Includes bibliographical references (leaves 82-86). / In 1991, white schools across South Africa began opening their doors to children of all race groups. This marked a move from an education system of social exclusion and racial division towards one which celebrates inclusion and cultural diversity. It also brought with it many challenges. White school communities had to accommodate black learners for the first time and these learners had to learn to adapt and cope with a new school environment in which they were a minority. This study sought to explore the experiences of black minority high school learners ata private, German speaking school in Cape Town. It set out to examine the ways in which they cope with integrating into a white majority school environment and the support structures which are available to them. Data was collected using pre-focus group and focus group interviews. Qualitative data analysis methods were used drawing on Tesch's eight step model, (in De Vos, 1998:343). A framework for analysis was developed in which four main themes related to stress and coping emerged. These included: relationships at school, school work, other demands of theschool system and support structures. This thematic analysis revealed that integrating into this white majority school environment is stressful for black minority learners. It also revealed that these learners make use of a wide range of coping strategies in order to deal with this stress. These include problem-focused coping strategies, where learners do something active to alleviate their stress and emotion-focused coping strategies, where they attempt to manage the emotional consequences of the stressful event. Findings also revealed that a number of support structures exist within the school and home environment of the learners. Support needs were also identified and explored and recommendations were made which included some practical recommendations for ongoing intervention and support for these learners in the future

Includes abstract.|Includes bibliographical references. / This aim of this study was to explore if and how a micro-level intervention, Jobstart, impacts on the lives of the poor and vulnerable people in the City of Cape Town metropolitan area by reducing poverty and expanding capabilities. Jobstart is a programme in the Economic Development Focus area of the Catholic Welfare and Development (CWD) agency. Jobstart provides accredited courses for the hospitality industry and assists and mentors graduates to find employment in the hospitality industry. The theoretical and operational focus of the study was Sen’s (1999) capabilities approach. A conceptual model was designed that asked the following questions: a) how is poverty conceptualised by CWD and by participants in the programme? Do participants consider themselves poor? b) how is development promoted through a capabilities approach? c) how does Jobstart contribute to development in households and communities? and d) how are participants’ lives changed by expanding their capabilities? The research design was a qualitative, single case study with descriptive and exploratory elements. The sources of data collection were organisational documents, direct observations, semi-structured interviews with seven recent graduates and interviews with three staff members. The sampling approach was theoretical sampling for the selection of the case and purposive sampling for the selection of interview participants. Reliability and construct validity were attained but due to the small sample size, external validity is not attained. Ethical considerations and the promotion of the participants’ dignity were foundational to the study. The data was analysed through manual coding until categories and themes emerged that were linked to the theoretical model. The findings show that Jobstart promotes economic and social development through a capabilities approach; and that Jobstart had an impact on the lives of the participants and their families. A case description and quantitative and qualitative indicators support this finding. The findings also show that many participants do not consider themselves poor for several reasons. Both CWD and participants conceptualised poverty as multidimensional and more than income deprivation. “Lists” of capabilities emerged that were linked with Sen’s (1999) capabilities framework, which in turn highlighted gaps for further research.

The study explores how the EDF has enhanced the work of NPOs in the field of women empowerment and children's development in Mauritius. In addition to that, the study explores the outcomes and challenges that NPOs experienced regarding the funding. Using a qualitative and exploratory research approach, this study explores the nature and extent of NPO services that were specifically funded by the European Development Fund. There are five research objectives: to explore the nature and extent of services provided by the NPOs that have been specifically funded by the EDF; to examine how the EU has facilitated the service delivery of the NPOs; to find out how women and children have been empowered; to ascertain how the service delivery has improved the lives of the beneficiaries and to determine the nature of the challenges facing these organisations in the post EU funding period. The findings showed interesting features of the EU funding and the present context of post EU funding. In spite of the small sample of 19 NPOs that participated in this exploratory study, NPO participants have provided valuable insights on how the EU funding have facilitated service delivery towards women empowerment and children's development. The findings showed interesting features of the EU funding and the present context of post EU funding. Obviously more research is needed. The main findings of this research motivated some recommendations that are presented in three different sections. First, recommendations for further research has been presented, followed by some recommendations for NPOs in the sector with regards to accessing funding and finally, some recommendations for the Mauritian government. The key assumptions that EU funding accelerated growth in the NPO sector; increased service delivery and enhanced women and children's development has been confirmed. In conclusion, despite of the limited sample of participants that participated in this exploratory study, they have provided valuable insights into how the European Development Aid has facilitated various development programmes that have made a difference in the lives of women and children.

Migrant health has become a critical issue in current HIV intervention discourses as this particular cohort has an increased vulnerability to HIV infection. The purpose of this study is to explore socio-cultural determinants influencing condom use intentions and behaviour of young migrant youth residing in Cape Town South Africa. This qualitative study employed purposive and snowballing sampling techniques to explore with migrant youth their intentions and behaviour towards condoms use within their socio-cultural contexts. The interviews were in-depth open ended questions and conducted in English. The sample were drawn from 20 single respondents from Sub-Saharan Africa, notably from Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Congo, Cameroon, Kenya and Malawi. The mean age was 23 years with a range of 20 years to 25 years, the gender distribution was even with 10 males and 10 females. The research findings indicate that young migrants have a good understanding of the functions of condoms and the positive preventative tool it is for pregnancy prevention and sexually transmitted disease prevention. However the use of condoms, even when freely available, is a contested issue as socio cultural influences have an impact on the intentions and behaviour towards condom use among young migrant youth. Findings indicated that traditional norms on sexual behaviour prohibits young migrants to freely discuss safer sexual options and methods of safer contraceptive choices. Traditional gendered norms in sexual relationships and gendered expectations of condom use are current issues that migrant youth are grappling with. The nexus between socio-cultural norms and safer sexual choices such as condoms use places young migrants' at-risk cohort as they are currently outside of the realms of socio-cultural contexts, with higher education expectations and delay of marriage customs. As the results cannot be generalised to the entire migrant youth population due to the small sample size of only 20 young migrants' narratives, the need for further research on a larger sample might provide more insight into current realities of transitioning young migrants who lives outside of the boundaries of current socio-cultural paradigms.

Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-116). / The following study highlights the institutional failures in Zimbabwe which have resulted in social and economic underdevelopment. As such, poverty in Zimbabwe has manifested in various aspects, particularly food deprivation. This study focuses on the response of two Non-Governmental Organisations to food insecurity in the rural Matabeleland provinces. The research aims are to: define poverty and food insecurity; understand the reasons behind the food insecurity crisis; describe the extent of poverty and food insecurity; explore NGO responses to the food insecurity crisis and to discuss the impact of these interventions. This research is guided by Sen's (1999) 'development as freedom' approach as well as literature reviews from various researchers who offer definitions and theories on concepts such as poverty and food insecurity. The researcher also maps out the developmental path that the Government of Zimbabwe has taken through implementing strategies such as land reform, and how these policies have contributed to the food insecurity crisis. The impacts of the food crisis make citizens such as women and children increasingly vulnerable. They have been severely affected and rely on coping strategies to survive food deprivation. NGOs have stepped in to provide humanitarian assistance. Using a case study approach, ten key informants involved with the two NGOs were interviewed. The research findings are that poverty is multi-faceted and manifests through many interconnected deprivations. As such, food insecurity has become a chronic problem for the vulnerable. The organisations have answered to the food crisis mainly through relief programmes which give people short-term assistance. Rehabilitation strategies through livelihoods and micro-enterprise are medium-term strategies that have been constrained because of the political and economic instability. The two NGOs have not engaged in development-orientated programmes due to the instability in the country and the fact that the long-term development of any country ultimately lies in the hands of its Government. Recommendations are made to the two NGOs under study, to ,the government, as well as for further research.

Includes bibliography. / The main aim of this study is to evaluate the functions of the assistant probation officer as a new occupational category in probation practice. The study also explores the knowledge and insight of the functions of assistant probation officers on the part of related role players, namely, probation officers (including the supervisors of assistant probation officers), magistrates, prosecutors, officials of the South African Police Service and the recipients of the service viz. school principals, teachers, youth, parents as well as community leaders in a deep rural area. The primary respondents comprised of all the assistant probation officers involved in the pilot project as well as their supervisors. The sampling method was used for the related role players and recipients of the service. The researcher used mainly a qualitative approach that included questionnaires and interview schedules. The questionnaires were independently completed by the assistant probation officers and the interview schedules were completed by means of face-to-face interviews with related role-players. Open*ended interviews were held during on-site evaluation visits to projects with the selected sample of recipients of the service. This research can also be regarded as an exploratory study as it explores and evaluates an unknown area in order to gain new insights. The process of triangulation was applied due to the variety of data collection methods. The study found that there was an absolute necessity for the services and the sustainability thereof by assistant probation officers, and of the ultimate incorporation of this occupational category into probation practice. The findings also indicated a lack of knowledge and insight on the part of justice and police officials regarding the functions of assistant probation officers as well as the importance of structured training and the provision of the basic resources for assistant probation officers to function adequately. Therefore a holistic approach to the incorporation of this service into probation practice is required by the Department of Social Development to address the findings of this study.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references. / In this study, the researcher investigated the types of support available to, and needed by, caregivers employed by non-profit organisations (NPOs) based in Cape Town, South Africa. Semi-structured interviews were done with caregivers and caregiver supervisors from four different NPOs based in Cape Town. The interviews were done on a face-to-face basis and included mostly open-ended questions. 23 caregivers, including 2 male and 21 female caregivers, as well as 4 caregiver supervisors were interviewed. Through qualitative data analysis using Tesch’s approach (1990 in De Vos, Strydom, Fouché and Delport 2002), it was found that caregivers were supported by the NPOs they work for. Caregivers had social support from other staff such as social workers, supervisors and other colleagues. The caregivers also had access to training facilities from their NPOs and from the National Association for Child Care Workers (NACCW). Moreover, three out of the four NPOs participating in the study had transport facilities for caregivers to take children to school and other places. The NPOs also organised occasional recreational activities for caregivers. Caregivers were dissatisfied with their salary level and other financial rewards were not common. All the NPOs tried to provide some form of counselling or listening service for caregivers.

Includes bibliographical references. / This mixed method study of the effectiveness of the management of substance abuse in South Africa explored the way policies are formulated and implemented. A governance lens used coordination and public participation as indicators to measure the efficacy of the coordinating substance abuse structures (the Central Drug Authority, Provincial Substance Abuse Forums and Local Drug Action Committees) to implement the National Drug Master Plan 2006-2011. Coordinated governance, which include empowerment and resourcing of structures at the provincial and municipal levels will be helpful to provide necessary resources, expertise and skills to the "whole of society" for the implementation of future strategies.

The overall aim of the study was to explore educational attainment of youth who have reached eighteen whilst in foster care in Ocean View, Cape Town. A qualitative research design and a purposive sampling technique were adopted to recruit the participants. Furthermore, nonprobability sampling has been utilised to draw a purposive sampling. Semi-structured one-toone interviews were used in this study. The participants were males and females between the ages of eighteen and twenty years, who had reached eighteen whilst in foster care. Children in foster care associated their goals in life with educational attainment. The study revealed that the youth who turned eighteen whilst in foster care identified importance pertaining to education as the only way that could help themselves to get their desired jobs and achieve their educational goals in life. The study found that children in foster care appreciate social support and kindness they receive from their foster parents, which they considered as crucial in their lives because their biological parents could not provide for them. However, some of the participants expressed great concerns over the treatment they were receiving from their foster parents as a major setback in their lives, which could hinder them from achieving their education goals. The study also shows that the participants in the study encounter financial challenges such as not having money to access tertiary education similar to many children from an impoverished family backgrounds. The main recommendations are that there is a need for collaboration between the foster parents, social workers and the class teachers in offering social support to the participants who are in foster care.

This study “A study of the reading practices of parents with young children in Mitchell’s Plain” was conducted through a sample of five early childhood development (ECD) centres in Mitchell’s Plain. The study adopted a sequential transformative mixed method research design. Non-probability purposive sampling was used to select the five ECD centres and from that sample convenience sampling was used to select the interview participants. The quantitative data comprised of 137 completed questionnaires and the qualitative data was collected through 14 face-to-face interviews. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to guide the faceto-face interviews. Main findings: While 99% of parents felt that reading with children is important only 7% of respondents report reading with their children on a daily basis. Parents are aware of the importance and developmental benefits of reading, but do not seem to be making the time to read frequently. Overall, only 30% of respondents are reading once a week or more with their children. A statistically significant correlation between reading frequency and number of readers was found as well as frequency of library visits and reading frequency. Most of the respondents (64%) reported having between one and ten books at home while there were 8% who do not have a single book at home. No statistically significant correlation was found between number of books or parental education and reading frequency. The barriers that are preventing parents from reading with their children were found to be a lack of time, financial, environmental and personal challenges as well as libraries not being open on the weekend. Alliteracy and a lack of personal motivation to read was also found to be a barrier to book sharing. Very few parents of the participants interviewed had heard of or been involved with literacy organisations but past experiences with reading seemed to have a positive influence on their current reading practices. Main recommendations: ECD centres are uniquely placed to be able to inform, encourage and monitor frequent book sharing. ECD centres should therefore be trained in the importance of early book sharing and in turn provide training and support for their parents. Furthermore, if ECD centres were equipped with libraries that parents who found accessing the local library a challenge they would be able to offer parents an invaluable resource. Investing in local libraries so that they are able to offer extended operating hours on the weekend and more resources for children under five years old is also recommended. Parenting programmes in various forms are also recommended to provide parents with the information and support needed to encourage frequent book sharing