This study sought to evaluate the effectiveness of the GWAPA Single Mothers Poverty alleviation Programme. The study hypothesized that women in Gweru are among the most vulnerable to poverty and disease and GWAPA project may be an effective source to their poverty alleviation. Main objectives of the study were to explain selected development concepts, to explore the relationship between gender and poverty, to investigate the effectiveness of the GWAPA Programme, to outline the challenges faced by GWAPA, and to offer recommendations based on research findings to help improve the effectiveness of the programme. Both theoretical study and empirical research methods were used to ensure a balanced evaluation of the problem. The theoretical study established that the target population for poverty alleviation and development programmes must be fully involved for development to replace poverty. On average women were found to be poorer than men and hence the need for projects that focus on poverty alleviation among women. In the empirical study 375 of the 1756 GWAPA single women members were used as questionnaire respondents, and 3 management employees were sampled for the interviews. Descriptive survey and qualitative participatory approaches were used as the main research methodologies. This hybrid approach was intended to improve the validity and reliability of the outcome of the study by mitigating weaknesses of different individual approaches. This approach would ensure maximum utilization and involvement of subjects and available resources. Questionnaires, interviews and documentary evidence augmented by the researcher's experience with the NGDO were used as research instruments. Of the 375 Questionnaires distributed, 357 (95%) were collected. Various statistical measures were used to summarize and interpret the data, particularly tables, graphs and charts, actual frequencies and percentage rates. Narrative descriptions were also used to explain given scenarios and relationships. The study established that poverty and development are multidimensional concepts, families headed by women are on average poorer than those headed by men, respondents' lives have changed for the better, GWAPA single mothers have work overload especially considering that as women they shoulder the biggest chunk of the family responsibilities, and most of the GWAPA projects which started well were now suffocating under the current economic hardships.. Main challenges faced by GWAPA include the current political and economic environment, the HIV/AIDS pandemic, the limited educational levels among its members, members' limited access to resources, community cultural biases and negative attitudes towards single mothers and commercial sex workers, government regulation on financial transactions and the amount of cash one should hold outside the banking system, and work overload among members. The study recommends involvement of GWAPA members' opposite sex partners as affiliates, intensive public campaigns, lobbying and advocacy to remove the stigma and negative attitudes towards single mothers and commercial sex workers, improving infrastructure and the GWAPA Farm operations, engaging long term facilitators, certification after attending training programmes, excelling awards, present manuals in mother languages, and alternative fundraising strategies. The government and municipalities are encouraged to invest more in the small enterprise sector as it has proven to have the capability to create employment and develop communities by mobilizing the grassroots. The study also recommends a more detailed and deeper participatory study, related comparative studies that show differences and similarities between related projects in different areas in Zimbabwe, and similar studies on DNGOs that work with both sexes in different areas in Zimbabwe. / Thesis (M. Development and Management)--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2009.

Career counselling with women is not the same as with men because women’s career development is highly intertwined with their roles as mothers and wives (Sharf, 2002). The current study argues that career counselling with black South African women cannot be the same as that of men nor that of all women because their career development is intertwined with an Afrocentric and a relational view of the self. Career counselling with black South African single mothers is unique because their career development is intertwined with their roles as single parents coupled with their relational view of themselves. It argues that modernist approaches to career counselling are inappropriate and irrelevant when working with black South African single mothers. To support this argument the study explored the unique career development experiences of Black South African single mothers using a postmodernist framework. The narrative inquiry framework was used to explore the career experiences of nine black South African single mothers. The narratives were analysed using Doucet and Mauthner’s (2008) voice-centred relational method. It was found that the unique experiences of black South African single mothers include the need for flexible working hours, social support and the need to play the role of both parents to their children. Modernist approaches to career counselling are unable to take these relational and socio-economic dilemmas into account when working with black South African single mothers. A Post-modern approach such as the Relational Cultural Approach is recommended as an appropriate career counselling tool when working with black South African single mothers. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2014.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Full text release at OhioLINK's ETD Center delayed at author's request

Thesis (D. Min.)--Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 1999. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--UCLA, 2009. / Vita. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-77).

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Alberta, 2009. / A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, Faculty of Nursing . Title from pdf file main screen (viewed on October 11, 2009). Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (D. Min.)--Ashland Theological Seminary, 2005. / Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 160-168).

Thesis (M.S.)--Miami University, Dept. of Family Studies and Social Work, 2004. / Title from first page of PDF document. Includes bibliographical references (p. 54-57).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2010. / Available via ProQuest Digital Dissertations. Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

The purpose of this study was to explore working single mothers’ work-life balance in order to better understand how employers can assist them. Role theory, role conflict theory, and spillover theory were utilized to examine how working single mothers experience work-life balance and how they perceive it. In this study, the researcher sought to discover, analyze, and report work-life balance experiences of working single mothers through extended narrative accounts, which answer the following research questions: 1. In what ways do working single mothers strive to attain work-life balance? 2. What challenges do working single mothers encounter that affect their ability to obtain work-life balance? 3. How do working single mothers believe their employers’ policies, practices, and attitudes impact their ability to balance work and family responsibilities? Narrative inquiry was the best research approach for this study because it allowed the individuals to narrate their own stories. The methods of collecting data for this study consisted of a basic demographic questionnaire and in-depth, semi-structured interviews. The data analysis revealed four main themes and several subthemes highlighting the strategies, challenges, and employers’ contributions to the work-life balance of working single mothers.