Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2015 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT : This research study presents a community assessment to explore and construct an overview of the scope and nature of support organisations currently active in the marginalised community of Kayamandi, Stellenbosch. Support organisations play a pivotal role in the global attempt to eradicate poverty by assisting and empowering people to achieve sustained independence and dignified prosperity. In order for support efforts to be properly utilised, people have to be aware that these efforts exist. Residents need to know what services are available and where to find the services. In addition, support organisations providing the services need to be aware of other organisations that could complement their efforts to ensure optimal service delivery. To date, no reliable informative summary of support organisations involved in Kayamandi exists. Therefore the research objective for this study was two-fold: to ascertain which support organisations are currently available in the suburb of Kayamandi and to construct a typology of these organisations in terms of types of services rendered and recipients targeted. A combination of Bronfenbrenner‟s bioecological theory (Bronfenbrenner, 2005) and organisational theory (Jones, 2010) provided the framework within which support organisations could be qualitatively investigated, contextualised and analysed. To collect rich and relevant data, 19 semi-structured interviews were conducted with key informants representing 19 support organisations in Kayamandi. The data were analysed by means of a thematic content analysis, using the ATLAS.ti computer software package. Findings revealed various aspects regarding support organisations, the services they deliver, the recipients they serve, the staff and volunteers delivering the services, the funding support as well as the links of cooperation that exist. The themes that emerged during the interviews include insights regarding self-evaluation, sustainability, benefits, constraints, the role of religion as well as values pertaining to service. The findings provide comprehensive and valuable insights which can inform existing as well as new support organisations alike. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Hierdie navorsing behels ‟n gemeenskapsassesering wat uitgevoer is om ‟n oorsig op te stel aangaande die omvang en aard van ondersteuningsorganisasies wat tans in Kayamandi, Stellenbosch werksaam is. Ondersteuningsorganisasies speel ‟n belangrike rol in die wereldwye poging om armoede uit te wis en om mense te bemagtig ten opsigte van onafhanklike en volhoubare voorspoed. Om voldoende gebruik te kan maak van ondersteuningsdienste moet mense van die dienste bewus wees. Inwoners moet weet watter dienste beskibaar is en waar om hulle te vind. Daarbenewens moet ondersteuningsorganisasies wat die dienste lewer ook bewus wees van ander organisasies wat hulle dienste kan aanvul om sodoende optimale dienslewering aan die lede van die gemeenskap te bied. Tans bestaan daar geen samevatting oor die ondersteuningsorganisasies in Kayamandi nie. Die navorsingsvraag in hierdie ondersoek was tweeledig: om vas te stel watter ondersteuningsorganisasies tans beskikbaar is in Kayamandi en om ‟n tipologie op te stel van die tipe dienste wat hulle lewer en die ontvangers van die dienste. Die navorsing is in ‟n kombinasie van die bio-ekologiese teorie van Bronfenbrenner (Bronfenbrenner, 2005) en ‟n organisasieteorie (Jones, 2010) veranker, om sodoende die organisasies in die konteks van hulle omgewing te kan ondersoek en ontleed. Altesaam 19 semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is gevoer met sleutelinformante wat 19 ondersteuningsorganisasies in Kayamandi verteenwoordig het om sodoende relevante data in te samel. Die data is deur middel van ‟n tematiese inhoudsontleding ontleed met behulp van die Atlas.ti-rekenaarprogram. Die bevindinge het verskillende aspekte in verband met ondersteuningsorganisasies uitgelig, naamlik die dienste wat hulle lewer, die ontvangers van die dienste, die personeel en vrywilligers wat die dienste lewer, die befondsing en die mate van samewerking tussen organisasies. Die temas wat geïdentifiseer is sluit self-evaluasie, volhoubaarheid, die voordele en beperkinge, die rol van godsdiens sowel as die waardes wat aan dienslewering geheg word in. Die bevindinge voorsien omvattende insigte wat bestaande en nuwe ondersteuningsdienste, kan toelig.