Dear Colleagues

It was June 1993 when a group of Caribbean social workers and students met at the Dover Convention Center (Barbados) for the first social work conference which was organized by Faculty of the Social Work Programme, UWI Cave Hill Campus in collaboration with the local Social Service Agencies. Since then biennially conferences have been held in other countries across the Caribbean. Although each conference has been as unique as the host country the common factor has been the pursuit of the development of social work education, and social work practice in the Caribbean and the creation of professional alliances and friendships.

The time has come to welcome you to Martinique and the10 Biennial Conference of Caribbean and International Social Work Educators under the theme “Building Bridges towards caribbean integration and social development.” We are coming together in 2011 at a time of rapid changes in the world’s socio-economic, political, cultural, environmental and technological climate. At a time of uncertainty about the future and increasing concern about disadvantaged groups in our communities.

Our profession has continued to deal first hand with the aftermath of terrorism, armed conflicts, epidemics, economic and natural disasters and most recently the global economic recession. These situations are particularly challenging for us as professionals as we try to do more with fewer resources and so I believe that to be effective and to find solutions to our common problems, we need to share our knowledge, expertise and best practice, support each other and connect to those systems in our environment that can facilitate our efforts and bring about positive change.

In many ways the global changes have also made it possible for us to know more about each other and the societies in which we live and in so doing to know our commonalities and our differences. Let us then as we come together from within the Region and Diaspora on this occasion share and learn from each other and make this conference an enriching experience.

The Conference Coordinating Committee is working to ensure that you have a truly rewarding conference. We look forward to having you join us in Martinique from July 11-15, 2010.

Yours Truly

Letnie Rock

President ACSWE