The aim of the dissertation is to indicate that a large number of problems in rural communities are the consequence of ineffective knowledge management, and that the effective management of knowledge could significantly improve the range and quality of services provided to community members. Knowledge is reviewed by examining the process of changing social facts into data, data into information and information into knowledge. Knowledge management is examined by reviewing the history of knowledge management as well as defining the term knowledge management. A generic model for knowledge management is developed that divides knowledge management into five basic processes namely; knowledge identification, knowledge mobilisation, knowledge generation/elaboration, knowledge application and knowledge evaluation. The model further describes the knowledge management ”enablers” that can either facilitate or debilitate the management of knowledge. Various practical suggestions are proposed that will facilitate the implementation of a knowledge management programme in a rural community. / Psychology / MA (PSYCHOLOGY)

School evaluation has increased in importance in recent years, particularly at the level of the whole school. It is the process which assesses the worth and merits of the institution. Due to the fact that, in most cases, evaluation is judgemental, the notion of Whole School Evaluation (WSE) was introduced into the South African education system by the national Department of Education after the 1994 democratic election. WSE has since then became the official evaluation system in South Africa. In WSE schools undergo internal as well as external evaluation. The results of the evaluation are then used by schools to draw the School Improvement Plans which are aimed at school improvement. This study explores the implementation of WSE in rural primary schools in Limpopo Province. A literature study investigated school evaluation within the international and the South African context, the provision of education in Limpopo Province and existing models of WSE. Against the background of the conceptual framework provided by the literature, a qualitative investigation was done in four primary schools in the Vhembe district in Limpopo Province. Data were gathered by means of in-depth interviews with principals of schools and supervisors. The researcher also conducted focus group interviews with School Management Team (SMT) members from participating schools. Data was analysed, discussed and synthesized. Analysed data revealed the following findings: schools experience difficulties in conducting self-evaluation, educator development in rural primary schools in Limpopo is a problem and the district and the Department of Education do not assist schools concerning development after WSE has been conducted. As a result of these findings, there is a need to assist schools in their development endeavours after WSE. The district officials as well as supervisors should find ways and means of assisting schools in the route to development. Areas for further investigation that would enhance WSE in rural primary schools have been identified. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that schools need to be rehabilitated after WSE. This will assist in developing the whole institution and improving the level of education in South African schools. / Educational Studies / D. Ed. (Education Management)

The main aim of the study was to analyze the socio-economic variables effecting agritourism business using data from two rural communities of the Limpopo province, Nwa’metwa and Lenyenye. The results showed that there are significant socio-economic differences among agritourism and non-agritourism farmers. The socio-economic variables used are literacy, gender, age, land size and family size. Two multinomial models were used to model agritourism behavior. The two models, namely fully and partially registered agritourism farmers were estimated. Non-registered agritourism farmers were used as the reference group. These models denoted the relative probability of both fully and partially registered agritourism farmers to the probability of the non-registered agritourism farmers. The logarithm results implied that older farmers were less likely to prefer to operate business as a fully or partially registered agritourism farmer compared to the non-registered agritourism group. Farmers’ decisions in business operation were informed by their level of education, experience as well as social networks. / Agriculture, Animal Health & Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Fatherhood literature in South Africa agrees that a look beyond the absent father phenomenon is necessary and that the focus should rather be on the potential of biological and social fathers who are present in their children’s lives. Although fathers are important in the healthy development of both boys and girls, the fathering of adolescents daughters has received limited research attention. For these reasons, this study focused on fathers and their adolescent daughters in one low-income, semi-rural, Coloured community in the Cape Winelands district of the Western Cape, South Africa. The objective of this exploratory study was to investigate fathers’ and adolescent daughters’ constructions of fatherhood. The study was informed by social constructionism and utilised a social constructionist informed grounded theory methodology. Forty-two interviews were conducted with fourteen fathers and adolescent daughters. They were interviewed separately and 29 hours and 47 minutes of interview material were obtained. Data collection, transcription, and analysis took place concurrently. Five conceptual categories were identified: Both the fathers and the daughters focused on the importance of the provider role and daughters’ obedience. Their relationship was spoken of in terms of having an understanding, while the expression of affection appeared to accompany special occasions only. Fathers also emphasised their wish for their daughters to have a better future and spoke at length about their efforts and strategies for ensuring this. Lastly, fathers’ expected daughters to do as they were told and not to follow fathers’ bad examples (e.g. alcohol abuse). The core category focused on the underlying assumptions inherent in the dynamic of the relationship, namely an hierarchical and patriarchal gender order. There seemed to be evidence of both affirmation of and resistance against the patriarchal gender order. Although it seemed that the traditional masculine and feminine ideology continue to hold sway, the presence of New Father discourse suggests the beginning of a shift towards more equitable gender relations and therefore the possibility of change. Recommendations for future research and interventions based on this analysis were also discussed. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Binne die Suid-Afrikaanse literatuur oor vaderskap is daar ooreenstemming dat daar nie hoofsaaklik op die afwesige vader fenomeen gekonsentreer moet word nie, maar dat die potensiaal van biologiese en sosiale vaders wie wel teenwoordig in hulle kinders se lewe is, ook ondersoek moet word. Alhoewel vaders belangrik in die gesonde ontwikkeling van beide seuns en meisies is, is die navorsing oor die vaderskap van adolessente dogters beperk. Vir hierdie redes sal die studie fokus op vaders en hulle adolessente dogters in lae-inkomste, semi-landelike, Kleurling gemeenskap in die Kaapse Wynland distrik van die Wes-Kaap, Suid-Afrika. Die doelwit van hierdie ondersoekende studie was om die vaders en adolessente dogters se konstruksie oor vaderskap te ondersoek. Die studie was ingelig deur sosiale konstruksionisme en het ingeligte sosiale konstruksionistiese gegronde teoretiese metodologie gebruik. Twee-en-veertig onderhoude is afsonderlik gevoer met veertien vaders en hul adolessente dogters. Nege-en-twintig ure en 47 minute se onderhoudmateriaal is verkry. Data insameling, transkripsie en analise het gelyktydig plaasgevind. Vyf begripskategorieë was geïdentifiseer: Beide die vaders en dogters het gefokus op die belangrikheid van die pa se voorsienersrol. Verder het hul oor hul verhouding gepraat in terme van 'n “verstandhouding” waarin die vader se outoritere posisie en die dogter se gehoorsame posisie vanselfsprekend aanvaar is. Die woordelikse en fisiese uitdrukking van liefde het net sekere spesiale geleenthede vergesel. Vaders het ook die klem geplaas op hulle begeerte vir hulle dogters om beter toekoms te hê en het breedvoerig hulle pogings en strategieë bespreek om dit toe te sien. Laastens, het vaders van hul dogters verwag om hul vaders se woordelikse opdragte en leringe te volg en hul nie-navolginswaardige voorbeelde (byvoorbeeld alkoholmisbruik) te ignoreer. Die kern kategorie van die gegronde teorie wat in hierdie studie ontwikkel is, belig die onderliggende aannames inherent in die dinamika van die vader-dogter verhouding, naamlik hiërargiese en vaderregtelike geslagsorde. Dit blyk uit die narratiewe van vaders en dogtersl asof daar beide bevestiging van en weerstand teen die vaderregtelike geslagsorde is. Al het dit voorgekom dat die tradisionele manlike- en vroulike ideologie steeds aan die orde van die dag is, kan die aanwesigheid van die Nuwe Vader diskoers dui op verskuiwing na meer billike geslagsverhouding en daarom ook die moontlikheid van verandering. Aanbevelings vir toekomstige navorsing en ingrypings, gebaseer op hierdie analise, word ook bespreek.

The increase in social challenges especially with regards to safety and security experienced in rural communities, as well as the lack of efficient lively places and public green spaces, is predominantly increasing in importance for government and planning policies. This problem is substantiated by the large number of deaths (especially the deaths of children) drowning in rivers flowing through or nearby rural communities because of the lack of any other safe, public facilities and well-managed and maintained green spaces. The research question therefore focuses on whether the planning of lively places and green spaces in rural communities can address some of these social issues, and contribute to the strengthening of communities and creation of lively public places. Government is struggling to deal with social issues (especially that of safety and security) within rural communities and a number of strategies were discussed and drawn up. (For example, the Rural Safety Summit which took place on 10 October 1998 aimed at achieving consensus regarding issues of rural insecurity; as well as crime prevention strategies as defined by the SAPS White Paper on Safety and Security (1998).) However, very little (if any) in-depth research on the possibility of upgrading public spaces into lively green places as a solution, has been done. This study can serve as a link between literature and practical rural issues, as well as contribute to green space and lively place development, incorporating international approaches and pilot studies, and illustrating best practices in terms of lively place and green space development, linking it to the local rural reality. In creating public and lively green places for rural communities, issues of safety, inequality, sociability and community coherence are addressed. Through the correct corresponding planning initiatives consequently drawn up, overall quality of life of those living in rural communities can be improved, decreasing the social challenges experienced. / MArt et Scien (Urban and Regional Planning), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

M. Tech. (Electronic Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology), Vaal University of Technology| / The lack of electricity in off-grid rural communities in South Africa (SA) and Africa as well as the budget constraints on these communities restrict these communities from connecting to any online resources (internet and e-books) for educational purposes, thus creating a major contributor to the global digital divide. Renewable energy sources such as solar energy, wind energy and biomass were presented as potential alternatives to grid-connected electricity for remote rural locations. Solar energy was identified as the amply available alternative energy resource in SA. Solar radiation was converted by photovoltaic technology to electricity. National power grid isolation (off-grid) was achieved by using a stand-alone photovoltaic system. Photovoltaic technology classification, material categorisation and system sizing for an e-learning centre was presented. Practical set-ups were utilised to determine the most cost-effective equipment mix of power utilization, power management/storage and ICT equipment to build a pilot e-learning centre. It was established that one photovoltaic panel can be employed to fully recharge a battery of a pilot e-learning centre with an operational period of 7 hours using the available sunlight hours. Owing to the susceptibility of the Vaal Triangle region to thunderstorms causing overcast conditions for days, a ratio of back-up battery capacity (Ah) to number of days (seven hours per day) without sunlight was determined. An algorithm was also derived for sizing the pilot e-learning centre for full scale implementation. Future research recommendations based on this study for a reduced system costs of an off-grid e-learning for rural communities powered by a renewable energy resource were presented. This will increase access to basic education in SA and reduce the global digital divide.

The main aim of the study was to analyze the socio-economic variables effecting agritourism business using data from two rural communities of the Limpopo province, Nwa’metwa and Lenyenye. The results showed that there are significant socio-economic differences among agritourism and non-agritourism farmers. The socio-economic variables used are literacy, gender, age, land size and family size. Two multinomial models were used to model agritourism behavior. The two models, namely fully and partially registered agritourism farmers were estimated. Non-registered agritourism farmers were used as the reference group. These models denoted the relative probability of both fully and partially registered agritourism farmers to the probability of the non-registered agritourism farmers. The logarithm results implied that older farmers were less likely to prefer to operate business as a fully or partially registered agritourism farmer compared to the non-registered agritourism group. Farmers’ decisions in business operation were informed by their level of education, experience as well as social networks. / Agriculture, Animal Health and Human Ecology / M. Sc. (Agriculture)

Dans les zones rurales du Pendjab du Pakistan, les femmes de petites familles agricoles ont un rôle énorme à jouer dans la réalisation du potentiel que le pays dispose dans le secteur de l'élevage d'animaux de se développer. L'étude présente la situation socio-économique actuelle des femmes éleveurs de bétail, l'étendue et la nature de leur participation aux activités de gestion du bétail, l'impact de la participation des femmes sur le bien-être de leurs familles, ainsi que les facteurs qui influent sur leur participation à des activités de gestion du bétail. Le type et la taille de la famille, l'âge, l'emplacement éloigné de l'intimé le village de la ville, et le niveau de développement global de la région ont eu leur impact sur les différents aspects de la situation des femmes rurales. Le niveau de participation des femmes répondant à des activités de gestion du bétail était multiple de celle du niveau de leurs maris. Les normes culturelles, division sexuelle du travail, la disponibilité de main-d'œuvre familiale et l'état physique du participant ont été trouvés plus opératoire pour déterminer la nature et le niveau de participation de la main-d'œuvre familiale dans les activités de gestion du bétail. L'amélioration du rôle des femmes dans la gestion et la production animale est essentielle pour améliorer la santé, l'éducation, le revenu et la nourriture de la famille. Les résultats illustrent la nécessité pour le ciblage géographique et l'importance d'utiliser une approche sexo-spécifique dans les programmes de développement agricole. / In rural Punjab of Pakistan, women from small farm families have a huge role to play in realizing the potential that the country has in livestock sector to flourish. The study presents the current socio-economic condition of women livestock raisers, the extent and nature of their participation in livestock management activities, the impact of women’s participation on their families’ welfare, and the factors affecting their participation in livestock management activities. The type and size of the family, respondent’s age, distant location of the village from the city, and the overall developmental status of the district had their impact on different aspects of rural women’s status. At each of the three geographical levels, women respondent’s participation level in livestock management activities was multiple of that of their husbands’ level. Cultural norms, gendered division of labor, availability of family labor, and the physical condition of the participant were found more operative in determining the nature and level of participation of the family labor in livestock management activities. Participation of the family labor, various aspects of women’s status, livestock related factors, and economic factors were the main causes identified as the factors affecting women’s participation in livestock management activities. Improving women's role in livestock management and production is essential in improving overall family’s health, education, income, and food security. The results signify the need for geographical targeting and the importance of using a gendered approach in the agricultural development programs.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi refletir sobre a dimensão feminina na campesinidade e a importância de sua valorização para a incorporação dos aspectos sócio-culturais na prática agroecológica. A agroecologia pode ser definida como um campo de estudos de caráter multidisciplinar, que tem como objetivo articular o saber-fazer científico ao saber-fazer das comunidades rurais, como forma de potencializar práticas sustentáveis de agricultura. Como movimento de oposição ao processo de modernização da agricultura, busca recuperar as condições socioambientais perturbadas por este e viabilizar a construção de uma realidade sustentável. Contudo, tem-se constatado atualmente que a prática agroecológica brasileira tem sido realizada de maneira restrita, limitando-se principalmente a aspectos técnicos, insuficiente à realização da transformação pretendida teoricamente. Neste trabalho analisou-se, portanto, as possibilidades da campesinidade, e particularmente a valorização da sua dimensão feminina, contribuir para efetivar o projeto agroecológico de construção da sustentabilidade. Para tanto, realizou-se: (1) um estudo sobre as diferentes concepções teóricas da agroecologia e suas possibilidades de articulação para construção de uma proposta de agroecologia plena; (2) uma análise teórica sobre o campesinato e as características da campesinidade, de uma perspectiva de gênero, como fundamentação para a pesquisa de campo; (3) análises empíricas sobre campesinidade, relações de gênero na unidade familiar de produção e prática agroecológica, em duas realidades distintas: a região do Vale do Ribeira/SP e o município de Joanópolis/SP; e finalmente, (4) uma reflexão sobre as potencialidades de contribuição da dimensão feminina e da campesinidade para a construção da agroecologia plena. A pesquisa de campo foi realizada através de observação participante e realização de entrevistas abertas, buscando diversas formas de reduzir a distância existente entre pesquisadores e pesquisados. Como conclusão, constatou-se que (1) o processo de modernização da agricultura causou efeitos perturbadores à campesinidade e às relações de gênero, mas que, ainda assim, (2) é possível encontrar elementos de campesinidade nas realidades transformadas por esse processo. No entanto, (3) as iniciativas agroecológicas estudadas não alcançaram as condições necessárias para transcender os efeitos desta modernização sobre a organização sócio-cultural camponesa, especialmente no que se refere à masculinização dos processos familiares de produção. Finalmente, sugeriu-se que, quanto ao procedimento metodológico, a antropologia tem muito a contribuir com a construção de uma agroecologia plena. / The aim of this research was to reflect about the feminine dimension inside rural communities and the importance of feminine valorization looking to incorporate socio cultural aspects in agroecological practice. Agroecology can be defined as a multidisciplinary field of study that aims to articulate the scientific know-how with the rural communities know-how, as a way to strengthen sustainable practices in agriculture. As an opposition movement against the agricultural modernization process, it seeks to recover socio environmental conditions disturbed by it and facilitate the construction of a sustainable reality. However, it has been confirmed that agroecolgy has been practiced in a restricted way, limiting it to technical aspects that are not enough to reach the aimed theoretical transformation. Therefore, the contribution of rural communities, especially regarding feminine valorization was analyzed looking to see its contributions to the execution of an agroecological project for the construction of sustainability. Looking to achieve the objectives of this research, the following analysis were made: (1) a study about the different theoretical conceptions about agroecolgy and its articulation possibilities to construct a full agroecological proposal; (2) a theoretical analysis about rural communities and its characteristics from a gender perspective, as the basis for the field study; (3) empirical analysis about rural communities, gender relations inside the family production unit and agroecological practice in two different realities: Vale do Ribeira region SP, Brazil and Joanópolis municipality SP, Brazil; finally, (4) a reflection about the potentialities of feminine dimension contribution and of rural communities for the construction of a full agroecolgy. Field research was carried out by means of participant observation and open interviews, looking to reduce the distance between the researcher and the researched in several ways. To conclude it can be stated that (1) the agriculture modernization process caused disturbing effects to rural communities and to gender relations, but, even so (2) it is possible to find rural elements in the realities modified by this process. However, (3) the analyzed agroecological initiatives did not achieve the necessary conditions to transcend the effects of this modernization inside the rural socio cultural organization, especially regarding the masculinization of family production processes. Finally, it is suggested that anthropology can make a great contribution to the construction of a full agroecolgy, regarding the methodological procedure.

O Brasil assumiu e mantém desde 2008 o primeiro lugar mundial em consumo de agrotóxicos e, tendo em vista este uso intensivo, é possível estimar a grande quantidade de embalagens vazias de agrotóxicos (EVAs) geradas todos os anos no país. Com a promulgação da Lei 9974 de 2000, a criação do Instituto Nacional de Processamento de Embalagens Vazias (inpEV) em 2001 e a implantação da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos (PNRS) em 2010, a destinação adequada das EVAs por meio da logística reversa passou a ocorrer de maneira mais eficiente, chegando a um percentual de 94% de devolução em 2014 segundo dados do INPEV. No entanto, este processo foi originalmente concebido para atender grandes áreas rurais, com economias de escala que o favorecem, e portanto não está adequado à realidade de pequenas comunidades rurais, geralmente com infraestrutura precária e mais isoladas. Sendo assim, ainda é comum nos municípios de pequeno porte que essas embalagens sejam queimadas, armazenadas em locais não adequados ou simplesmente abandonadas no campo. Dessa forma, o objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a gestão de EVAs em pequenos municípios agrícolas brasileiros, com foco no processo de logística reversa, a partir de um estudo de caso. Este foi realizado em Bom Repouso, MG, município de 10500 habitantes, caracterizado pela produção de morango e batata, com mão de obra familiar e uso intensivo de agrotóxicos. As seguintes etapas de pesquisa foram desenvolvidas: entrevistas semiestruturadas com os atores da cadeia de logística reversa de EVAs; levantamento documental; análise comparativa entre a quantidade de embalagens vendidas e a quantidade total de embalagens devolvidas entre os anos de 2012-2013 e 2013-2014, bem como um levantamento dos agrotóxicos mais comercializados no município. Verificou-se que, no período 2012-2013, a quantidade de embalagens vendidas foi cerca de 30 vezes maior que a de embalagens devolvidas, e para o período entre 2013-2014 a mesma relação foi da ordem de 26 vezes. Além disso, a massa total de embalagens devolvidas corresponde a apenas 3,3% da massa de vendidas no período 2012-2013, e 3,8% para 2013-2014. Ou seja, aproximadamente 96% das embalagens comercializadas em ambos os períodos não foram devolvidas à central de Pouso Alegre. Além disso, há produtos extremamente tóxicos para a saúde e para o meio ambiente entre os 20 mais vendidos no município. Não estão estabelecidas políticas públicas municipais voltadas à gestão desses resíduos, como pode ser verificado através das entrevistas e do levantamento documental. Dificuldades relacionadas ao armazenamento das EVAs até o momento da devolução e seu transporte até a Central de Recolhimento foram apontadas pelos entrevistados como principais motivos para não cumprir suas responsabilidades e, consequente, descartar inadequadamente esses resíduos. / Brazil has taken since 2008 the first place worldwide in pesticide consumption and, in view of this intensive use, it is possible to estimate the large number of empty containers of pesticides (EVAs) generated every year in the country. With the enactment of the 2000 9974 Law, creating the National Institute of Empty Packaging Processing (inpEV) in 2001 and the implementation of the National Solid Waste Policy (PNRS) in 2010, the proper disposal of EVAs through reverse logistics started to occur in a more organized and effective way, reaching a percentage of 94% return in 2014. Despite of that, the Brazilian take-back program was originally designed for large rural areas, and may not apply to small rural communities, generally more isolated and with poor infrastructure, that must require large storage and high transport costs. Because of this, it is still very common to burn and bury empty pesticides containers in this areas, store them in inappropriate places or leave them in the fields. Thus, this research aimed to analyze the efficiency of EVAs reverse logistics process in small Brazilian agricultural counties, taking as a case study the municipality of Bom Repouso, MG, Brazil, which is characterized by the production of strawberry and potato on properties with family labor and intensive use of pesticides. Therefore, the research had three steps: interviews were conducted with the chain process participants; a document research was made; as well as a comparative analysis of the amount of packaging sold in the city and the amount returned between the periods of 2012-2014 (considering the requirement of the law that farmers must turn EVAs in a maximum of one year after purchase, there was a comparison between two periods, from the year 2012 to 2013 and 2013 to 2014) and a research on the 20 most traded pesticides in the municipality. It was verified that in the period between 2012-2013, the amount of packaging used was about 30 times higher than the returned packaging, and for the period between 2013-2014 it was about the order of 26 times. Furthermore, the total mass of returned empty containers corresponds to only 3,3% of the mass sold 2012-2013, and 2013-2014 to 3,8%. In the other words, approximately 96% of the units sold in both periods were not returned to the center of Pouso Alegre. In addition, there are extremely toxic pesticides both for health and the environment among the top 20 in the county. It is not established municipal public policies for the management of such waste as it could be seen through the interviews and the document research. Proper storage for empty pesticide containers and transportation costs were the main points highlighted by dealers as reasons given by producers for not returning and, consequently, improperly dispose of such waste.