This qualitative study explores how eco-social organizations in Colombia work with the communities to protect the páramos, and the issues affecting the páramos. Workers, volunteers, and advisors of the organizations were interviewed to examine the issues affecting the páramos and how they work with the communities to protect this ecosystem. Results of this study were analyzed through the environmental justice framework and the eco-social approach and by applying thematic analysis. The findings identified that issues such as climate change, agriculture, and mining are affecting the ecosystem of páramos. The study results also reflected that the community-based conservation approach, community prior knowledge, educating and raising awareness, and the role of eco-social non-governmental organizations play a fundamental role when working alongside the communities to protect the páramos.

Thesis (MPA.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017 / In 1994 the South African democratically elected government inherited one of the most inequitable access to basic service between rural and urban communities. Rural people used to live without access to basic services such as water, electricity, roads and sanitation facilities. South African government established the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Framework as the national Strategic Plan to outline the extent of basic infrastructure backlogs and to come up with strategies to improve basic service provision to the poor citizens. The Municipal Infrastructure Grant (MIG) is a municipal infrastructure funding which combines all the existing capital grants for municipal infrastructure into a single consolidated grant. MIG is aimed at assisting the poor to gain access to infrastructure. MIG funding can only be used for infrastructure for basic services. Polokwane local municipality and Blouberg local municipality are the beneficiaries of MIG. The purpose of the study was to investigate the causes of unspent Municipal Infrastructure Grants in Polokwane and Blouberg local municipalities. An extensive literature review has been undertaken to gather information regarding unspent Municipal Infrastructure Grants in the two municipalities in the Capricorn District; Polokwane and Blouberg local municipalities. The study provides an investigation on how Polokwane and Blouberg local municipalities monitor the Municipal Infrastructure funding. The study further investigate the capacity of the municipalities to implement MIG, and whether these municipalities have the capacity to effectively utilise the MIG for efficient and effective service delivery. The researcher utilised a qualitative approach to collect data through interview schedule. A satisfactory response rate of 98% was obtained. The results indicated that Polokwane and Blouberg local municipalities are capacitated to implement and to monitor MIG. However, the municipalities often spend less than the budgeted MIG, as a result progress in the access to basic services is hindered. The failure to adequately spend the MIG by these municipalities is due to the fact that there is poor planning and a lot of political interference in the Supply Chain Management processes. The study recommended that managers should do proper planning beforehand, avoid late appointment of service providers and make references on the service providers they appoint to avoid disputes from members of the community. The study further recommended that Polokwane and Blouberg local municipalities should do proper consultation of the project, budget accordingly, and appoint companies that will produce positive end results with value for money. The study recommended that political office bearers should not interfere in the supply chain management processes.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-05-07T14:49:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 arquivototal.pdf: 12481734 bytes, checksum: 6875ec9b59b796f7215ebaf3e4c7f91a (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014-04-29 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Permaculture techniques are alternatives that have been developed in order to produce a permanent crop that restores the human being to the environment, taking into account the observation of the natural environment and experimentation, with the intent of improving the various factors that are contributing to the deterioration of life and nature. Thus, it seeks to restore the nature balance s that human actions have broken. The lack of sanitation has brought many negative consequences, both to human health and the environment, so the waste managing, whether solid or liquid, should be among all local governments priorities. Because the investment in peri-urban areas is inferior to the urban ones, actions focused on eliminating the diffused pollution sources like inappropriate domestic waste disposal and its impact are essential. Therefore, this study intended to demonstrate among local communities that cultivation and the solid and liquid wastes could be sustainably combined. Permaculture activities were carried out: in a familiar way with children from the Escola Elementar Nova Vida, in Pitimbu Municipality-PB; solid waste was reused in handmade artifact in the maroon community of Ipiranga, in the Gurugi district, Conde, PB; and deployment of ecological tanks, with banana circles, for the treatment of greywater, in Engenho Velho, and the evapotranspiration tanks (green tanks for blackwater treatment) in the Condomínio Amizade in João Pessoa, PB. Motivating the communities to develop the proposed activities was a challenge, and only a few people participated. However, after the implementation of the activities there was a general feeling of satisfaction among the participants. The goal of this project was the adoption of Environmental Social technics by specific communities that would later on work as models to be copied by other communities. We have achieved the purpose of the project as we noticed that not only the methodologies have improved the communities where they were implemented, but also that those were spread and adopted by other communities, showing the appropriation of these technologies by the people of these communities. / Técnicas permaculturais são alternativas que vêm sendo desenvolvidas, no intuito de produzir uma cultura permanente que reintegra o ser humano ao ambiente, levando em consideração a observação do meio natural e a experimentação no sentido de aprimorar os diversos fatores que estão auxiliando a degradar a vida e a natureza. Dessa forma, busca restituir o equilíbrio natural que as ações humanas têm quebrado. A falta de saneamento básico tem trazido muitas consequências negativas, tanto à saúde humana quanto ao ambiente, deste modo, gerenciar os resíduos gerados, sejam sólidos ou líquidos deveria estar entre as prioridades dos governos municipais. Como em regiões periurbanas há menos investimento nesta área que nos centros urbanos, ações que diminuam os impactos dos resíduos, no sentido de eliminar as fontes de poluição difusa, como a destinação inadequada do lixo e dos esgotos domésticos são essenciais. Assim, este trabalho visou realizar ações demonstrativas em comunidades da Paraíba, de como os resíduos sólidos, os líquidos e a plantação podem ser integrados de forma sustentável. Foram desenvolvidas atividades de Permacultura, com o plantio de hortas agroecológicas, junto aos alunos da Escola Municipal de Ensino Fundamental de Nova Vida, no Assentamento Nova Vida em Pitimbu; de reuso de resíduos sólidos à produção artística na comunidade quilombola de Ipiranga, no distrito de Gurugi em Conde; e a implantação de fossas ecológicas com a construção de Círculos de Bananeiras no Vale do Gramame, para o tratamento de águas cinzas, e do Tanque de Evapotranspiração no Condomínio Amizade, para o tratamento de águas negras, em João Pessoa. Deparou-se com a dificuldade de articulação comunitária nos locais e apenas poucas pessoas participaram das atividades propostas. No entanto, após as ações desenvolvidas, verificou-se a satisfação de todos os que participaram destas. Como o objetivo deste trabalho foi a implementação de algumas Tecnologias Socioambientais nas comunidades, para servir de modelo para a sua replicação por outros comunitários, pode-se dizer que para além dos resultados positivos da implantação das tecnologias por si, visto que melhorou bastante as áreas em que foram aplicadas, pela eliminação de esgotos a céu aberto, houve a disseminação das técnicas permaculturais que já foram reaplicadas em outros locais, o que demonstra a apropriação destas metodologias pelas pessoas das comunidades.

Istanbul est une métropole anatolienne. Destination préférentielle, depuis le début des années 1950, des flux migratoires internes à la Turquie, la ville est devenue comme une maquette démographique de la Turquie au sein de laquelle chaque groupe et chaque habitant exprime ses propres pratiques, manières de vivre, spatialités et traits culturels. Dans ce contexte, l’analyse de la population originaire du département oriental de Gaziantep et de ses pratiques alimentaires montre comment des groupes immigrés instrumentalisent l’alimentation comme moyen d’inclusion dans un très vaste ensemble urbain, à la fois comme outil identitaire et comme mode d’action sur le fonctionnement métropolitain. Originaires d’un département dont la réputation est associée à sa cuisine, les Gaziantepli se construisent, à Istanbul, une identité qui valorise des pratiques alimentaires héritées, des réseaux spéciaux d’approvisionnement, un entrepreneuriat commercial autour de la cuisine, et l’organisation d’événements valorisant la nourriture régionale. Les significations accordées au séjour stambouliote, ainsi que la nature des systèmes de référence utilisés apparaissent comme des facteurs clés de différenciation et, par rétroaction, se traduisent dans les pratiques alimentaires et urbaines des citadins immigrés. En outre, par leurs manières d’utiliser la référence alimentaire comme outil d’urbanité, ceux-ci contribuent à la recomposition urbaine par une redéfinition des citadinités, une complexification des marquages sociaux dans des quartiers en restructuration, la création d’une offre commerciale et culturelle spécifique. Ce rôle d’acteurs urbains repose sur le statut ambivalent des immigrés gaziantepli à Istanbul, entre partage d’une nationalité commune et distance inhérente à une condition immigrée. / Istanbul is an Anatolian metropolis. Since the beginning of the 1950s, the city has become a preferential destination for the internal migratory flows in Turkey. Hence, Istanbul has become to some extent a demographic miniature copy of Turkey, where each group and inhabitant expresses its own practices, ways of life, spatialities and cultural characteristics. It is in such a context that the food practices of the population from the territorial unit of Gaziantep (East of Turkey) are analysed. Through their food pratices we show how an internal immigrant group uses food as a way to include itself within a huge urban space, but also as an identity tool and a way to leave its mark in the functioning of the metropolis. Coming from a region which reputation is linked to its cuisine, the Gaziantepli people build in Istanbul their own identity through inherited food practices, special supply networks, food retailers entrepreneurship and the organization of special events. The very fact of living in Istanbul and the meanings attributed to that, and the system of identity references the Gaziantepli people use in Istanbul are key factors of differentiation. They influence their urban practices and food choices as immigrant city-dwellers. Moreover, thanks to their ways of using food as a tool of urban integration, they contribute to the growing complexity of the metropolis and its urban dynamics, restructuring districts and creating a specific commercial and cultural supply. This role of urban actors does not erase Gaziantepli immigrants’ ambivalent status: they share a common Turkish citizenship but are still tied to their immigrant condition in Istanbul.

The end of civil war does not equal the end of violence. Many post-war societies struggle with anoutburst of criminal violence in major cities, after armed conflicts have officially ended in peaceagreements. Crime control programs are a response to reduce criminal violence, but vary greatly interms of level of implementation, approach, and success. This study explores why some of thosecriminal violence control programs are successful in reducing violence, whereas others are not.Deriving from a theoretical framework of urban crime prevention, it is argued that a multi-sectoralcontrol program, targeting social and situational causes of crime, is more successful in reducingviolence in post-war urban communities than a single sector approach. Through a structuredfocused comparison, this hypothesis is tested on three urban communities in post-apartheid SouthAfrica, where high levels of criminal violence were addressed by three different types of crimecontrol. The results show that only the multi-sectoral approach correlates with a reduction ofcriminal violence levels. While the type of control program seems to impact the level of success,there are various other explanatory factors that correlate with a successful reduction of crime, suchas community participation and effective partnerships.

This thesis investigates gossip and rumours through a narrative lens in order to understand what kind of stories emanated from eighteenth-century Stockholm, and what these stories reveal about the moral values and concerns of the urban community. Using records from the consistory court and the lower courts of Stockholm, the thesis sheds some light on the stories which tend to go under the radar, and gives insights into the subtle facets of urban life, wherein gossip nurtured a culture of speculation and suspicion.  By uncovering the narratives which preoccupied the urban population of Stockholm, some thematical patterns have emerged: people gossiped about sexual immorality, marital disorder, financial dishonesty, and perceived threats against the Lutheran faith. Typically, these stories seem to have emanated from the neighbourhood or the household. The study also shows that gossip and rumours told the stories of those who violated core moral values – stories that heavily relied on a repertoire of narrative tropes and figures to portray those who transgressed social and moral boundaries. These stories reveal a deep concern for – even fear of – the hidden threats in the urban fabric: immoral characters disguised as honest members of the community. As inversions of core values, these narrative stereotypes were perceived as dangerous threats to social order and unity, whose actions could have far-reaching implications for society at large. As such, these were symbolically charged and value-laden stories. Through highlighting the coercive aspects of these stories, this thesis also argues that gossip provided urban communities with an opportunity to voice collective concerns and protect community values by unmasking hidden threats, and control or stigmatise transgressors.

An alternative model of well-being and development using an emic and post-hoc approach is presented. This method was applied to a non-educated corridor sample which includes rural and urban shantytowns (n = 550). A psychometric wellbeing battery was developed for this study. Analytical technique includes a modified version of Confirmatory Factor Analysis in order to meet the demands of the post-hoc theorisation rationale. Alternative models of universal needs, subjective life satisfaction, resources, and values are presented. A three factor personality solution is described. Discussion emphasises the advantages of these results compared to theories and approaches from Europe and United States in theoretical and empirical terms. Implications for development are also discussed. / Se presenta una propuesta alternativa a los modelos establecidos de bienestar y desarrollo a través de una metodología émica y post hoc. Esta se aplica a un corredor migratorio desde comunidades rurales hasta urbano marginales. Se aplicó una batería psicométrica desarrollada para este estudio a 550 participantes y una versión modificada del análisis factorial confirmatorio para satisfacer las demandas de teorización post-hoc del estudio. Se proponen modelos alternativos de necesidades universales, satisfacción subjetiva de vida, recursos y valores. Se encuentra una estructura de tres factores de personalidad. Los resultados son discutidos en relación con las teorías establecidas desde el referente europeo y estadounidense y se reflexiona sobre sus perspectivas para el desarrollo.

Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The contexts of the experiences of teachers in South Africa, particularly in communities with low income levels, seem to invite meanings of hopelessness. These meanings appear to be supported by dominant discourses that could determine and limit the practices or actions of these teachers. Within these contexts, however, there are teachers whose actions, reflections or motivations suggest the possibility of alternative or preferred meanings that may be marginalised or silenced by dominant discourses of hopelessness. The theoretical framework that provided the foundation for this study was social constructionism, which argues that meaning is constructed through social interaction and that there is no underlying or objective reality that can be revealed through observation or experience. An understanding of this social construction of meaning allows for the construction of alternative or preferred meanings by individuals or groups in contexts where dominant discourses do not serve their best interests. The aim of the research was therefore to explore and describe the meanings that the participants make of their experiences as teachers in a primary school in Cape Town in a community where low income levels are prevalent. The study further aimed to describe how these teachers experience contextual factors and how these factors contribute to their meaning-making. Furthermore, the purpose of the study was to explore local knowledge in the form of actions, motivations and reflections of the teachers that suggest possibilities for alternative or preferred meanings. In keeping with the social constructionist nature of the study, a qualitative, interpretivist research approach was used. Participants were selected through purposive sampling and focus group discussions were used to generate data. Digital audio recordings were made of the group sessions, which were then transcribed and analysed using the constant comparative method. The research findings indicated that the teachers who participated in the study experienced various contextual factors that contributed to their meaning-making. Their experiences of most of these factors were described in similar ways to comparable contextual factors as portrayed in the literature. Furthermore, these contextual factors were linked by the teachers, and dominantly in the literature, to meanings that could be summarised as hopelessness. However, alongside these meanings, the teachers gave rich or detailed descriptions of a range of actions, reflections and motivations that suggest possible alternative or preferred meanings to the hopelessness that their context seems to invite, and that dominant discourses in the literature appear to portray. These findings led to recommendations that were centred largely on meeting some of the support needs of teachers and children in communities with low income levels. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Onderwysers se ervarings in Suid-Afrika, veral in gemeenskappe met ‘n lae inkomstevlak, word belewe binne kontekste wat lyk asof dit die betekenisse van hopeloosheid ontlok. Hierdie betekenisse word blykbaar deur dominante diskoerse ondersteun, wat hierdie onderwysers se werksaamheid of optrede kan bepaal en beperk. Binne hierdie kontekste is daar egter onderwysers wie se handelinge, nadenke of motivering die moontlikheid van alternatiewe of verkieslike betekenisse aandui, maar wat gemarginaliseer of stilgemaak kan word deur die dominante diskoerse van hopeloosheid. Die teoretiese raamwerk wat die grondslag vir hierdie studie verskaf het, was sosiale konstruksionisme, wat daarop dui dat betekenis deur sosiale interaksie gekonstrueer word en dat daar geen onderliggende of objektiewe realiteit is wat deur waarneming of ervaring geopenbaar kan word nie. ‘n Begrip van die sosiale konstruksie van betekenis maak voorsiening vir die konstruksie van alternatiewe of verkieslike betekenisse deur individue of groepe binne kontekste waar dominante diskoerse nie hul beste belange dien nie. Die doel van die navorsing was daarom om die betekenisse wat die deelnemers, as onderwysers in ‘n laerskool in Kaapstad binne ‘n gemeenskap met lae inkomste, aan hul ervarings heg, te verken en te beskryf. Die studie was verder daarop gemik om te beskryf hoe hierdie onderwysers kontekstuele faktore ervaar en hoe hierdie faktore ‘n bydrae lewer tot hoe hulle betekenis skep. ‘n Verdere doel van die studie was om plaaslike kennis in die gedaante van die optrede, motivering en nadenke van onderwysers, waardeur moontlike alternatiewe of verkieslike betekenisse na vore kom, te verken. Vanweë die sosiaal-konstruksionistiese aard van die studie, is ‘n kwalitatiewe, interpretiewe navorsingsbenadering as navorsingsmetodologie vir hierdie studie gebruik. ‘n Doelgerigte steekproef is gebruik om potensiële deelnemers te identifiseer en data is deur middel van fokusgroeponderhoude gegenereer. Digitale oudio-opnames van die fokusgroeponderhoude is getranskribeer en is met gebruik van die konstante vergelykende metode ontleed. Die navorsingsbevindings het aangedui dat die onderwysers wat aan hierdie studie deelgeneem het, verskillende kontekstuele faktore belewe wat bydra tot die betekenis wat deur hulle geskep word. Hulle belewenis van die meeste van hierdie faktore is op soortgelyke wyse beskryf as vergelykbare kontekstuele faktore wat in die literatuur bespreek word. Hierdie kontekstuele faktore is verder deur die onderwysers en in die literatuur aan betekenisse wat as hopeloosheid beskryf kan word, gekoppel. Naas hierdie betekenisse het die onderwysers egter ook ryk of gedetailleerde beskrywings van ‘n reeks handelinge, nadenkings en motiverings gebied wat moontlike alternatiewe of verkose betekenisse bied tot die hopeloosheid wat deur hulle konteks uitgelok word en deur die dominante diskoerse in die literatuur uitgebeeld word. Die navorsingsbevindings het gelei tot aanbevelings wat hoofsaaklik daarop gerig is om in sommige van die behoeftes aan ondersteuning wat deur onderwysers en kinders in gemeenskappe met lae inkomstevlakke ervaar word, te voorsien.

No description available.

This study uses a praxis cycle approach to evaluate the work of the Anglican Diocese of Bujumbura in the community of Bwiza, a marginalised urban community in Bujumbura. In Chapter 2 it analyses the context of urbanisation in Burundi, with special reference to Bujumbura as capital. It then examines the work of the Diocese of Bujumbura in that urban setting in Chapter 3, against the background of Burundi’s religious composition and the history of the Anglican Church in Burundi as a whole. Chapter 4, gives a review of publications devoted to urban mission and theology. Special attention is given to liberation theology and the particular way it addresses poverty. Chapter 5 reports the findings of interviews and focus groups conducted with members of various churches in the community of Bwiza. In Chapter 6 these findings are interpreted missiologically, and the final chapter (7) suggests some issues for further research. The study explores the causes of poverty in Bwiza and suggests practical contributions that can bring about positive change. The main concern of the study is to bring awareness to the churches about the urgent need for urban ministry. It also explores possible solutions to urban poverty. The other concern of this study is to provide a basis for an urban mission strategy for the Anglican Church, which could assist other churches and all faith based organisations serving in urban settings. / Christian Spirituality, Church History & Missiology / M. Th. (Missiology, with specialisation in Urban Ministry)