by inequalities, social fragmentation, and humanitarian challenges.