Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The Western Cape is notorious for its high prevalence of gangs and resulting gang violence. This is confirmed in the multitude of frequent reports of homicides attributed to gangs. This area of South Africa further has elevated substance abuse statistics. Literature clearly states that gangs and drugs are inextricably linked. The nature of the interaction is however unclear, although the effects of the interaction is significantly apparent as the consequences of gang activities is often felt by innocent bystanders. It is concerning that gangsterism and drug usage is normalised and ceases to be viewed as deviant in some communities. The consequences of the interaction between gangs and drugs has ramifications for community safety and further places much strain on the health, social welfare, as well as defence sectors. Effective interventions need to be informed by insight into the interaction between gangs and drugs. The best source of reliable information in this regard would be gang members. A dearth of research with regards to the gang members‟ perspective on the connection between gangs and drugs thus motivated the study. The study was conducted with male gang members within the setting of a substance treatment centre, where drug usage is normalised. An empirical study with a combination of a qualitative and quantitative approach was used, where a semi structured questionnaire was administered with individual participants as well as a focus group. The study illustrated that gangs attract members through their ability to meet the individuals‟ needs. These needs are linked to those indentified within motivational theory. Gangs met physiological needs through access to drugs, safety needs through providing protection, and self esteem needs through the provision of money and status. Significantly, gangs were identified as meeting individuals‟ belonging needs. Commonality was established in risk factors for involvement in a gang and as well as in the usage of substances. The study showed unstable home environments with absent fathers and multiple stressors such as exposure to high levels of violence and abuse. Disconnectedness within families was further highlighted. The participants were exposed to elevated levels of substance misuse within their families as well as elevated levels of familial involvement in the sale of drugs. Familial involvement in gangs was also high within participants. The findings of the study indicate that drugs are enmeshed within gang activities. Drug usage occurs before and after going out and committing crimes. Drugs were used to heighten gang members‟ fortitude, diminishing inhibitions. Participants spoke about being incapable of undertaking violent acts, without first using drugs. Gang members used drugs to quieten the conscience and in self medicating after completing a task, in order to cope with flashbacks and intrusive thoughts and images. Gang norms with regards to the sanctioning of drugs is a complex issue. The study demonstrated that gangs make a distinction between drugs, for example heroin usage is not encouraged by all gangs due to the associated tolerance and severe withdrawal symptoms. Gangs tread a thin line between condoning and discouraging drug usage. Supporting drug usage may benefit the gang, as it encourages and motivates gang activities. Gang members who become dependent on drugs are however a risk for the gang, as they become unreliable and disloyal, as their absolute devotion to the gang is challenged by their physiological needs. Gang members however perceive the gangs‟ prohibition of certain drugs, as motivated by a concern for their wellbeing rather than self interest. The temporal order of drug usage and gang membership illustrated that drug usage preceded involvement in a gang. Drug usage however significantly increased and progressed after inclusion in a gang. Recommendations emphasised a need to acknowledge the link between drugs and gangs. Insight provided by gang members is needed in order to inform effective interventions. Within the substance dependence field, the gang member presents with unique treatment needs, which must be understood in order to gain optimum results. Ill-informed, generic treatment is ineffective, irresponsible and costly for service providers, communities affected by gangsterism, and those gang members with some willingness to change. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die Wes-Kaap is berug vir dié provinsie se hoë voorkoms van bendes en gepaardgaande bendegeweld. Dít word bevestig deur die menigte gereelde berigte van moord waarby bendes betrek word. Hierdie gebied van Suid-Afrika toon boonop verhoogde middelmisbruik-statistieke. Literatuur stel dit onomwonde dat bendes en dwelmmiddels op onlosmaaklike wyse verbind is. Die aard van hierdie wisselwerking is onduidelik, hoewel die uitwerking daarvan onmiskenbaar is: Veral onskuldige omstanders word dikwels deur die gevolge van bendebedrywighede geraak. Dit is kommerwekkend dat bendes en dwelmmisbruik oënskynlik genormaliseer en in sommige gemeenskappe nie meer as afwykend bestempel word nie. Die wisselwerking tussen bendes en dwelms hou ernstige gevolge in vir gemeenskapsveiligheid, en plaas daarbenewens heelwat druk op die gesondheid-, maatskaplikewelsyn- sowel as verdedigingsektor. Doeltreffende intervensies moet gerig word deur insig in die wisselwerking tussen bendes en dwelms. Die beste bron van betroubare inligting in hierdie verband is natuurlik bendelede self. Tog is daar ‟n gebrek aan navorsing oor bendelede se eie beskouings van die verband tussen bendes en dwelms, en dít het dus as beweegrede vir hierdie studie gedien. Die studie is onder manlike bendelede in ‟n behandelingsentrum vir middelmisbruik onderneem, waar dwelmgebruik genormaliseer word. ‟n Empiriese studie met ‟n kombinasie van ‟n kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe benadering is gebruik, en ‟n semigestruktureerde vraelys is onder individuele deelnemers sowel as ‟n fokusgroep afgeneem. Die studie toon dat bendes lede werf deur hul vermoë om in die individu se behoeftes te voorsien. Hierdie behoeftes stem ooreen met die behoeftes wat in motiveringsteorie uitgewys word. Bendes voorsien in sielkundige behoeftes deur toegang tot dwelms te bied; hulle voorsien in veiligheidsbehoeftes deur beskerming te verleen, en hulle voorsien in selfbeeldbehoeftes deur geld en status beskikbaar te stel. In die besonder is bevind dat bendes in individue se behoefte voorsien om iewers tuis te hoort. Daar is ‟n gemeenskaplikheid uitgewys in die risikofaktore vir bendebetrokkenheid en vir middelmisbruik. Die studie lewer bewys van onstabiele huislike omgewings met afwesige vaderfigure en veelvuldige stressors, soos blootstelling aan hoë vlakke van geweld en misbruik. ‟n Gebrek aan familiebande kom voorts aan die lig. Die deelnemers is in hulle families aan verhoogde vlakke van middelmisbruik sowel as verhoogde vlakke van betrokkenheid by dwelmhandel blootgestel. Familiebetrokkenheid by bendebedrywighede blyk ook algemeen te wees onder deelnemers. Die bevindinge van die studie toon dat dwelms en bendebedrywighede ineengevleg is. Dwelmgebruik vind plaas voor sowel as nadat misdaad in bendeverband gepleeg word. Dwelms word gebruik om bendelede moed te gee en hul inhibisies te laat verdwyn. Deelnemers noem dat hulle nie geweld kan pleeg sonder om eers dwelms te gebruik nie. Bendelede gebruik dwelms om hul gewete te sus en hulself ná die voltooiing van ‟n taak te behandel om terugflitse en aanhoudende gedagtes aan die gebeure te kan hanteer. Bendenorme met betrekking tot die goedkeuring van dwelms is ‟n komplekse saak. Die studie toon dat bendes tussen verskillende soorte dwelms onderskei: Alle bendes moedig byvoorbeeld nie heroïengebruik aan nie weens die verwante toleransie en ernstige onttrekkingsimptome. Vir bendes is daar ‟n baie fyn lyn tussen die kondonering en ontmoediging van dwelmmisbruik. Die ondersteuning van dwelmgebruik kan tot voordeel van die bende wees, want dit dien as aansporing en motivering vir bendebedrywighede. Tog hou dwelmafhanklike lede ook ‟n gevaar vir die bende in, aangesien hulle onbetroubaar en ontrou raak wanneer hulle absolute toewyding aan die bende teen hul fisiologiese behoeftes te staan kom. Bendelede beskou egter die bende se verbod op sekere dwelms as ‟n teken van hul besorgdheid oor hulle lede se welstand eerder as selfbelang. Die tydsorde van dwelmgebruik en bendelidmaatskap toon dat dwelmgebruik bendebetrokkenheid voorafgaan. Dwelmgebruik het egter beduidend toegeneem en verhewig ná insluiting by ‟n bende. Aanbevelings beklemtoon die behoefte om die koppeling tussen bendes en dwelms te erken. Insigte wat van bendelede bekom word, is nodig ten einde doeltreffende intervensies te rig. Op die gebied van middelafhanklikheid het die bendelid unieke behandelingsbehoeftes wat verstaan moet word ten einde optimale resultate te behaal. Generiese behandeling sonder die nodige agtergrondinligting is ondoeltreffend, onverantwoordelik en duur vir diensverskaffers, gemeenskappe wat deur bendebedrywighede geraak word, sowel as daardie bendelede wat wél bereid is om te verander.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2012. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Intimate partner violence is world wide and in South Africa an increasing social problem that leads to life-threatening history of injuries and psychosocial problems. Intimate partner violence is a global phenomenon prevalent in all socio-economic, race, religion, cultural and geographical boundaries. Although women with a lack or low income is more at risk of intimate partner violence and this reinforces their dependency of the intimate partner violence relationship. The largest percentage of South Africa’s poor population lives in rural areas that make them more vulnerable for social problems because of their lack of adequate resources. Women in rural areas involved with intimate partner violence are physically isolated from a supportive social network and must travel far distances to gain access to formal support resources. The goal of the study is to gain an understanding of the support needs of women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence from an ecological perspective. To achieve this goal, the objectives are: to explain the nature, extent and origin of intimate partner violence as a social problem; to discuss the relevance of the ecological perspective as a theoretical framework regarding the analyses of intimate partner violence; to describe the support needs of women in rural areas that is involved in intimate partner violence; to investigate the experience of women in rural areas that is involved in intimate partner violence regarding the availability of support; and to offer recommendations regarding the promotion of the support needs for women in rural areas that is expose to intimate partner violence. Combinations of a quantitative and qualitative research approach were used in the study. The study further assumed an exploratory and descriptive research design due to the lack of information on support that is available to women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence. A purposive sampling method was used to select the participants. Data was gathered by means of a semi-structured questionnaire, which was administered during 20 individual interviews. This allowed for a holistic view of the participants beliefs about, or perceptions of the topic. The design of the questionnaire was based on the information obtained from the literature review. The findings of the empirical investigation mainly confirmed the findings of the literature study that those women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence support needs, from multiple levels of the ecological perspective. This support entails both informal and formal support resources which vary from concrete, informational to emotional support in order to cope with stressful life situations. The most important recommendations resulting from the study indicate that social workers must use an ecological approach during service rendered to women in rural areas that are involved in intimate partner violence. This approach can be used to identify and strengthen support resources on a micro, meso, exo and macro system level. The study further indicate that social workers must collaborate with different government sectors such as health care, police and law enforcement in order to create a multi professional team that focus on the social functioning of families and the community as a entity. Social workers that render intervention services to women in rural areas that are exposed to intimate partner violence should focus on all levels of social work intervention. The recommendation emphasises the importance of women and the communities’ awareness regarding intimate partner violence to promote women independency and to promote and facilitate support groups. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Intiemepaargeweld is wêreldwyd asook in Suid-Afrika ‘n toenemende sosiale probleem wat ‘n geskiedenis van ernstige beserings en psigososiale probleme vir vroue tot gevolg het. Die universele gebeurtenisse van intiemepaargeweld vind plaas binne alle sosio-ekonomiese, ras-, geloofs-, kulturele en geografiese grense. Alhoewel vroue met gebrekkige of lae inkomste hulle ‘n groter risiko vir intiemepaargeweld maak, versterk dit ook vroue se afhanklikheid van die intiemepaargeweldverhouding. Die meerderheid van Suid-Afrika se arm populasie woon in landelike gebiede, wat hulle meer kwesbaar maak vir maatskaplike probleme weens die gebrek aan genoegsame hulpbronne. Vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, is fisies geïsoleerd van ‘n ondersteunende sosiale netwerk en moet ver afstande reis om toegang tot formele ondersteuningshulpbronne te kry. Die doel van hierdie studie is om met behulp van die ekologiese perspektief die behoefte aan ondersteuning van vroue wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, beter te verstaan. Om hierdie doel te bereik, is die doelwitte: om die aard, omvang en oorsprong van intiemepaargeweld as ‘n maatskaplike probleem te verduidelik; om die relevansie van die ekologiese perspektief as teoretiese raamwerk vir die ontleding van intiemepaargeweld te bespreek; om die ondersteuning wat nodig is vir vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, te omskryf; om ondersoek in te stel na die ervaring van vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, ten opsigte van die beskikbaarheid van ondersteuning; en om aanbevelings te maak ten opsigte van die bevordering van die ondersteuning vir vroue in landelike gebiede wat aan intiemepaargeweld blootgestel word. ‘n Kombinasie van kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenaderings is in hierdie studie gebruik. Tydens hierdie ondersoek is ook beide ‘n verkennende en beskrywende navorsingsontwerp benut, aangesien die beskikbare literatuur ‘n gebrek aan inligting aangaande ondersteuning wat beskikbaar is aan vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, toon. ‘n Doelbewuste streekproefmetode is geselekteer om deelnemers te verkry. Die data is ingevorder deur die gebruik van ‘n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys tydens 20 afsonderlike individuele onderhoude. Sodoende kon ‘n geheelbeeld van die deelnemers se oortuigings en persepsies aangaande die onderwerp van die studie verkry word. Die samestelling van die vraelys berus op inligting wat uit die literatuurstudie verkry is. Die resultate van die ondersoek het hoofsaaklik die bevindinge van die literatuurstudie bevestig dat vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, ‘n behoefte aan ondersteuning op veelvoudige vlakke van die ekologiese perspektief het. Hierdie ondersteuning behels beide informele en formele ondersteuningsbronne en varieer vanaf konkrete, informatiewe tot emosionele ondersteuning ten einde stresvolle lewensituasies te kan hanteer. Die belangrikste aanbevelings van hierdie studie dui daarop dat maatskaplike werkers die ekologiese perspektief moet gebruik tydens dienste wat aan vroue in landelike gebiede wat by intiemepaargeweld betrokke is, gelewer word. Hierdie perspektief kan die nodige ondersteuningshulpbronne identifiseer en versterk om die nodige ondersteuning aan hierdie vroue op ‘n mikro-, meso-, ekso- en makrosisteemvlak te bied. Die aanbevelings dui ook aan dat maatskaplike werkers saam met verskeie regeringsektore, naamlik gesondheidsorg-, polisie- en wetstoepassingsdienste, ‘n multi-professionele span vorm sodat daar op die sosiale funksionering van gesinne en gemeenskap as ‘n geheel gefokus word. Maatskaplike werkers wat intervensiedienste lewer aan vroue in landelike gebiede wat aan intiemepaargeweld blootgestel word, moet op alle maatskaplikewerk-intervensievlakke fokus. Die aanbevelings beklemtoon die noodsaaklikheid van vroue en die gemeenskappe se bewustheid rakende intiemepaargeweld om sodoende vroue se onafhanklikheid te bevorder en ondersteuningsgroepe te bevorder en te fasiliteer.

Thesis (M Social Work)--Stellenbosch University, 2008. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Marriage enrichment was developed to equip couples with the necessary skills and knowledge to help them achieve a happy marriage. It is successful with respect to the improvement of the marriage relationship and the encouragement of marital satisfaction. The marriage enrichment programmes that were developed up till now, were developed for the use of residents of First World countries. The goal of this study was to identify farm workers’ experience of marriage and their needs with respect to marriage, in order to make recommendations with regard to elements that could be included in a marriage enrichment programme for farm workers. A qualitative research design was used, as semi-structured interviews with the help of an interview schedule were conducted with thirteen farm workers who live and work on two farms in different geographical areas around Stellenbosch. Information was gathered by separately interviewing marriage partners, in order to ensure that conversations were not influenced by the presence of the marriage partner. Participants not only consisted of legally married couples, but also couples who were involved in a long-term relationship. The literature study focused on the circumstances of farm workers in the Western Cape. It also focused on theories underpinning current marriage enrichment programmes, and discussed and described the content of selected current marriage enrichment programmes. General challenges facing couples and which are typically included in marriage enrichment programmes were also discussed. Three themes emerged during findings and conclusions of the study. These include various sub-themes arising from the alcohol abuse of farm workers, and distinctive qualities of happy and unhappy couples. Recommendations were made with regard to these themes, while the theories on which current marriage enrichment programmes were based, as well as its exercises and elements were kept in mind. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Huweliksverryking is ontwikkel om egpare met die nodige kennis en vaardighede toe te rus ter bereiking van ‘n gelukkige huwelik. Dit is doeltreffend ten opsigte van die verbetering van die huweliksverhouding en die bevordering van huwelikstevredenheid. Die huweliksverrykings-programme wat egter wel ontwikkel is, is vir die gebruik van inwoners van Eerste Wêreld-lande ontwikkel. Die doel van hierdie studie was om plaaswerkers se ervaring van die huwelik en hul behoeftes ten opsigte van die huwelik te identifiseer, sodat aanbevelings gemaak kan word ten opsigte van elemente wat ingesluit kan word in ‘n huweliksverrykingsprogram vir plaaswerkers. ‘n Kwalitatiewe navorsingsontwerp is benut, aangesien semi-geskeduleerde onderhoude aan die hand van ‘n onderhoudskedule gevoer is met dertien plaaswerkers wat woon en werk op twee plase in verskillende geografiese areas buite Stellenbosch. Onderhoude met huweliksmaats het apart van mekaar plaasgevind, om te verseker dat gesprekke nie deur die teenwoordigheid van die huweliksmaat beïnvloed kon word nie. Deelnemers het nie net bestaan uit wettiglik getroude egpare nie, maar ook paartjies wat in ‘n langtermynverhouding betrokke is. Die literatuurstudie het gefokus op die omstandighede van Wes-Kaapse plaaswerkers. Dit het ook gefokus op teorieë waarop bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme gebaseer is, en het verskeie geselekteerde bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme se inhoud bepaal en omskryf. Algemene uitdagings waarmee egpare te doen kry, en wat tipies in huweliksverrykingsprogramme bespreek word, is ook bespreek. Tydens bevindinge en gevolgtrekkings van die studie het drie temas na vore gekom. Dit sluit in verskeie sub-temas ten opsigte van alkoholmisbruik tussen plaaswerkers en die onderskeie eienskappe van gelukkige en ongelukkige egpare. Die aanbevelings is ten opsigte van hierdie temas gemaak, met inagneming van bestaande huweliksverrykingsprogramme se elemente, oefeninge en die teorieë waarop dit gebaseer is.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / The welfare of communities depends to a large extent on the successful mobilisation of the voluntary contributions (manpower, time, money) by religious based organisations. Poverty and all the other social problems like unemployment and HIV/AIDS, that are associated with it, can only be addressed effectively if volunteers are empowered by social workers to handle the problems in a sustaining way (Annual report, Unit for Religion Development Research: 2002). In order to empower the volunteers, it is important that social workers understand their role in the empowerment process. The aim of the study is to clarify the task of the social worker regarding the empowerment of volunteers at religious based organisations. This study is a descriptive study, seeing that the empowerment of volunteers are described at the end of the research (Mouton, 2001:54). The study also contains elements of an exploring (investigation) study, seeing that the situation has been explored in practice. After completion of a literate study, an empirical investigation was done with the aim to investigate principles of empowerment in practice. For the purpose of this study, the universe is regarded as the social workers who work at religious based organisations in the working area of the Valcare Trust. Deliberate selection, according to the non-probability test sampling as described by Babbie and Mouton (2001:166-168) was used to obtain the test sample. The type of test sample selection is applicable where the researcher is conversant with the research problem and the universe (Rubin and Babbie, 1993). Deliberate selection is therefore based on the researcher’s judgement and the aim of the study (Rubin and Babbie, 1993). The researcher is well conversant with the universe, seeing that the social workers are working at religious based organisations that are registered on the database of the Valcare Trust. Questionnaires, consisting of structured questions were compiled after completion of the literate study for the purpose of the empirical study. The self administered questionnaires were supplied to the respondents. Thirteen respondents took part in the empirical study.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2006. / An exploratory study with a descriptive design has been used in order to get more information and insight about the tendency of grandmothers as kinship caregiver (family foster parent) for their grandchildren. The researcher became aware of the increase in the use of the grandmother as a kinship caregiver, as well as the shortage of literature in South Africa. The abovementioned aspects lead to the motivation for the study. The experience of the grandmother in Kayamandi as kinship caregiver was studied. The aim of the study is to provide guidelines to social workers for service rendering to grandmothers as kinship caregivers. The literature study gave a historical overview of foster care and kinship care in both the United States of America (USA) and South Africa. Foster care was described as a process: from preventative services to permanency planning. Specific attention was given to the grandmother as kinship caregiver. As the literature in the USA focused on the Afro-American, it was decided to do the study in Kayamandi, where the grandmother as kinship caregiver is mostly isiXhosa-speaking. The sample consists out of 15 grandparents who are either Afrikaans or English speaking. The mixed methodology design model was used by mixing qualitative as well as quantitative research: structured interviews based on structured questionnaires. The study enabled the researcher to draw up a profile of the grandmother as kinship caregiver as well as the family foster child in Kayamandi. The results of the literature confirmed the results of the study; the experience of the grandmother as kinship caregiver is marked with mixed feelings, but is overall a positive experience. The recommendations focused on three areas; the grandmother, the grandchild and the experience of the grandmother as kinship caregiver. The central theme for both grandmother and grandchild was the need for support. It is recommended that future research focus on the development of support programs aimed specifically at grandparents as kinship caregivers.

A qualitative and quantitative approach was chosen together with an exploratory and descriptive design in order to obtain knowledge, insight and understanding regarding the utilization of social support network of teenage mothers in Botshabelo. It is necessary for social workers to identify the social support systems that exist in a social support network of teenage mothers in order to select those systems which would be relevant to meet the needs of teenage mothers. The aim of this study is to present guidelines for social workers to empower teenage mothers to utilize social support networks to fulfil their roles as parents. A sample of ten teenage mothers (14 years to 19 years of age) who are from the service area at the J clinic in Botshabelo was involved in the study. A qualitative investigation was carried out by means of conducting interviews with the aid of a semi-structured interview guide. The responses of the participants and the findings of the study were analyzed and compared with the findings of previous studies. The results of the investigation confirmed that the findings of the literature study namely that teenage parenting severely impacts daily functioning of teenage mothers. These challenges include aspects related to financial problems, responding to the baby’s needs, attending classes or seeking for a job, while expected to play a mother’s role at the same time. The results of the study gave an indication of the nature of social work intervention that is needed for this target group: talking to someone, distributing information regarding teenage parenting, distributing information regarding available services, participating in a support group and learning to cope with daily activities. The findings of the research can be used as guidelines by social workers who need to empower teenage mothers to utilize their social support network.

Thesis (M Social Work (Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2010. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 have been identified as being the most significant target grouping affected by HIV and AIDS in the world. South Africa has one of the highest HIV and AIDS prevalence rates and has adopted two broad strategies to curb the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The first strategy is costly involving anti-retroviral treatment which the government has only been able to roll-out to a very few HIV positive people. Currently in a depressing global economy, international donors are finding it difficult to increase funding for HIV and AIDS, more particularly as the poor countries of Sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in Southern Africa have been mostly affected by the HIV and AIDS pandemic. The second strategy is an HIV and AIDS prevention strategy with the primary aim of keeping citizens free from contracting the HI virus. Although this strategy is a comprehensive strategy where governments embark on large-scale campaigns of raising HIV and AIDS awareness, there is very little scientific evidence that these campaigns have brought about a significant decrease of HIV and AIDS prevalence amongst young people. Raising awareness does not necessarily lead to positive behavioural change. Most young people in South Africa attend high schools where HIV and AIDS life-skills education has been made as a compulsory component of the life orientation curriculum. In South Africa, a National Aids Council has been established in South Africa to co-ordinate HIV and AIDS interventions and develops national HIV and AIDS policies aimed at curbing the spread of HIV and AIDS at a national level, yet the HIV and AIDS prevalence amongst young people has not significantly abated. On their own, governments cannot address all the socio-economic needs of their citizens. Partnership need to be formed with Non-government organisations and a broader range of stakeholders to address the spread of HIV and AIDS. Youth workers from NGOs currently implement HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes at high schools as part of the South African government’s broad strategy of HIV and AIDS prevention amongst young people. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the experiences of youth workers who were employed at NGOs implementing HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes at high schools. The researcher used both qualitative and quantitative approaches in the research design. A literature review was conducted to research aspects of the study such as the features of NGOs, high schools as a setting and the role youth workers played when implementing HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes. Books, articles, journals, the internet and peer education manuals of NGOs all produced relevant information pertaining to the subject of HIV and AIDS prevention amongst young people. Twenty youth workers from three NGOs that is currently implementing HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes was purposively sampled, to be primary respondents of an empirical study. The researcher conceptualised and constructed an interview schedule with pertinent qualitative and quantitative questions based on the literature review. After the questionnaire was piloted with three youth workers, the interviewing process ensued. A considerable amount of time was spent on analysing and interpreting the data. Various themes emerged pertaining to different aspects of the programme. An empirical investigation was concluded with various results. Some of the research findings were in accordance with the literature review which supported the view of several authors that peer education programmes were an effective strategy for HIV and AIDS prevention amongst young people. Based on the literature study and the empirical study, various recommendations were made to improve the implementation of the HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes at high schools. One of the most significant revelations of the empirical study was how important the proper selection and recruitment of peer educators were to the success of the peer education programme. The research findings point to a strategy that encourages the nominations of learners from each classroom so that they could represent their classes and deliver lessons in a much more practical way than is currently being done. Another equally important finding was the management role that NGOs need to play in enabling the appropriate resourcing, monitoring, evaluating and improvement of the sustainability of the organisation and subsequently enriching the experience of youth workers who implement effective HIV and AIDS preventative peer education programmes at high schools as part of a broad strategy for HIV and AIDS prevention amongst young people in South Africa. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Jong mense tussen die ouderdom van 15 en 24 is geïdentifiseer as die belangrikste groep wat deur MIV en VIGS geraak word. Suid-Afrika het een van die hoogste voorkomskoerse van MIV en VIGS en gebruik twee breë strategieë om die MIV en VIGS-pandemie te beteuel. Die eerste strategie is duur en behels teenretrovirale behandeling, wat die regering nog net aan klein aantal MIV-positiewe mense kon verskaf. In die huidige slegte globale ekonomie word dit vir internasionale skenkers toenemend moeilik om befondsing vir MIV en VIGS-behandeling te verhoog, veral omdat dit die arm lande van besuide die Sahara en veral Suidelike Afrika is wat die meeste deur die MIV en VIGS-pandemie geraak word. Die tweede strategie is MIV en VIGS-voorkoming, met die primêre doel om te keer dat landsburgers die HI-virus kry. Hoewel hierdie omvangryke strategie is waarvolgens regerings grootskaalse veldtogte onderneem om bewussyn van MIV en VIGS te verhoog, is daar min wetenskaplike bewyse daarvoor dat hierdie veldtogte tot noemenswaardige vermindering in die voorkoms van MIV en VIGS onder jong mense lei nie. ‘n Verhoogde bewussyn lei nie noodwendig tot positiewe verandering in gedrag nie. Verder is die meeste jong mense in hoërskole waar opvoeding in MIV en VIGS-lewensvaardighede verpligte komponent van die lewensoriënteringskurrikulum is. In Suid-Afrika is ‘n Nasionale Vigsraad geskep om MIV en VIGS-bekampingsprogramme te koördineer en om nasionale MIV en VIGS-beleide te ontwikkel wat gemik is op die bekamping van die verspreiding van MIV en VIGS op nasionale vlak. Nietemin het die voorkoms van MIV en VIGS onder jong mense nie noemenswaardig afgeneem nie. Regerings kan nie op hulle eie al die sosio-ekonomiese behoeftes van hulle burgers vervul nie. Vennootskappe met nieregeringsorganisasies (NRO’s) en ‘n breë reeks belanghebbers word benodig om die verspreiding van MIV en VIGS aan te spreek. Jeugwerkers van NRO’s implementeer tans voorkomende portuuropvoedingsprogramme by hoërskole as deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse regering se breë strategie van MIV en VIGSbekamping onder jong mense. Die doel van hierdie studie was om die ervaringe van jeugwerkers betrokke by NRO wat MIV en VIGS-voorkomende portuuropvoedingsprogramme in hoërskole implementeer, te ondersoek en te beskryf. Die navorser het kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe benaderings in die navorsingsontwerp gebruik. Literatuurstudie is onderneem om aspekte van die studie na te vors, soos die kenmerke van NRO’s, hoërskole as ligging en die rol van jeugwerkers in die implementering van MIV en VIGS-voorkomende portuuropvoedingsprogramme. Boeke, artikels, tydskrifte, die internet en portuuropvoedingsriglyne van NRO’s het almal relevante inligting verskaf oor die onderwerp van die voorkoming van MIV en VIGS onder jong mense. Twintig jeugwerkers van NRO wat tans MIV en VIGS-voorkomende portuuropvoedingsprogramme aanbied is deur doelgerigte steekproefneming vir empiriese ondersoek geselekteer. Die navorser het ‘n onderhoudskedule gekonseptualiseer en opgestel met pertinente kwalitatiewe en kwantitatiewe vrae wat op die literatuurstudie gebaseer is. Die vraelys is op drie jeugwerkers getoets, waarna daar met die onderhoudvoering voortgegaan is. Baie tyd is gebruik om die data te analiseer en interpreteer. Verskeie temas het na vore gekom wat met verskillende aspekte van die program verband hou. Empiriese ondersoek is onderneem, met verskillende resultate. Sommige van die navorsingsbevindings was in lyn met die literatuurstudie, wat die siening van verskeie skrywers ondersteun het dat portuuropvoedingsprogramme effektiewe strategie is vir die voorkoming van MIV en VIGS onder jong mense. Op die basis van die literatuurstudie en die empiriese studie is verskeie aanbevelings gemaak om die implementering van MIV en VIGS-voorkomende portuuropvoedingsprogramme in hoërskole te verbeter. Een van die belangrikste bevindings van die empiriese studie was hoe belangrik die behoorlike seleksie en werwing van portuuropvoeders in die sukses van portuuropvoedingsprogram is. Die navorsingsbevindings wys ook op strategie wat die nominasie van leerders in elke klaskamer aanmoedig sodat hulle die klasse kan verteenwoordig en lesse op baie meer praktiese manier aanbied as wat tans die geval is. Ewe belangrike bevinding was die bestuursrol wat NRO’s in die instaatstelling van gepaste hulpbronne moet speel, asook in die monitering, evaluering en verbetering van die volhoubaarheid van die organisasie en in die verryking van die ervarings van jeugwerkers soos hulle voortgaan om effektiewe MIV en VIGS-voorkomende portuuropvoedingsprogramme in hoërskole aan te bied as strategie vir die voorkoming van MIV en VIGS onder jongmense in Suid-Afrika.

Thesis (M Social Work))--University of Stellenbosch, 2001. / 277 leaves single sided printed, preliminary pages i-xv and numbered pages 1-255. Includes bibliography, list of tables and figures. Used a Hp Scanjet 8250 Scanner to pdf format(OCR). / ENGLISH ABSTRACT:The purpose of the research for this assignment was to establish and provide guidelines as well as techniques according to which social workers, who are involved in family welfare organisations, will be able not only to assess molested children in their middle childhood, but also to plan and introduce the required intervention. To achieve the aforementioned, use was made of a literature survey in terms of which all aspects of sexual molestation that need to be considered whilst handling molested children as well as the phases and processes of assessing such molestations, are discussed. Techniques are also proposed according to which such assessments could be performed. Following this study the empirical research was utilised by means of exploratory and descriptive studies. To obtain the required information, data was collected by means of a postal (mail) questionnaire containing quantitative as well as qualitative questions. This research has shown that social workers do not regard themselves as adequately equipped in handling cases involving sexually molested children. Their (social workers) knowledge and skills in terms of the areas relating to service delivery came across as being poor. The respondents agreed that the shortage of resources restricted the referral of these cases. This results in social workers having to treat such cases themselves. It is apparent that knowledge regarding the handling of molested children is mostly gained by practical experience. Assessments are often carried out without the required theoretical background. This contributes to findings and actions taken not always being scientifically substantiated, resulting in a lack of professional conduct. The study also shows that the training and conduct of social workers, especially as it relates to the assessing of sexually molested children which could lead to statutory action in terms of the Children's Status Act 82 of 1987 (as amended) as well as the Sexual Offences Act 23 of 1957, are lacking. No clear guidelines and policy are stipulated in this instance by the family welfare organisations. Based on the findings of this research the deduction is made that social workers, despite the statutory obligation they have towards a sexually molested child, do not possess the necessary skills or are not equipped with the competence required to execute the task on hand. In this regard social workers have a significant need to learn and be given the required competence, as organisations and tertiary institutions currently do not equip them adequately or effectively. Recommendations relative to the assessment of sexually molested children have been made to tertiary institutions, organisations and social workers. Opportunities for further research are also indicated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om riglyne en tegnieke voor te stel waarvolgens maatskaplike werkers werksaam by gesinsorgorganisasies gemolesteerde kinders in hulle middelkinderjare kan assesseer en intervensie kan beplan. Om daarin te slaag, is 'n literatuurstudie ondemeem ten opsigte van alle aspekte van seksuele molestering wat in ag geneem moet word in die hantering van gemolesteerde kinders. Die fases en prosesse van assessering word bespreek en tegnieke word voorgestel waarvolgens die assessering gedoen kan word. Daarna is die empiriese ondersoek onderneem deur middel van 'n verkennende en beskrywende studie. Posvraelyste, bestaande uit kwantitatiewe sowel as kwalitatiewe vrae, is benut vir data-insameling. Die navorsing het getoon dat maatskaplike werkers hulleself nie bekwaam ag in die hantering van seksueel gemolesteerde kinders nie. Hulle kennis en vaardighede ten opsigte van die area van dienslewering kom swak voor. Die respondente was dit eens dat 'n tekort aan hulpbronne verwysing van die gevalle bemoeilik, wat meebring dat maatskaplike werkers die gevalle self moet hanteer. Dit is duidelik dat kennis ten opsigte van die hantering van gemolesteerde kinders meestal deur middel van praktykervaring verkry word. Assessering word dikwels sonder die nodige teoretiese agtergrond uitgevoer wat meebring dat bevindinge en optrede nie altyd wetenskaplik verklaarbaar is nie en daartoe lei dat daar 'n tekort aan professionele optrede is. Die navorsing toon voorts dat maatskaplike werkers se opleiding en optrede ten opsigte van die assessering van seksueel gemolesteerde kinders vir statutere optrede ingevolge die Wet op Kindersorg (Wet 74 van 1983 soos gewysig) sowel as die Wet op Seksuele Misdrywe (Wet 23 van 1957) veral tekort skiet. Geen duidelike riglyne en beleid word in die verband deur gesinsorgorganisasies neergelê nie. Na aanleiding van die bevindinge word die gevolgtrekking gemaak dat maatskaplike werkers, ten spyte daarvan dat hulle 'n statutêre verpligting teenoor die seksueel gemolesteerde kind het, nie oor die nodige bevoegdheid beskik om die taak uit te voer nie. Maatskaplike werkers toon 'n groot leerbehoefte in die verband, aangesien gesinsorgorganisasies en opleidingsinstellings hulle tans nie genoegsaam toerus nie. Aanbevelings ten opsigte van die assessering van seksueel gemolesteerde kinders word aan opleidingsinstansies, gesinsorgorganisasies en maatskaplike werkers gemaak. Moontlikhede vir verdere navorsing word ook vermeld.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As poverty is becoming a growing concern in South Africa, poor families should not be seen as service recipients but more concern should be directed to their empowerment. Community work is an essential method to utilize for the empowerment of poor families since it involves working with people from individual up to community level. The Department of Social Development does not have guidelines based on the utilization of community work; as a result this method is not utilized to its full potential. The purpose of the study was to formulate guidelines on the utilization of community work on the family level. In order to achieve this aim, the objectives of this study, which mainly focused on describing the socio-economic circumstances of the poor families and the utilization of community work, were explored. An exploratory study was utilized in order to achieve the stated goal and objectives. The population for the study consisted of practicing social workers in the Department of Social Development. Purposive sample was used. The research methodology was a quantitative design with a data collection instrument being in the form of a questionnaire. To be able to gain insight about the utilization of community work, the questionnaire consisted of both closed and open-ended questions. Literature review enabled the researcher to compile a questionnaire. The empirical study focused on the knowledge and skills of social workers in utilizing community work. In addition, data was obtained on the community work process as a main procedure to follow when implementing community work. Despite the respondents' theoretical knowledge of community work, it was concluded that community work is utilized at a minimal level. The most utilized social work method by the respondents is casework. The reason for the lack of community work practice is based on the fact that the Department of Social Development does not have guidelines with regards to community work. It was recommended that the Department of Social Development should formulate a new regulation that will oblige the social workers to practice community work. In-service training should be held quarterly. Supervision should be offered regularly. Relevant qualification and extensive social work experience should be considered as a minimum requirement for managerial positions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Alhoewel armoede 'n al groter probleem in Suid-Afrika raak, behoort arm gesinne in 'n toenemende mate nie net slegs as ontvangers van dienste beskou word nie, maar moet ook aandag geskenk word aan hulle bemagtiging. Aangesien gemeenskapswerk betrokke is by die persoon sowel as die persoon in die gemeenskap, kan dit beskou word as die aangewese metode om arm gesinne te bemagtig. Die Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling beskik oor geen riglyne vir die aanwending van gemeenskapswerk nie en gevolglik word die metode nie ten volle benut nie. Die studie het ten doel om riglyne vir die implementering van gemeenskapwerk op die vlak van die gesin te formuleer. Derhalwe word die klem op die beskrywing van die sosio-ekonomiese omstandighede van arm gesinne en die gebruik van gemeenskapswerk as metodiek geplaas. 'n Verkennende studie is gebruik om die navorsingsoogmerke te bereik. Respondente vir die studie was praktiserende maatskaplike werkers in diens van die Departement van Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling. 'n Doelbewuste steekproef is benut. Daar is hoofsaaklik op kwantitatiewe navorsing gefokus en inligting is deur middel van vraelyste ingewin. Ten einde insig te ontwikkel in die gebruik van gemeenskapswerk is beide oop en geslote vrae gebruik. Die literatuurstudie het die navorser in staat gestel om die vraelys saam te stel. Die empiriese studie was gerig op die kennis en vaardighede waaroor gemeenskapswerkers beskik en hoe dit geïmplementeer word. Addisionele empiriese inligting is ook ten opsigte van die proses van gemeenskapswerk verkry. Dit het aan die lig gekom dat ten spyte van voldoende teoretiese kennis van gemeenskapswerk die metode minimaal gebruik word. Gevallewerk word steeds die meeste tydens intervensie aangewend. 'n Gebrek aan riglyne vir die gebruik van gemeenskapswerk, word as die rede waarom gemeenskapswerk nie implementeer word nie, aangevoer. Dit word aanbeveel dat die Departement Maatskaplike Ontwikkeling regulasies vir die uitvoering van dienste deur middel van die gemeenskapswerk metode moet instel. Hierdie riglyne behoort maatskaplike werkers te inspireer om die voordele van gemeenskapswerk te ondersoek en aan te wend. Indiensopleiding behoort op 'n kwartaallikse basis te geskied. Supervisie moet geredelik beskikbaar wees. Relevante kwalifikasies en uitgebreide praktykervaring as minimum vereistes vir bestuursposte sal oorweeg moet word.

Thesis (MSocialWork)--Stellenbosch University, 2005. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study attempts to gain insight into social welfare programmes for street children. In order to achieve this, a literature study was undertaken to explore social welfare programmes for street children and to describe street children as a social phenomenon. An empirical study was undertaken by means of interviewing through a structured questionnaire. The study indicates that the majority of street children have contact with their parents. The street children are mostly males between 13 and 16 years of age. The dominant socioeconomic aspects contributing to this social phenomenon are housing problems, unemployment and a lack of means. The following socio-cultural aspects were identified: the composition of the family, social pathology as well as an absent father figure. The majority of the street children have limited education and were not encouraged to continue their education. It was found that the street children and their families did not take part in prevention programmes that focus on the direct causes of family disintegration and support services. Welfare organisations had been involved with the majority of the families even before the children moved to the streets. The street children have the necessary knowledge regarding outreach programmes and take part in such programmes. It was found that street children would like to contribute to the compilation of these programmes. The study indicates that educational as well as occupational and vocational programmes are experienced as an opportunity for self-maintenance. It was found that the majority of street children do not want to return to their families and seek alternative care. It was concluded that street children come from families that do not have definite boundaries and structures. The majority of the street children do not experience their family setup as pleasant. The children developed insight into the correlation between education and selfimprovement only after they had left school. The needs of street children can be divided into two categories, namely the need for self-development and the need for better family circumstances. Recommendations are made regarding social welfare service / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: In hierdie studie is ondersoek na die maatskaplikewerkprogramme vir straatkinders ingestel. 'n Literatuurstudie ten opsigte van die straatkind as maatskaplike verskynsel en maatskaplikewerkprogramme vir straatkinders is onderneem. Daarna is 'n empiriese studie deur middel van onderhoudvoering met 'n gestruktureerde vraelys gedoen. Navorsing dui aan dat die meerderheid straatkinders wel kontak met hulle ouers het. Die straatkinders is meestal seuns tussen die ouderdom van 13 en 16 jaar. Die prominentste sosio-ekonomiese aspekte wat tot hierdie maatskaplike verskynsel aanleiding gee, is behuisingsprobleme, werkloosheid en 'n gebrek aan bestaansmiddele. Die volgende sosiokulturele aspekte is ge'identifiseer: gesinsamestelling, sosiale patologie, en die afwesige vaderfiguur. Die meerderheid straatkinders het beperkte skoolopleiding ontvang en is nie aangemoedig om terug te keer skool toe nie. Daar is bevind dat straatkinders en hulle gesinne nie ingeskakel het by voorkomingsprogramme wat op die direkte oorsake van gesinsverbrokkeling en ondersteuningsdienste fokus nie. Welsynsorganisasies was reeds by die meeste van die gesinne betrokke voordat die kinders na die straat beweeg het. Die straatkinders is bekend met en neem deel aan uitreikprogramme. Daar is ook bevind dat die straatkinders wel 'n bydrae tot die samestelling van sodanige programme wil lewer. Die navorsing dui daarop dat opvoedkundige programme asook beroeps- en ambagontwikkeling beskou word as 'n ontwikkelingsgeleentheid om selfonderhoudend te wees. Daar is bevind dat die meerderheid straatkinders nie na hulle ouerhuis wil terugkeer nie, maar van alternatiewe versorging wil gebruik maak. Die gevolgtrekking word gemaak dat straatkinders uit gesinne kom waar daar nie definitiewe grense en strukture in plek is nie. Die meerderheid van die straatkinders ervaar nie hulle gesinsopset as positief nie. Nadat die straatkinders die skool verlaat het, het insigontwikkeling plaasgevind rakende die verband tussen skoolopleiding en die verbetering van eie funksionering en ontwikkeling. Die behoeftes van straatkinders kan in twee kategoriee verdeel word, naamlik die behoefte aan eie ontwikkeling en die behoefte aan beter gesinsomstandighede. Aanbevelings word ten opsigte van maatskaplikewerkdienslewering in gasheergemeenskappe asook gesinsherenigings- en voorkomingsdienste gemaak.