Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The study represents an analysis of the role of civil society organisations/non‐governmental organisations (CSOs/NGOs) in building human capabilities through knowledge construction. It assesses the effectiveness of community publishing in building human capabilities under challenges they face in the environment they are operating in. The complex environment CSOs/NGOs are operating in is dealt with. It will be demonstrated that CSOs/NGOs give marginalised communities, especially women, children and the disabled, a platform where they can organise themselves and give them an opportunity to influence policy and development of their community. Community development has many interpretations. This study focuses on communities as central agents responsible for their own development. When communities participate in their own development, they are engaging in an educational process which is both formal and informal in nature. The education process helps them to understand their situations better. This type of education called ‘popular education’, is based on the belief that people involved in the process have important knowledge that they have acquired from their experiences in life and the education they receive mainly consists of dialogue between different knowledge sets that they possess. In the process, when people participate actively in the development of their communities, a sense of ownership is developed. For the purpose of designing the study, observation of the direct involvement of staff from local government, Africa Community Publishing Development Trust and partner organisations as well as working with communities from Shamva, Umzingwane and Buhera provided the basis. It is noted that party politics affects the development of a CSO/NGO sector that is capable of building human capabilities. It is, therefore, clear that government should create an enabling environment that is free from violence and rule of law should be respected as this helps CSOs/ NGOs to implement capability building programmes conducive for all communities to participate in the development of their areas. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die studie ontleed die rol van burgerlike organisasies/nie‐regeringsorganisasies (BOs/NRO's) in die bou van menslike vermoëns deur middel van kennis konstruksie. Die studie beoordeel die effektiwiteit van die gemeenskap uitgewery in die bou van die menslike vermoëns en die uitdagings wat hulle in die gesig staar in die omgewing waar hulle hul bevind. Die komplekse omgewing waarin BOs / NRO’s hul bevind word inmiddels behandel. BOs/NRO's gee gemarginaliseerde gemeenskappe veral vroue, kinders en gestremdes 'n platform waar hulle hul self kan organiseer en gee hulle ' n geleentheid om beleid te beïnvloed en hul gemeenskap te ontwikkel. Ontwikkeling van die gemeenskap het baie interpretasies. Die studie fokus op die gemeenskappe as sentrale agente wat verantwoordelik is vir hul eie ontwikkeling. Wanneer gemeenskappe betrokke is in hul eie ontwikkelings proses, neem hulled deel aan ’ n opvoedkundige proses wat van nature beide formeel en informeel is. Die opvoedkundige proses help hulle om hul situasies beter te verstaan. Hierdie tipe van Onderwys genaamd "gewilde onderwys", is gebaseer op die oortuiging dat mense wat betrokke is in ‘n proses belangrike kennis besit as gevolg van persoonlike lewenservaringe, die opvoeding wat hulle ontvang bestaan hoofsaaklik uit dialoog tussen die verskillende kennis stel dat hulle besit. Wanneer mense aktief deelneem in die ontwikkeling van hul gemeenskappe, word 'n gevoel van eienaarskap ontwikkel. In terme van die ontwikkeling van die studie het die direkte betrokkenheid van die personeel van plaaslike regering, ACPDT en vennoot organisasies asook die werk met die gemeenskappe van Shamva, Umzingwane en Buhera die basis gevorm van die studie. Politieke partye beinvloed die ontwikkeling van die BO/NRO‐sektor en dit stel hulle in staat om menslike vermoëns op te bou. Die regering moet 'n instaatstellende omgewing skep wat vry is van geweld en waar die oppergesag van die reg gerespekteer word. Dit sal BO’s/NRO's help om vermoëns bouende programme te implementeer wat gemeenskappe die geleentheid sal gee om deel te hê aan die ontwikkeling van hul gemeenskap.

Too often, literature on participation in community development is void of the rationale for the participation of teachers; the roles they may play; factors for and against their participation; and strategies for inviting and sustaining their participation. This study examines what could be done to ensure the participation of rural based teachers in community development activities, by exploring these issues. A qualitative design and purposeful sampling are used. The sample consists of information-rich informants from the following five categories: officials of the Rural District Council, non-governmental organisation workers, rural based school teachers, Village Development Committee Chairpersons, and ordinary community members. Interviewing is used as the major instrument of data collection. The study reveals that rural based teachers should participate in community development activities, since they have a wide knowledge base and transferable skills, and they are part of and trusted by the community. It reveals that rural based teachers' participation is deterred by political factors, lack of supportive policies, attitudes, conservativeness, lack of specialized training, and labour issues. Twenty two roles are identified for rural based teachers in community development activities. Strategies for inviting them to participate are: the use of policy, change of attitudes, use of media campaigns, training, and inclusion of community development in tertiary education in general, and teacher education in particular. Strategies for sustaining their participation emerge as: the use of incentives, free time or days off and holding responsible offices. Sixteen recommendations are finally presented. / DEVELOPMENT STUDIES / MA (DEVELOPMENT STUD)

Too often, literature on participation in community development is void of the rationale for the participation of teachers; the roles they may play; factors for and against their participation; and strategies for inviting and sustaining their participation. This study examines what could be done to ensure the participation of rural based teachers in community development activities, by exploring these issues. A qualitative design and purposeful sampling are used. The sample consists of information-rich informants from the following five categories: officials of the Rural District Council, non-governmental organisation workers, rural based school teachers, Village Development Committee Chairpersons, and ordinary community members. Interviewing is used as the major instrument of data collection. The study reveals that rural based teachers should participate in community development activities, since they have a wide knowledge base and transferable skills, and they are part of and trusted by the community. It reveals that rural based teachers' participation is deterred by political factors, lack of supportive policies, attitudes, conservativeness, lack of specialized training, and labour issues. Twenty two roles are identified for rural based teachers in community development activities. Strategies for inviting them to participate are: the use of policy, change of attitudes, use of media campaigns, training, and inclusion of community development in tertiary education in general, and teacher education in particular. Strategies for sustaining their participation emerge as: the use of incentives, free time or days off and holding responsible offices. Sixteen recommendations are finally presented. / DEVELOPMENT STUDIES / MA (DEVELOPMENT STUD)

The delivery of psychosocial support (PSS) services to children living with HIV and AIDS (CLHA) by PSS service providers, such as community-based organisations (CBOs) in resource-poor settings, ensures the availability of consistent and sustainable support to children living with HIV and AIDS. These children face various psychological and social challenges associated with living with HIV and AIDS, such as drug adherence to HIV medication, stigmatisation and distress, among others. This qualitative study explored the critical factors that influence the delivery of community-based PSS services to CLHA younger than 15 years of age in a resource-poor setting by a community-based organisation. Multiple data-collection tools were adopted. The findings revealed the critical factors that contributed to the delivery of community-based PSS services to CLHA, and also ways in which these important services could be improved. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)

The delivery of psychosocial support (PSS) services to children living with HIV and AIDS (CLHA) by PSS service providers, such as community-based organisations (CBOs) in resource-poor settings, ensures the availability of consistent and sustainable support to children living with HIV and AIDS. These children face various psychological and social challenges associated with living with HIV and AIDS, such as drug adherence to HIV medication, stigmatisation and distress, among others. This qualitative study explored the critical factors that influence the delivery of community-based PSS services to CLHA younger than 15 years of age in a resource-poor setting by a community-based organisation. Multiple data-collection tools were adopted. The findings revealed the critical factors that contributed to the delivery of community-based PSS services to CLHA, and also ways in which these important services could be improved. / Social Work / M.A. (Social Behaviour Studies in HIV/AIDS)