Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in Technology: Public Management, Durban University of Technology, 2013. / This thesis explores the management of community development projects in Mafunze and Inadi Tribal authorities. These are rural areas situated on the Westside of Pietermaritzburg along Bulwer Road. The community development projects were developed as means for rural development after the apartheid regime. When the African National Congress came into power after the first democratic elections in 1994, they came up with a working policy document which was the Reconstruction and Development Programme (RDP). Most of the community development projects were executed as per principles of the RDP. The management of these projects involved a number of stakeholders as dealt with extensively in the study. The research was a case study analysis which aimed to determine the extent to which socio- economic upliftment is achieved through community development projects and their management thereof. The sample was drawn from a population of eleven community projects. Project committee members were interviewed in their mother language as most of the committee members would not understand English. The study concentrated on the views and opinions of the stakeholders in the management of community projects. The responses were translated from IsiZulu to English while other comments were captured in IsiZulu then translated into English. The ethical conduct and confidentiality was highly emphasized and kept as such as project communities feared that they may be victimised. The study revealed that total commitment of the community in development issues is vital. This called for active participation in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. It also revealed that most projects collapsed after being handed over to the community; further, the study did reveal that there was more room for improvement in terms of skills exchange programmes with the international community.

The focus of this study is faith and peacebuilding in UK community cohesion since 2001. The central feature is a presentation of action research findings set in a collaborative relationship between the researcher and an inter-faith community dialogue project established to address divisive right wing extremism in the fieldwork locality of South Yorkshire. A decade of New Labour governance has seen community cohesion policy evolve from initial concerns regarding urban unrest to mainstream strategies targeted on violent religious extremism. Dialogue between ethnically diverse and white mono-cultural communities has been seen as the best way of helping people to get on better with each other. However community cohesion policy can be criticised for a significant failure to address issues of inequality and exclusion that are relevant to inter-community tensions. Since 2001, faith has been an increasingly prominent, albeit ambivalent, presence in UK society. Protagonists, arguing faith should have little or no role in public life, contest bitter disputes with those who perceive that an encroaching tide of secularism is attacking their faith beliefs and identity. Against this background right wing extremists have made astute use of faith identity, embedding their presence in some communities by utilising extremist discourses of Islamophobia that frame Muslims as a threat to the indigenous culture and resources of white communities. However some writers have identified the positive contribution that faith can make to public life. A commitment to social justice and addressing exclusion are examples of the resources faith can bring to addressing societal issues. Peacebuilding methodologies are similarly concerned with such issues. Processes for addressing protracted4 social conflict provide a framework within which faith and secular perspectives can cooperate to address these complex issues. The study’s action research found a strong relationship in the field work locality between electoral support of the extreme right wing BNP party and high levels of deprivation in white mono-cultural communities. Anger and resentment arising from industrial conflict and decline, and perceptions of being ignored by mainstream political parties, have been exploited by the BNP, opening a portal to hostile discourses of racism and Islamophobia. However the study’s research found that faith and faith values can bring rich and positive resources to inter-faith activity that aims to challenge divisive extremism that targets ethnic minority communities in general and Muslims in particular. In such circumstances it is usual practice to reduce hostile perceptions by arranging programmes of community interaction. However this study found that in communities where this strategy is not feasible, implementation of an intra-community dialogue framework may be effective in reducing hostile prejudice and stereotyping on which extremism feeds.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This dissertation presents the conscientization of the people in the rural areas, on how the church in Malawi as a community-based organisation can be an effective vehicle in bringing change in their livelihoods. It is an endeavour to answer the question: How can the Church as a community-based organization respond to community challenges in order to be an effective vehicle for community development and sustainable rural living in the light of the problem of urbanization? The researcher argues that, if the Church can take a deliberate part, in helping people in self-development and bringing a positive impact on their lives in responding to community challenges, livelihoods can be positively changed. Chapter one: The first chapter is an introduction of this dissertation and it presents the goals of undertaking this study. It emphasises the fact that urbanization has become a big challenge in developing countries such as Malawi, leading people to flock to the cities, hoping to find an easy life, where they instead find life very difficult. Many people, who have migrated to the cities, find it difficult to meet their daily basic needs, due to lack of access to income. The church as a community-based organisation has a role to play in helping to bring a positive impact, on the people for the betterment of their own life. If the church can play an active role in unlocking awareness in people in the rural areas to not migrate to squalid urban settings, the desire to move to the cities can be minimized. Chapter two: The second chapter briefly describes the context of this research. It presents a brief discussion of the historical background of the church of Nkhoma Synod CCAP. It also gives a brief explanation of the country of Malawi and its geographical location. Along with this general historical background, the chapter draws an exclusive attention to the major contributions of the church to the community, and the unique role that it played in bringing change in the developing countries like Malawi. Through its holistic approach the church reached many people in the communities, and also its emphasis on community development made a major contribution to civic life in the rural as well as urban areas. Chapter three: The third chapter discusses the poverty situation and the Malawian church existence in this context. It further presents the problems that are caused by poverty in the communities, including the challenges posed by the prevalence of HIV/AIDS which Malawi as one of the developing countries is facing due to urbanisation. The church has a huge role to play to the community in regards to community development. Chapter four: Chapter four deals with the specific role of the Church in sustainable development, and it explores the importance of rural sustainability in sustainable development. The church by nature is missional and has been called to serve the triune God, and it needs to participate in sustainable development which reflects God‟s reign in the world, for it has the nature of serving God. It has been given the task to take care of the community, and its role is to place itself with the poor in taking the responsibility of identifying and dealing with the forces that are destroying the communities, in order to bring change. The chapter also deals with how the church can sensitize people living in rural areas, and the importance of staying in the rural areas rather than migrating to urban areas. The terms like "Sustainable development", "Community development" have been defined in order to appreciate on how the church as a community-based organization can indeed be an effective vehicle in community development, and help to create a sustainable rural living. The church has a unique role to play in community development. Chapter five: This chapter gives a careful contextual analysis of rural-urban areas, the challenges that the people in those communities are facing and what should be done in a sustainable rural living. It also discusses and explores on how the church as a community-based organization can be an effective vehicle to Community Development and sustainable rural living. In order to help raise the level of awareness of rural sustainability in human beings, especially those living in rural areas, this chapter has also carefully investigated the factors which attract people to migrate to urban areas and find out the solutions to these challenges. Lastly in order to understand how the church in Malawi as a community-based organization can be an effective vehicle in community development, the chapter has developed a theory of the four steps. These four steps are: Conscientization, Empowerment, Participation and Sustainability. In this chapter it has been emphasized as to how the church could/should engage with the people in order to be an effective vehicle to a sustainable rural living and help people in self-development and bringing a positive impact on their lives. Chapter six: The final chapter summarizes the whole discussion on this study. The study emphasizes the fact that, if the Church can take a deliberate part, in helping people in self-development and bringing a positive impact on their lives, livelihoods can be positively changed. If the church in Malawi, Nkhoma Synod, can take part in conscientizing the people in the rural areas to the importance and advantages of living in the rural, the number of the people migrating to cities can be reduced. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie skripsie handel oor die bewusmaking van Malawiërs in die landelike gebiede en oor hoe die kerk in Malawi, as 'n gemeenskap-gebaseerde organisasie, 'n effektiewe voertuig van verandering in hulle lewensbestaan kan wees. Dit is 'n poging om die vraag te beantwoord: Hoe kan die kerk, as 'n gemeenskap-gebaseerde organisasie, reageer op die gemeenskapuitdagings om 'n effektiewe voertuig vir die ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap te word en volhoubare landelike voortbestaan bevorder? Die navorser betoog dat indien die kerk doelbewus kan meewerk om mense te help met self-ontwikkeling wat 'n positiewe impak op hul lewens in landelike gebiede sal hê, dan sal lewensbestaan ten goede verander. Hoofstuk een: Die eerste hoofstuk is 'n inleiding tot hierdie betoog en bespreek die doelwitte van hierdie studie. Dit beklemtoon die feit dat verstedeliking 'n groot uitdaging is in die ontwikkelende lande soos Malawi. Mense stroom na die stede met die hoop op 'n makliker lewe, maar vind dan dat hulle nie in hul basiese behoeftes kan voorsien nie by gebrek aan toegang tot inkomste. Die kerk, as 'n gemeenskap-gebaseerde organisasie, kan 'n rol speel om te help om 'n positiewe impak te maak en verandering te bring in hierdie mense se bestaan. As die kerk 'n aktiewe rol kan speel in die bewusmaking en ontwikkeling van mense in die landelike gebiede kan die hunkering van mense om te migreer na die stede beperk word. Hoofstuk Twee: Die tweede hoofstuk beskryf die konteks van hierdie navorsing. Dit behels 'n kort bespreking van die historiese agtergrond van die kerk van Nkhoma Sinode CCAP, ook inligting oor Malawi en sy geografiese ligging. Klem word gelê op die groot invloed van die kerk op die gemeenskap en die unieke rol wat dit in die verlede gespeel het om verandering in die ontwikkelende lande soos Malawi te bring. Deur sy holistiese benadering en klem op ontwikkeling het die kerk baie mense bereik en 'n belangrike bydrae tot die burgerlike lewe in landelike sowel as stedelike gemeenskappe gemaak. Hoofstuk Drie: Die derde hoofstuk bespreek die armoede-situasie waarbinne die Malawiese kerk himself bevind, insluitende die voorkoms van MIV / Vigs wat Malawi in die gesig staar as gevolg van verstedeliking. Die kerk het 'n groot taak met betrekking tot gemeenskapsontwikkeling. Hoofstuk vier: Hoofstuk vier handel oor die spesifieke rol van die Kerk in volhoubare ontwikkeling en ondersoek die belangrikheid van landelike volhoubaarheid in volhoubare ontwikkeling. Die kerk behoort van nature missionêr op te tree, aangesien die kerk geroep is om die Drie-enige God te dien. Volhoubare ontwikkeling moet deel wees hiervan. Dit behoort die versorging van die gemeenskap en identifisering van die probleme van armoede in die gemeenskap in te sluit, ten einde die vernietiging van die gemeenskap teen te werk. Hierdie hoofstuk handel ook oor hoe die kerk mense wat in landelike gebiede woon kan sensitiseer en bewus maak van die belangrikheid daarvan om nie na stedelike gebiede te trek nie. Die terme "volhoubare ontwikkeling" en "gemeenskapsontwikkeling" is omskryf om te bevestig hoe die kerk, as 'n gemeenskap-gebaseerde organisasie, 'n effektiewe instrument in die ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap kan wees om volhoubare landelike bestaan te bevorder. Die kerk het 'n unieke rol te speel in die ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap. Hoofstuk vyf: Hierdie hoofstuk gee 'n versigtige kontekstuele analise van landelik-stedelike gebiede, die uitdagings wat die mense in daardie gemeenskappe in die gesig staar en wat gedoen moet word met die oog op volhoubare landelike lewe. Dit bespreek en ondersoek ook hoe die kerk, as 'n gemeenskap-gebaseerde organisasie, 'n effektiewe voertuig kan wees tot gemeenskapsontwikkeling en volhoubare landelike bestaan. Ten einde te help om die vlak van bewustheid van landelike volhoubaarheid in mense te verhoog, veral dié in landelike gebiede, is in hierdie hoofstuk noukeurig ondersoek gedoen na die faktore wat mense lok om te migreer na stedelike gebiede. So kan die oplossings vir hierdie uitdagings gevind word. Ten slotte, om te verstaan hoe die kerk in Malawi, as 'n gemeenskap-gebaseerde organisasie, kan 'n effektiewe voertuig in die ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap kan wees, word in hierdie hoofstuk 'n teorie van vier stappe ontwikkel, nl. Bewusmaking, Bemagtiging, Deelname en Volhoubaarheid. In hierdie hoofstuk word beklemtoon hoe die kerk kan / moet betrokke raak ten einde 'n effektiewe instrument van volhoubare landelike lewe te wees en mense te help in self-ontwikkeling. Hoofstuk ses: Die laaste hoofstuk bevat 'n opsomming van hierdie studie. Die studie beklemtoon die feit dat, indien die kerk doelbewus kan deelneem om mense te help in selfontwikkeling en 'n positiewe impak op hul lewens bring, lewens positief kan verander. As die kerk in Malawi, Nkhoma Sinode, kan deelneem aan die bewusmaking van mense in die landelike gebiede van die belangrikheid en voordele van die lewe daar, kan die getal mense wat na die stede migreer verminder word.

Thesis (MTh)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research proposes a people-centred approach to community development in Nasarawa State, Nigeria, within a practical theology framework. The researcher, therefore examine the community development approach in Nasarawa State Nigeria, to ascertain the extent of a people-centred approach in order for a more robust concept that is reasonable for the church towards socio-economic community development. The data used in this research was collected from secondary sources. These sources include: articles, books, journals and public documents. The research recognizes considerable efforts made so far towards socio-economic development of Nasarawa State. The research indicates that socio-economic development in the rural communities continues to face major challenges, due to the absence of an effective approach to development. The research argues that the persistence of poverty in such communities is inconsistent with the riches of the State‘s natural resources. Therefore, the research proposes a holistic approach which focuses on the participation of the church in community development efforts, and which is motivated by both physical and spiritual needs of the people. It is argued in this research that contrary to modernization, relief and welfare which create dependency, a people-centred approach restores power to the people and enables active participation of the poor in the process of community development. The research holds the view that a holistic people-centred approach of development entails participation, empowerment, self-reliance and sustainability which are basic components of community development. The goal of the church in development in terms of reconciliation and building relationships is considered to ensure that these components are duly achieved. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie studie bied ʼn mens-gesentreerde benadering tot gemeenskapsontwikkeling binne ʼn praktiese teologiese raamwerk. Die studie ondersoek die benadering tot gemeenskapsontwikkeling in Nasarawa Staat, Nigerië, met die doel om die invloed van ʼn mens-gesentreerde benadering te bepaal. Verder, bied hierdie studie ‘n meer robuuste model vir sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling wat meer gepas is vir die kerk se betrokkenheid in gemeenskapsontwikkeling. Inligting vir hierdie studie is verkry van sekondêre resensies en sluit artikels, boeke, joernale en publieke dokumente in. Die navorsing erken die aansienlike bydraes wat sover gelewer is ten opsigte van die sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling van die Nasarawa Staat. Dit erken dat sosio-ekonomiese ontwikkeling in plattelandse gemeenskappe steeds groot uitdagings beleef, waarskynlik vanweë die afwesigheid van ʼn effektiewe aanslag tot ontwikkeling. Die studie argumenteer dat die voortbestaan van armoede in sulke gemeenskappe teenstrydig is met die staat se natuurlike hulpbronne. Daarom stel die studie ‘n holistiese aanslag, wat fokus op die deelname van die gemeenskap in ontwikkelingspoging en wat deur beide die fisiese en geestelike behoeftes van die mense voor. Daar word geargumenteer dat, anders as verligting en welsyn, wat afhanklikheid skep, ʼn mens-gesentreerde aanslag mag by die mense herstel en aktiewe deelname in die proses van gemeenskapsontwikkeling moontlik maak. Daarom, voer hierdie studie aan dat ʼn holistiese, mens-gesentreerde model van gemeenskapsontwikkeling, deelname, bemagtiging, selfstandigheid en volhoubaarheid behels, wat basiese komponente van gemeenskapsontwikkeling is.

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Following the democratic elections in 1994, many South Africans are still suffering due to the country’s inability to meet the challenges of peace-making, reconciliation and nation building, and dealing with socio-economic realities such poverty and inequality. It is in this context where “personal problems [are] becoming public issues” (Sacco, 1999:3) that the researcher posed the questions: What additional undisclosed/hidden resources can be uncovered to be utilised in meeting the challenge? How can we as practitioners in the field of community development contribute constructively to this process? One such a resource is the untapped spiritual potential of people. A focus on people’s spiritual potential will bring another dimension to people and community development and could proof invaluable in helping communities to better utilise their inner strengths and knowledge. Translated into practice, it would require an in-depth and research-based creative, non-prescriptive bottom-up approach to and knowledge of community development to prompt practitioners to acknowledge and utilise the spiritual dimension of the community development practice (cf. Weyers, 1991:130– 149; Ife, 1998:xiv). Inconceivably, notwithstanding the increased recognition of spirituality as an important dimension of working with individuals and communities, the dimension of spirituality has not been included or fully developed as an integral component of community development practices. A literature survey clearly indicated that, though traditionally the key role-players in the field of social development have been community and social work practitioners in faith-based organisations and churches alike, little or no attention is paid to spirituality in current community development literature and practice (Ver Beek, 2003:31). Confronted with this deficiency, in this study the researcher argued for a convergence of the three disciplines of (1) social work community development, (2) the newly emerging discipline of spirituality and (3) practical theology. Since practical theology recognises both the fields of spirituality and community development as basis for their praxis focusing on poverty and suffering, justice and liberation, it was further asserted that the field of practical theology offers a home for the development of an integrated framework for community development. Thus the goal of the study was threefold: - To theorise the inter-relationship between spirituality, theology and community development, building a triangular theoretical construct between the disciplines of social work, spirituality and practical theology. - To explore the practice of transforming people and communities through incorporating a spiritual dimension into an integrated community development approach. - To propose a praxis framework for the incorporation of spirituality in community development. An inter-disciplinary action research design was utilised to follow a cyclical process consisted or a preliminary literature search, and a field study which involved ‘on site’ visits (village walks) in the pilot and two sample communities, healing retreats and capacity building worksessions. Subsequently, an in-depth literature study on the topics of spirituality, community development and transformation as covered in the disciplines of social work and practical theology, was undertaken. The findings indicated spirituality as source of survival and hope; at the heart of community development (and therefore a legitimate focus of the action research project) and lastly as source of renewal for community development practitioners. Other key findings were the centrality of relationships and transformation; and the importance of a radical shifting of the focus from previous top-down problem-/project-/programme-centred models to unlocking the potential interconnectedness/relationship between God, people and creation as the core substance of participative, transformational development. These findings were utilised in the proposal for a relational praxis framework for community transformation. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Bykans twee dekades na afloop van die demokratiese verkiesing in 1994 is daar steeds vele Suid Afrikaners wat daagliks blootgestel is aan die uitdaging om te oorleef te midde van voortgesette armoede, ongelykheid, geweld en werkloosheid – hoofsaaklik vanwee die regering se onvermoë om die uitdagings met betrekking tot sosio-ekonomiese realiteite die hoof te bied. Dit is in hierdie konteks van persoonlike probleme wat oorvloei na die arena van openbare vraagstukke (Sacco, 1999:3) dat die navorser die volgende vrae stel: Watter alternatiewe, tans onontginde, bronne is daar wat aangewend kan word om hierdie knelpunte die hoof te bied? Hoe kan praktisyns (binne die ontwikkelingsterrein) konstruktief bydra tot hierdie proses? ‘n Voorlopige literatuurstudie het daarop gedui dat spiritualiteit (van individue en gemeenskappe) een so ‘n potensiele bron van onontginde energie en potensiaal is. Indien daar binne die verband van gemeenskapsontwikkeling op die spirituele dimensie gefokus word, mag dit van ontskatbare waarde wees om mense binne gemeenskappe te help om hulle innerlike sterktes en kennis ten volle te ontwikkel. In praktyk sal dit vereis dat praktisyns die potensiaal van die spirituele dimensie erken en oop is daarvoor om spiritualteit as dimensie van gemeenskapsontwikkeling binne ‘n kreatiewe, navorsingsgefundeerde deelnemede benadering te integreer (cf. Weyers, 1991:130–149; Ife, 1998:xiv). In die lig daarvan dat daar, veral binne die dissipiline van maatskaplike werk, tot op hede min navorsing gedoen is oor die insluiting van spiritualiteit as dimensie van gemeenskapsontwikkeling en -praktyke (Ver Beek, 2003:31), is geargumenteer dat ‘n inter-dissipliere benadering, met die insluiting van die dissiplines van (1) maatskaplike werk gemeenskapsonwikkeling, (2) spiritualiteit en (3) praktiese teologie die daarstel van ‘n geskikte teoretiese raamwerk sal moontlik maak. Aangesien praktiese teologie beide die dissiplines van spiritualiteit en gemeenskapsontwikkeling erken as basis vir die praxis-fokus op armoede en sosiale geregtigheid en bevryding, is daar van die standpunt uitgegaan dat die dissipiline van praktiese teologie die geskikte die ruimte vir die ontwikkeling van ‘n geïntegreerde raamwerk vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling is. Die doel van die studie was drieledig: - Om ‘n multi-vlakkige teoretiese konstruk tussen die drie dissiplines van maatskaplike werk, spiritualteit en gemeenskapsontwikkeling daar te stel. - Om ondersoek in te stel na die praktyk van transformering van mense en gemeenskappe deur die inkorporering van ‘n spirituele dimensie in ‘n geïntegreerde gemeenskapsonwikkelingsbenadering. - Om ‘n praxis raamwerk voor te stel vir die inkorporering van spiritualiteit in gemeenskapsontwikkeling. Die inter-dissilinêre aksie navorsingsontwerp het bestaan uit verskeie siklusse wat ‘n voorlopige en diepte literatuurstudie en veldnavorsing behels het. Die veldnavorsing het ingesluit: ‘in situ’ besoeke aan die onderskeie gemeenskappe (wat deur die teikengroeplede verteenwoordig is); ‘n ‘retreat’ vir elke groep; ‘n reeks kapasiteitsbousessies en die ontwikkeling van twee gemeenskapsprojekte voorspruitend uit die navorsing. Die in-diepte literstuurstudie het gefokus op die integrering van spiritualiteit, transformering en gemeenskapsontwikkeling binne die dissiplines van maatkaplike werk en praktiese teologie. Die bevindinge van beide die veldwerk en die literatuurstudie het daarop gedui dat spiritualiteit ‘n bron van hoop en oorlewing is, dat dit tot ’n baie groot mate ‘n positiewe rol in die teikengemeenskappe speel en dat dit as ‘n bron van versterking en vernuwing vir individue en gemeenskappe kan dien. Die sentraliteit van verhoudings en transformasie was ander sleutelbevindinge, asook die fokus op ‘n totale wegkeer van tradisionele hierargiese benaderings na voetsoolvlak verteenwoordiging en inspraak ten einde die potensiële interverwantskappe tussen God, mense en die skepping as die kern van deelnemende transformerende gemeenskapsontwikkeling te kan erken en benut. Hierdie bevindinge is as riglyne vir die voorgestelde relasionele praxis raamwerk vir geïntegreerde gemeenskapstransformering gebruik.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the social development approach from the viewpoint of developing an understanding of the applicability thereof in a social work environment in a South African context. Based on the level of underdevelopment in the country, the social development process, which involves a dynamic multi-disciplinary approach with a strong emphasis on the positive outcomes of growth and empowerment, is thought to offer a wide range of possible fields of application. To provide clarity and gain insight into the dimensions and elements involved, different aspects of the South African and international scenarios provide a background for the arguments promoting the social development approach as a positive intervention for the helping professions. The purpose of this research is to broaden the field of knowledge for practitioners and organisations dealing with poverty and deprivation by providing an extension of options in practice models. The research report includes an investigation of the elements and concepts associated with social development, with particular emphasis on the role of women. Knowledge and understanding of these concepts will assist in widening the horizons of field workers and assist in deciding on appropriate responses when faced with the problems of South Africa and its apartheid legacy. Development in the South African context is examined with the focus on the main role players, namely government and the welfare sector. Recurring themes in development programmes that have been identified as elements for success are described by means of case examples from good international practice models. The applicability of many of these cases should serve as stimuli for instituting initiatives in local situations of need. The empirical research used the qualitative method to examine, by means of focus groups, the effects of the identified elements in five social development projects in the Western Cape. The focus groups were conducted with the aid of open-ended question guides. The findings and responses of the focus group respondents were analysed and discussed in relation to findings described in the literature by various authors. It is believed that the findings of this research can be utilised as practical guidelines for instituting and running social development projects by social workers, as well as practitioners from other fields, to address the problems of poverty and underdevelopment in the country by paying special attention to the role of women in such projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die maatskaplike ontwikkeling benadering met die oog daarop om 'n begrip te kry van die toepaslikheid daarvan in 'n maatskaplike werkomgewing in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Die toestand van onderontwikkeling in die land het tot gevolg dat die maatskaplike ontwikkelingsproses, wat 'n sterk multi-dissiplinêre benadering behels en positiewe gevolge van groei en bemagtiging beklemtoon, waarskynlik 'n wye veld van toepassingsgeleenthede bied. Ten einde duidelikheid en insig te kry oor die omvang van die veld en die beginsels wat ter sprake is, word die argumente wat die maatskaplike ontwikkeling benadering ondersteun teen die agtergrond van verskillende aspekte van Suid-Afrikaanse en internasionale toestande bespreek. Die doel van die navorsing is om die kennisveld van maatskaplike werk en organisasies wat te doen het met armoede en verwaarlosing te verbreed en die keuses van praktykmodelle uit te brei. Die navorsingsverslag sluit 'n ondersoek in van konsepte en elemente waarmee maatskaplike ontwikkeling geassosieer word, met die klem op die rol van vroue. Kennis en begrip van die toepassing van hierdie konsepte sal veldwerkers se horisonne verbreed en help met besluitneming oor gepaste diensleweringsmodelle wanneer met die probleme van Suid-Afrika en die gevolge van apartheid gekonfronteer word. Ontwikkeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word ondersoek met die klem op die hoof rolspelers in die veld, nl. die regering en die welsynsektor. Herhalende temas in internasionale ontwikkelingsprogramme as elemente van sukses is geïdentifiseer en word beskryf d.m.v. gevallestudies van internasionale goeie praktyke. Die toepaslikheid van baie van hierdie gevallestudies behoort as aanmoediging te dien vir inisiatiewe op plaaslike vlak. Vir die empiriese ondersoek, is gebruik gemaak van die kwalitatiewe metode om, d.m.v. fokusgroepe by vyf projekte in die Wes-Kaap, die effektiwiteit van die geïdentifiseerde elemente vir sukses te toets. Die fokusgroepe is gelei aan die hand van 'n oop vraelys. Die reaksies van die deelnemers aan die fokusgroep is verwerk en in die konteks van die literatuurstudie bespreek. Dit word aanvaar dat die bevindings van die navorsing deur maatskaplike werkers en ander dissiplines gebruik kan word as praktiese riglyne by die beplanning en loodsing van maatskaplike ontwikkeling projekte in die bekamping van armoede en onderontwikkeling, met spesiale aandag aan die rol van vroue.

Thesis (MBA)--Stellenbosch University, 2003. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The fundamental purpose of this study is to establish the extent to which theory and practice relate in the context of community participation. The point of departure is to understand what participation entails and the methodologies available to the development practitioner. As illustrated by the case study, there is a meaningful relationship between theory and the practicing of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA), which is the methodology of choice for the project. Although the PRA techniques were utilized in gathering data for the project, many of the key decisions were made independently of the community. This brings to light the controversy between technical expertise on the one hand and to what extent the community should be included in any decisions made at this technical level, especially since they may only end up rubber-stamping the professional's opinions anyway. The question arises whether or not the whole concept of empowerment is simply a utopian concept. This is by no means an easy question to answer. However, the case study does illustrate that participation can be harnessed to achieve a successful project. It is important to note that even in difficult circumstances where 'dependency' has taken root, there exists hope that the people can actively participate in the project. It also reinforces the urgency of the need to actively encourage social change that will inspire people towards participation. This has been viewed for too long by the local people as the domain of the educated only. It is therefore important that development agencies create awareness of participation since it cuts across all their projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie studie is om vas te stel tot watter mate teorie en praktyk met mekaar verband hou binne die konteks van gemeenskapsdeelname in die bestuur van gemeenskapsprojekte. Die vertrekpunt van die studie is die verstaan van wat deelname behels, en watter metodologieë beskikbaar is vir ontwikkelingspraktisyns. Soos deur die gevallestudie geïllustreer, is daar 'n verband tussen die teorie en die praktiese gebruik van "Participatory Rural Appraisal" (PRA), die tegniek wat deur die spesifieke projek gebruik word. Alhoewel die PRA tegniek aangewend is, word baie van die belangrike besluite onafhanklik van die gemeenskap gemaak. Dit plaas 'n fokus op die kontroversiële posisie wat bestaan tussen tegniese insette aan die een kant en die mate waartoe gemeenskappe op hierdie tegniese vlak aan besluite moet deelneem, veral aangesien hierdie tipe deelname slegs op die roetine-goedkeuring van professionele sienswyses mag uitloop. Dit vra die pertinente vraag of deelname nie slegs 'n utopiese konsep is nie. Hierdie is nie 'n maklike vraag om te antwoord nie, maar, die gevallestudieondersoek ondersteun wel die idee dat deelname ingespan kan word om positiewe resultate vir 'n projek te verseker. Dit is belangrik om daarop te let dat selfs waar 'n sindroom van afhanklikheid ontwikkel het, die hoop bestaan om gemeenskappe aktief in projekte te laat deelneem. Hierdie beklemtoon die belangrikheid daarvan om sosiale verandering aan te moedig ten einde 'n positiewe ingesteldheid teenoor deelname te inspireer. Vir te lank reeds sien plaaslike gemeenskappe hierdie as die terrein slegs van opgeleide persone. Dit is dus belangrik dat ontwikkelingsagente aandag skenk daaraan om gemeenskappe te sensiteer rakende deelname, aangesien dit die suksesvolle uitvoering van al hulle projekte raak.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this research paper an investigation into applied theatre as medium for community development in the Stellenbosch area is conducted. An initial investigation was launched to determine whether there are currently organizations in the Stellenbosch area that uses applied theatre for the purpose of community development. This investigation concluded that there are organizations currently in the Stellenbosch area that make use of community theatre, but not necessarily for the purpose of community development. After further research, it was found that there are organizations in the greater South Africa who make use of other forms of applied theatre as a medium for community development such as theatre for development and theatre-ineducation. Consequently, brief overviews of the different forms of applied theatre are given, explained and discussed under the following three categories: applied theatre in education, applied theatre in the community and applied theatre in the workplace. From this description it was determined that community theatre and theatre in education is the most appropriate forms of applied theatre for community development. An empirical study was launched to investigate existing and/or completed applied theatre projects in the Stellenbosch area as well as the greater South Africa to determine which projects have been undertaken, which forms of applied theatre has been used and what the focus and outcomes of the projects was. Interviews were conducted with specific organizations to determine how applied theatre is being applied as medium for community development. Following the existing projects and the identified forms of applied theatre that could be used for community development, it was decided to conduct and launch a theatre for development project in the Stellenbosch area. There is currently no similar theatre for development projects and the feasibility of such a project has been questioned in a practical manner in a case study. The case study was launched at a school in the Stellenbosch area where a project that deals with the importance of school attendance were undertaken with a group of Grade 7 students. After completion of the research study it has been determined that applied theatre can be used as a medium for community development in the Stellenbosch area. Although there are several challenges to face such as finance and planning associated with the execution of an applied theatre project, it is possible for such a project to be potentially successful. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie navorsingstudie word daar ondersoek ingestel na toegepaste teater as medium vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling in die Stellenbosch-omgewing. Hierdie navorsing rus op drie bene, naamlik ’n literatuurstudie, ’n empiriese ondersoek in die vorm van onderhoude en ’n gevallestudie in die vorm van ’n teater vir ontwikkeling-projek. Eerstens word ’n bondige oorsig van die verskillende vorme van toegepaste teater gegee. Die verskillende vorme word uiteengesit en bespreek onder die volgende drie kategorieë, naamlik: toegepaste teater op onderwysgebied, toegepaste teater in die gemeenskap en toegepaste teater in die werkplek. Uit hierdie omskrywings is bepaal dat teater vir ontwikkeling, gemeenskapsteater en teater-in-die-onderwys oënskynlik die mees gepaste vorme vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling is, alhoewel die begrip toegepaste teater oor die algemeen verandering van een of ander aard ten doel stel. ’n Empiriese ondersoek is geloods na bestaande en/of afgehandelde toegepaste teaterprojekte in die Stellenbosch-omgewing, sowel as die groter Suid-Afrika om te bepaal watter projekte is reeds aangepak, watter vorme van toegepaste teater gebruik word en wat die fokus en uitkomste van die projekte is. Daar is gevind dat organisasies in die Stellenbosch-omgewing wat wel teater as medium vir ontwikkeling gebruik, meestal fokus op gemeenskapsteater. Organisasies in die groter Suid-Afrika maak egter ook gebruik van ander vorme van toegepaste teater vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling, soos byvoorbeeld teater vir ontwikkeling en teater-in-die-onderwys. Na aanleiding van die bestaande projekte en die geïdentifiseerde vorme van toegepaste teater vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling is daar besluit om ’n teater vir ontwikkelings-projek in die Stellenbosch-omgewing te loods. Daar is tans geen soortgelyke teater vir ontwikkeling-projekte nie en die lewensvatbaarheid van so ’n projek is op praktiese wyse ondersoek in ’n gevallestudie. Die gevallestudie is geloods by ’n skool in die Stellenbosch-omgewing waar daar met Graad 7- leerders ’n projek aangepak is wat handel oor die belangrikheid van skoolbywoning. Na afloop van die navorsingstudie is daar bepaal dat toegepaste teater wel suksesvol as medium vir gemeenskapsontwikkeling in die Stellenbosch-omgewing gebruik kan word en in sommige gevalle reeds gebruik word. Daar is wel verskeie uitdagings, onder andere met betrekking tot finansies en beplanning, wat gepaard gaan met die uitvoering van ’n toegepaste teaterprojek. Alle aanduidings is egter dat sulke projekte ’n beduidende impak op ’n gemeenskap kan hê.

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work

published_or_final_version / Social Work / Master / Master of Social Work