South Africa is faced with socio-economic challenges of poverty, unemployment, health issues, drug abuse and many more. Stakeholders such as public, private sectors as well as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are trying to address some of these socio-economic challenges. For example, the public sector has initiated amongst other programs, an Extended Public Works Programme (EPWP) to create job opportunities specifically for semi-skilled and unskilled people, private sector is offering learner-ship opportunities to newly qualified students in order to gain work experience and NGOs have initiated various community based programs where community members are assisted to make a living and being cautioned about health and other issues through awareness campaigns. This research has been initiated to try and address skills shortages that could reduce unemployment and further assist community members to make a living through starting their own businesses. The researcher has identified schools as one of the community resources that could be used to teach basic skills in the communities as schools have human and physical resources that could be utilized to teach these skills. For this research specific school subjects in particular have been identified as having the potential of transferring the theory that is taught in schools into skills which could be taught to community members. The community skills development program was a proposed tool and if is set up could try and address the skills shortages in communities. The research has been conducted focusing on school teachers teaching specific subjects as well as community development practitioners. The majority of research participants’ responses were positive about the setting up of a skills development program. Benefits for community members such as employment which could reduce poverty, crime and drug abuse were highlighted while challenges such as funding and availability of facilitators were also mentioned. A further study has been recommended to continue with specific processes of setting up this skill development program.

A thesis submitted to the Faculty Arts in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in Development Studies in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2017 / The study set out to obtain information on the nature and level of participation of community members in the implementation of Operation Sukuma Sakhe (OSS). A case study research design was adopted. A sample of 125 respondents was selected using the purposive sampling method for the key informants such as the traditional leadership, officials deployed by the government to the programme, fieldworkers and CSO. A convenience sampling method was also used for focus groups and to select participants from the community. An interview schedule which had both structured and unstructured questions, was used to gather the required data. For data analysis, the thematic analysis method was used. It was discovered that there are various methods used to engage the community in the programme, namely: mass community meetings, door-to-door visits, household visits and participation of the community as walk-ins. The most commonly used method to engage community members was found to be the door-to-door visits where the CCGs were actively involved. The respondents participated only in the identification of issues affecting them and not in identifying possible solutions to the problems. The decisions were seemingly taken by external members, something which has negative implications on community development of projects. The participation of community members in the form of ‘walk-ins’ raised concern, as this is taken as a sign of lack of commitment, which could result in people not viewing the programme as a learning process which could lead to growth and change. The method cannot be considered as a reliable or effective way of ensuring adequate participation in any service delivery or community development programme. It basically suggests low levels of participation and that the actual implementation does not encourage the development of what is referred to as the ‘we feeling’ or ownership of the programme in participation circles. It is also concluded that gender-specific capacitation and empowerment programmes have to be instituted, because the programme predominantly comprises women. The group that was found to be actively involved is usually characterised by inadequate access to assets and productive resources, and a lack of knowledge or skills. Among the officials in the WR, limited knowledge on roles and responsibilities was noted in certain wards, and this has implications for service delivery and may be somehow responsible for the lack of participation in WR activities.

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-122).

Thesis (M.P.A.)--University of Hong Kong, 1994. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 118-122). Also available in print.

The sociological implications of studying campus communities can lead to breakthroughs not only in teaching and improving learning environments, but provide unique and helpful programs to aid diversity, promote unity, and decrease social inequality on campus and in American society. This study applied Boyer's campus community model to assess the campus communities of a private liberal arts college and a public state research university in the Mid-Atlantic. Using a modified version of the College and University Community Inventory (CUCI) administered through a web-based survey software, data on student perceptions of the different aspects of campus community identified by Boyer were collected and analyzed using factor analysis and regression analysis. The factor analysis led the researcher to propose modifications to the survey instrument. The regression analysis found several significant characteristics of undergraduate students and their institutions that can influence their perceptions of the campus community. A discussion of the findings and the implications of the study are presented. The results reported in this study have lead to several recommendations to be developed to enhance and improve the study of the campus community and environment in higher education using the CUCI. / Master of Science

M.A. (Social Work) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the role a school council played in encouraging community involvement in a K to 12 school located within a bedroom community. This qualitative case study included data collected from 35 semi-structured individual interviews conducted with Sunshines School Community Council (SCC) members, teachers, and community members. Augmented data collection incorporated my attendance at three SCC meetings, 11 community and school visits, and the maintenance of a personal journal during the interview process. Data results were analyzed through Putnams concept of social capital theory.<p> During the time of this study, the impact that Sunshines SCC had on community involvement in school was evolving. The SCC was new to the school community; Sunshines SCC members displayed nascent levels of trust between themselves and with community members. The SCC predominantly focused its attention on fulfilling the provincially-mandated requirement of contributing to the schools Learning Improvement Plan. Since supporting the schools centralized goals consumed much of the SCCs time and attention, the association was less able to promote traditional forms of community involvement in school.<p> Most participants perceived traditional forms of community involvement in school to positively impact the social cohesion of the school community. Parents believed there were multiple benefits associated with traditional forms of community involvement in school, including improved parent-to-parent relationships, improved school-home relationships, additional support for school curricula, and improved student performance in school. Based on social capital theory, socialization during community events generates social capital between community members, which encourages further community involvement in school. The forging of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, through a variety of traditional means, was a fundamental component needed to create, complement, and sustain community involvement in the school.<p> The majority of SCC participants perceived that the formal components of SCC policy were misaligned with their desire to promote traditional forms of community involvement. Most participants believed that bureaucratic aspects of the SCC policy (and similar organizations) negatively affect productivity. Social capital theory supported the idea that bureaucracy deters the establishment and utilization of trust and social capital.<p> Sunshine was a bedroom community and the socialization tendencies of the community appeared to negatively influence community involvement. Convenient access to urban amenities, the influx of new community members, and a generational shift of values and lifestyles appeared to deter the creation and utilization of personal and professional stocks of social capital within the community. In contrast, the impact of child-focused events and sporting activities appeared to unite community members and positively influence the creation and utilization of social capital within the community.<p> Implications arising from this study pinpoint the importance of fostering trusting relationships not only between SCCs members but between SCCs and their communities. In order to generate higher levels of trust, and thereby strengthen the potency of social capital, Sunshines SCC members need decentralized authority to self-create local goals. The procedure of annual SCC elections also needs reviewing as an annual influx of new members to the SCC negates the sustainability of high levels of trust. On a practical level, Sunshines SCC, the school administration, and the school division need to promote SCC communication with the school community.

The purpose of this study was to explore the role a school council played in encouraging community involvement in a K to 12 school located within a bedroom community. This qualitative case study included data collected from 35 semi-structured individual interviews conducted with Sunshines School Community Council (SCC) members, teachers, and community members. Augmented data collection incorporated my attendance at three SCC meetings, 11 community and school visits, and the maintenance of a personal journal during the interview process. Data results were analyzed through Putnams concept of social capital theory.<p> During the time of this study, the impact that Sunshines SCC had on community involvement in school was evolving. The SCC was new to the school community; Sunshines SCC members displayed nascent levels of trust between themselves and with community members. The SCC predominantly focused its attention on fulfilling the provincially-mandated requirement of contributing to the schools Learning Improvement Plan. Since supporting the schools centralized goals consumed much of the SCCs time and attention, the association was less able to promote traditional forms of community involvement in school.<p> Most participants perceived traditional forms of community involvement in school to positively impact the social cohesion of the school community. Parents believed there were multiple benefits associated with traditional forms of community involvement in school, including improved parent-to-parent relationships, improved school-home relationships, additional support for school curricula, and improved student performance in school. Based on social capital theory, socialization during community events generates social capital between community members, which encourages further community involvement in school. The forging of bonding, bridging, and linking social capital, through a variety of traditional means, was a fundamental component needed to create, complement, and sustain community involvement in the school.<p> The majority of SCC participants perceived that the formal components of SCC policy were misaligned with their desire to promote traditional forms of community involvement. Most participants believed that bureaucratic aspects of the SCC policy (and similar organizations) negatively affect productivity. Social capital theory supported the idea that bureaucracy deters the establishment and utilization of trust and social capital.<p> Sunshine was a bedroom community and the socialization tendencies of the community appeared to negatively influence community involvement. Convenient access to urban amenities, the influx of new community members, and a generational shift of values and lifestyles appeared to deter the creation and utilization of personal and professional stocks of social capital within the community. In contrast, the impact of child-focused events and sporting activities appeared to unite community members and positively influence the creation and utilization of social capital within the community.<p> Implications arising from this study pinpoint the importance of fostering trusting relationships not only between SCCs members but between SCCs and their communities. In order to generate higher levels of trust, and thereby strengthen the potency of social capital, Sunshines SCC members need decentralized authority to self-create local goals. The procedure of annual SCC elections also needs reviewing as an annual influx of new members to the SCC negates the sustainability of high levels of trust. On a practical level, Sunshines SCC, the school administration, and the school division need to promote SCC communication with the school community.

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SUMMARY This study is to focus on the ¡§Community Health Management Center ¡§ on the selected four administrative districts in Kaohsiung City in the year 2000.The main study is to discuss with the public that involved in these four CHMC Administrations, to obtain their evaluation and assessments, community consciousness, the understanding with the community participants and the interaction of health ordinance behavior. The method of the study is to adopt quantitative research and interview survey. The report and statistic information submitted by the four administrative districts of CHMC in Kaohsiung have great difference with the original plans as outlined by the administrative health department. Thus, the interview survey is organized to enable further negotiation with the key person of four administrative of CHMC. The questionnaire survey with the public health nurse have to be again conduct. The findings of the study and survey are: 1¡BWhen issuing the health management plans by the department of the Executive Yuan, it has clearly states its objective, contents of work and operation procedure. The health department of Kaohsiung City council has also stipulated its community health terms and conditions. However, the rules and regulations have not been strictly performed. 2¡BIn terms of Non-profit organization: a. The difference nature of administrative district, the community consciousness and the community participation will have some differences in understandings, satisfaction, health consciousness with CHMC. b. There are different strategic and management results on different modes of non-profit organization in CHMC. c. The satisfaction of community participants involve in the CHMC and the community residents consciousness is inter-related with CHMC¡¦s understanding and health ordinance. d. As a whole, the participants of public in the CHMC with self-consciousness in physical body is in inverse proportion to the health ordinance and health consciousness. The behavior of the two is in direct proportion. The four administrative districts of CHMC, due to the fact of the method of sampling and the mode of non-profit organization, the style of management is different which will result in different reaction. In conclusion, in accordance with the research and study of the writer would thereby propose to the Government, Non-Profit Organization and Community resident as follows: A. The Government: 1. To perform the evaluation and assessment in detail and complete. 2. To assist the non-profit organization and health department and relevant parties in the coordination of medical resources. B. The operation and management of non-profit organization: 1. To promote and organize various kinds of activities to public. To upgrade the health condition community resident. 2. To integrate and the use of community resources . 3. The management strategy on the Non-Profit Organization. C. Community resident ¡G 1. To develop the self-independent of individual and actively involve in the improvement-upgrade of the community . 2. For the sake of community development in the long term¡Aall community residents should develop the concept of ¡§user pay¡¨basis.