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Social work is a noble profession deeply committed to human rights and social justice. The field is dedicated to helping vulnerable individuals, families, and communities overcome a myriad of challenges. However, the fulfilment of these commitments often faces hurdles at structural, organisational and individual levels. These challenges necessitate not only the active engagement of social workers with existing resources but also the support of external organisations to provide crucial training and reflective opportunities. As an early-stage researcher in the ASTRA project, I had the opportunity to visit an organisation in Antwerp, Belgium, that is at the forefront of empowering social professionals. This organisation is called SAM, short for "Steunpunt Mens en Samenleving鈥�.

The first thing that impresses me about SAM is its area of practice. Rooted in the real-life challenges in the local social service context, SAM not only acts in traditional domains that are familiar to social work, such as Disability, Youth Assistance, Homelessness, and Community Development but also actively engages with innovative fields of practice, including Debt Counseling and digitalisation. SAM also explores other complex issues of professional ethics and politicisation. With a mission to strengthen social service professionals, their organisation and policies, SAM offers tailored assistance, workshops, training, and expertise in these areas to empower social workers and their organisations to navigate the intricate welfare landscape and ensure that every citizen receives the support they deserve. Overall, SAM's dedication to achieving a socially just and sustainable society is evident in its comprehensive approach to addressing the multifaceted challenges faced by both professionals and the individuals they serve.

My conversations with their staff from different projects helped me better understand their practices, experiences, and local contexts. From a researcher鈥檚 perspective, it was refreshing and exciting to learn from people actively engaging with daily practices. Besides the passion they have shown for their work, one thing that stands out from the communications is that both effective social changes and ethical practices require continuous reflection and evolvement of frontline workers. One regret I do have is, unfortunately, due to language barriers, I was not able to be more deeply involved in their daily practice, such as attending a training session or participating in a meeting. However, it was a pleasure to present my research to SAM and receive interest and constructive feedback from them. It was clear that research and researchers have well-established and meaningful connections with SAM.

As introduced here, we see an organisation dedicated to achieving a socially just and sustainable society. SAM's multifaceted approach to addressing challenges underscores its commitment to social justice, improving quality of life, and ensuring no one is left behind. By actively committing to the values and vision of the Social Work Profession, social workers and organisations continue to make a meaningful impact on countless lives, creating a more just and compassionate society. In a rapidly evolving world, organisations like SAM are indispensable in empowering social professionals and driving positive change. Researchers can have a mutually beneficial relationship by connecting and working with these organisations.