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Partners
- It was in August 2018 that Sylnita Swartz-Filies and husband Gérard Filies – known as the PhD couple – made history at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on becoming the first married couple to receive their doctorates together.
- Five years later, on Thursday 14 December, at this year’s UWC summer graduation ceremony, their son Arian received a degree in social work. His father had the honour of investing him at the ceremony.
- The couple’s influence undoubtedly paved the way for him to pursue social work as a field of choice, and clinical practice at Badisa in Kuils River formed part of his training.
It was in August 2018 that Sylnita Swartz-Filies and husband Gérard Filies – known as the PhD couple – made history at the University of the Western Cape (UWC) on becoming the first married couple to receive their doctorates together.
Both occupational therapists, they were also the first married couple in South Africa to achieve them in this field.
Five years later, on Thursday 14 December, at this year’s UWC summer graduation ceremony, their son Arian received a degree in social work. His father had the honour of investing him at the ceremony.
The 23-year-old said: “It feels as if social work was a natural choice for me. As a child, I was all too familiar with my parents asking me and my younger sister, Gemma, to help out when they would consult young children.”
That was at a time when they were both still practising as occupational therapists.
Filies’ mom, Sylnita, said it was very helpful to have them settle children the couple were treating.
The couple’s influence undoubtedly paved the way for him to pursue social work as a field of choice, and clinical practice at Badisa in Kuils River formed part of his training.
At Badisa Filies formalised his project, A-maize-ing Meals (KRAM), he and sister Gemma had started during the Covid-19 pandemic in response to the need they saw in the community.
“After covid, things started opening up again and social work students had the opportunity to do face-to-face practicals where we could engage with the community. I also had the opportunity to gain a formal placement where I could do my practicals at the very same Badisa office where we would drop donations.”
Filies said the time spent at Badisa was an eye opener as he saw the struggle and lack of resources first-hand. “It was good to see how the little I felt I was doing, was making a significant impact.
“I appreciated the opportunity to engage with the community and see dire situations somehow alleviated based on their joint efforts.”
Filies said at times their household was a madhouse, everyone involved splitting 30 kg bags of maize up into smaller portions.
“Then it would be a conveyor-belt situation of one preparing the jars, another filling them up and passing them on to be boxed before being taken away for delivery.” He giggled as he reminisced about the chaotic situations that could easily have gone south had it not been for his dad Gérard’s calming guidance and advice.
Filies’ vision is to see his project grow without needing much of his father’s input, and everything will flow with regular donors contributing to the project.
“I want to encourage the community to get involved,” said Filies, even if they feel their contribution would be too small to make a difference. It always does. Filies has completed his internship with Badisa, and even after his placement the project is continuing and has become sustainable. He remains involved as a volunteer.
