Among the problems that youth face, youth unemployment is more pronounced (Moleke, 2005; Annamária, 2013). Exclusion of youth from participating in the economy affects their wellbeing, and that of society. The objective of this study was, therefore, to explore the perceptions of young unemployed graduates in Lusaka, Zambia, of the factors contributing to their unemployment. To achieve the objective of the study, a qualitative research study was conducted with 20 unemployed tertiary level youth graduates in the field of humanities and arts studies. A qualitative study helped to gain an understanding on how the unemployed youth graduates interpreted their daily experiences and the meaning they gave to their status of being unemployed. Meanwhile, Tesch's eight-step approach for data analysis was employed. The study revealed that although the participants were actively job-seeking, a mis-match between their qualification and labour market skills demand; dependence on a formal or public sector post; lack of career guidance; lack of work experience; lack of social connections in the labour market; lack of merit based job recruitment practices which then promoted nepotism and corruption; lack of employment opportunities due to low levels of economic growth and high retirement age policy; and the unsuccessful government policies and programmes to promote self–employment through entrepreneurship skills and start-up capital for selfemployment, were believed by the graduate participants to be the factors contributing to graduate youth unemployment. The study also revealed that exclusion of youth from employment affects the social and economic wellbeing of not only the unemployed youth themselves but also their family. In this study, it was further revealed that the youth, the government, and the NGOs and the private sector, have roles to play in promoting youth graduate employment. The researcher in this study recommended that there was a need for youth graduates to be willing to venture into self-employment, to continue to demand for their right to employment opportunities from various stakeholders, to take responsibility to inform themselves about the existing government programmes and projects that relate to their employment, and to seek career guidance before embarking on their studies. On the part of government, they were to sensitize the graduate youth on and promote access to programmes that promoted youth employment, to provide and promote equal access to employment opportunities in all the sectors of the economy, to improve the macro-economic policies to attract foreign investment, to promote economic growth, to be able to conduct monitoring and evaluation of internship programmes, and to inculcate an entrepreneurship spirit and skills in the youth of the country. The NGOs and the private sector needed to continue playing their role of promoting and also providing employment for the youth through empowerment and providing skills development opportunities through internships, and to improve partnership with government.

Includes abstract. / This is an exploratory study of the experiences of young people in becoming agents of social change in Cape Town. The study was carried out on a sample of seventeen young agents of social change from seven developing communities in Cape Town. It adopted a qualitative and exploratory research approach, using a semi-structured interview schedule for the face to face interviews with the young changemakers. The sample was purposively selected: the researcher targeted a specific group (young agents of social change) in a specific area (Cape Town region). The findings revealed mainly that being a young agent of social change stimulates personal growth, youth development, and improves future prospects for young people from developing communities. The young agents of social change in this study are mainly active within civil society and, like most South African youth, do not engage much with party politics. It suggests that young people are poorly represented politically which weakens South Africa's young democracy, can lead to social and political instability, and makes nation building more challenging. Civil society plays a key role in stimulating youth to become agents of social change. However, generally civil society does not stimulate youth directly to develop agency in social change, and does not provide youth with opportunities for leadership and ownership over projects.

The study explored the perceptions of child and youth care workers employed at the Durbanville Children’s Home on Neurofeedback as a treatment method. It primarily considered the child and youth care workers opinions, as this target group is considered the primary carers of the children in the setting. The participants opinions are based on the implementation of Neurofeedback as a new treatment method within this organisation, what they would consider the perceptions of the children to be; challenges and benefits, as well their recommendations regarding the implementation of the treatment method in other child and youth care centres. This research was conducted using a qualitative research design. Eighteen participants were selected using purposive sampling at the Durbanville Children’s Home. Due to unforeseen circumstances, three participants were unable to complete the research study and terminated their involvement. As a result, fifteen participants therefore were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule. Each interview was recorded using a Dictaphone and was then transcribed. The data was analysed using qualitative methods of data analysis and Tesch’s eight step guideline. The findings of this study indicated that child and youth care workers have a basic understanding of Neurofeedback but that further in-depth training is still required. The interview findings indicated that the majority of participants were positive about the prospect of introducing Neurofeedback as a treatment method at the Durbanville Children’s Home. The findings highlighted that participants wanted the current treatment interventions offered at Durbanville Children’s Home to be further developed and expanded on. Participants also raised concerns and uncertainties they had over the treatment method including concerns over the treatment being too advanced to be used in a child and youth care setting and that the target group was not yet prepared for such an advanced intervention. The benefits of the treatment were perceived to include improvements in children’s behavioural, emotional and cognitive functioning. Challenges highlighted by the participants included negative perceptions some of the staff may have to introducing a new treatment model as well as anxieties the children may experience in receiving this form of treatment. Other challenges included the high financial cost and logistical aspects of implementing a new treatment method. The participants however, felt that the benefits of introducing Neurofeedback as a treatment method out-weighed these challenges. Recommendations were made with specific considerations to the implementation of Neurofeedback, the provision of training and information to both staff and children about this treatment method, specific recommendations regarding the role and tasks of staff as well as recommendations for future research.

Includes abstract. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 97-105). / Corporate social investment (CSI) has become a key issue for businesses and the social development sector. Since its inception in South Africa, social investment has developed from a donation style approach to a focused intervention that aims to empower its recipients. Corporations are now challenged through legislation and by society to develop programmes that can alleviate some of the social problems affecting the recipients of their CSI programmes. This exploratory study attempts to identify the methods used by businesses to evaluate their recipient programmes.

Includes bibliographical references. / This study explored the challenges facing youth owned enterprises in the Hout Bay communities of Imizamo Yethu and Hangberg. A purposive sample of seventeen young enterprise owners and three key informants that offer support to the youth, were interviewed. Interviews were conducted with the aid of a semi structured interview schedule. The findings of the qualitative study conducted revealed that businesses owned by the youth face multi challenges that constrain their viability. The key findings of the study revealed that: the young enterprise owners have long term aspirations of growing their businesses beyond the current operations. A conducive environment is therefore important to support these aspirations. The participants identified lack of finances, crime, lack of skills, competition and a lack of appropriate infrastructure as some of the major impediments to the growth of their businesses. In addition, there was general consensus among the youth that the low income of their communities reduces their capacity to boost revenue from their businesses. The findings revealed that all young participants finance their businesses, with additional finances, coming from family and friends. Although there are support programmes in place available to the youth, an overwhelming number of the young enterprise owners were unaware of these programmes available from the government, private sector and Non Governmental Organisations. The key recommendations are that: Intensive awareness-raising programmes aimed at increasing the information and agency of the youth entrepreneurs should be put in place. In addition, role players such as the government, private sector and NGOs should play complimentary roles in addressing the challenges facing young enterprise owners to smoothen their transition to independence.

Bibliography: leaves 69-74. / An exploratory study was conducted at a Social Services Department in Mitchell's Plain on sensitively exploring the feelings and experiences of single parents whose children were found in need of care. A qualititative approach was used, with data being gathered from focus group sessions and semi-structured interviews. Some of the majory findings focussed on the needs of single parents as well as the re-intergration of the child within the biological family composition. Certain perceived reasons for child removals were also highlighted by single parents. In respect of a parent support programme single parents felt a sense of solidarity within the focus group session.

This dissertation focused on two key issues that concern policy implementation in South Africa. Firstly, the researcher analysed the extent to which formal government policy implementation successfully occurs. Secondly, the researcher analysed the implementation of a specific policy, the Operational Alcohol and Drug Strategy 2007-2010 (OADS), through the use of a case study in the Ottery Marble Flats community, in order to illustrate the major issues concerning policy implementation in South Africa.

This study explored parent involvement in Early Childhood Development (ECD) centres in Masiphumelele, Cape Town. The researcher aimed to gain an understanding of the following; how parents are involved in Early Childhood Development centres, factors that enhance parent involvement in ECD centres, factors that hinder parent involvement in ECD centres and challenges faced by parents in getting involved in ECD centres. This research study adopted a qualitative, exploratory approach using a semi-structured interview schedule. The researcher used non-probability, purposive sampling to select the participants. Nineteen participants were interviewed using an interview schedule as a guide. The data collected was analyzed using Tesch's (1990) method of analysis. The research findings revealed that even though there are parents who participate in activities taking place at ECD centres, there is still lack of parent involvement in ECD centres. The thesis affirms that unity among parents, take-home activities, hosting general parent meetings, effective communication between parents and ECD staff especially teachers, parent days, hosting parent workshops, adopting a positive attitude towards parents, parent class visits and adequate physical space are factors that enhance parent involvement in ECD centres. Evidence from the research study show that lack of time, single parenthood, lack of interest, lack of education, poverty and unemployment are factors that inhibit parent involvement in ECD centres. According to the research findings, challenges that parents face in getting involved are; coping, trust issues, participation in education activities, provision of basic needs and payment of ECD centre fees. The study recommends that ECD centres should initiate parent involvement programmes so that parents gain skills and self-confidence. Parents are then more likely to be involved in their children's education.

The challenges facing South Africa’s education system are too often a barrier obstructing youth’s success. High drop out rates, large classroom sizes and poor attendance all contribute to inadequate and inconsistent learning. In an effort to remedy the problem, many interventions have been introduced, including sport for development programmes. In order to assess the impact of one type of intervention, this qualitative study explored the perceptions of sport for development participants and their teachers on the impact that CoolPlay has had on educational outcomes. In-depth individual interviews were conducted with 14 CoolPlay participants; age 14-18 and 5 teachers; with 1-25 years teaching experience. The primary purpose of the study was to assess the opinions and perceptions regarding CoolPlay’s impact on education outcomes by participating students and their teachers. The researcher achieved this by evaluating the following factors: participants’ attendance at school, engagement in the classroom, confidence in learning and number of other important elements that impact educational outcomes. The findings demonstrated that CoolPlay has had a noticeable impact on the participants’ educational achievements as well as their holistic development. This outcome was clearly noticed by the participants and corroborated by teacher interviews. Findings included: improved school attendance, increased confidence in the classroom and a clearer understanding of the importance of school, its impact on their future and improved goal directed behaviours. Improvements in social and educational competencies have contributed to educational achievements. It was evident from the study that CoolPlay has impacted its participants’ educational outcomes. CoolPlay’s primary goal of imparting valuable life skills along with social-emotional competencies equip South Africa’s youth for a better future. Key findings are as follows: a positive coach/participant relationship is critical to good outcomes. In addition, the coach/teacher relationship is a key component to success. This study has demonstrated the need for on-going research and assessment of sport for development programmes and their impacts on education outcomes in the Western Cape and South Africa. Quality assessment will lead to evidence based models and ensure positive impacts.

This study, "A qualitative exploration of the personal, schooling and structural factors contributing to high school learner dropout in Philippi” was carried out on a sample of fifteen young people who dropped out of school in Philippi, a township in Cape Town in the Western Cape. Guided by the research questions that sought to explore participants’ own views on the issue, an exploratory qualitative approach was used. A research sample of thirteen females and two males who dropped out of secondary school before completing grade 12 in Philippi was chosen using a snow balling sampling method. The study used a semi-structured interview schedule for face to face interviews with the school dropouts. The findings revealed that learners in Philippi drop out due to a combination of factors personal, schooling and structural. Personal factors like struggling academically, personal negative views on the importance of education, grade repetition shame, teen pregnancy, delinquent behaviour and alcohol and substance abuse contributed to learners’ decisions to quit school before matriculating. School factors included overcrowded classrooms, poorly trained teachers, lack of learning materials and associated poor educational quality, long distances to school and the unsafe learning environments in which some schools were viewed as gang battle grounds also contributed to participants’ decisions to quit school. Structural factors, barriers beyond learners’ control, also contributed to the high learner dropout. These included social, cultural, and economic circumstances. Social factors included lack of social and educational support at home. Participants stated that they dropped out of school because their parents did not encourage and motivate them to complete Matric, did not actively support their academic life and failed to provide the necessary resources and support to ensure they remained focused. Some participants left school in order to respond to cultural issues that needed their attention. Cultural practices like forced marriages, responding to calls to be a traditional healer and behavioral changes emanating from traditional male circumcision created subjective norms and expectations that were not in line with academic progression. Economically, the learners ‘poor financial backgrounds presented an unfair disadvantage in which both absolute and relative poverty strongly influenced their decisions to drop out. Without school uniforms, food and transport fares, some participants opted to drop off in order to look for employment or self sustenance. Recommendations targeted at different stakeholders at different levels to address this early school dropout problem are also discussed. Some recommendations targeted the youths’ attitudes themselves in order to address some personal or individual characteristics, whilst others focused on schools improvement and policies that address existing structural causes. More parental involvement in learners’ educational matters, greater social workers contribution, infrastructure development in poor schools in Philippi, strategic partnerships among civil sector, government departments, parents and schools as well as enhanced teacher support constitute part of the recommendations.