Using a qualitative and interpretive approach, this research focuses on the training and support needs of crisis interventionists volunteering at an organisation for the abused. This research developed out of a need identified by the board for recommendations to be made in order to compile a new training manual as well as to explore and improve the support services offered to volunteers at the organisation. The research used a thorough examination of the current literature available dealing with crisis intervention and intimate partner violence both nationally and internationally to provide a framework and standard for all recommendations. This was then supplemented with a participatory and interpretive approach to understand the experiences of the crisis interventionists themselves currently volunteering at the organisation. The major themes that emerged from the data included an understanding of the current training process, the impact of volunteering for the desk, the impact and importance of organisational culture and the organisation and self care techniques used by the volunteers. These were then interpreted in terms of their relevance to the training and support needs of the volunteers looking specifically at the training process to ensure an ideological shift and information retention as well as explore supportive services that would be the most beneficial and accessible to the volunteer. The research was then able to provide the most appropriate recommendations for the organisation going forward. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2012.

This thesis sought to explore how community volunteers could be recruited, supported and sustained to assist a community school operating in difficult socioeconomic conditions in achieving basic school functionality. Through a collaborative process, the participants in the study attempted to address a significant gap in the literature, namely how this could be achieved in a way that would be beneficial both to the community volunteers and to the school itself. Based on existing literature, the vast majority of South African schools are struggling to reach the basic functionality levels required in terms of legislation. My interest in this topic was piqued while serving as principal of one such school; hence the focus in this thesis on whether schools would benefit in terms of achieving functionality if they partnered with the communities in which they are located. However, communities are seldom actively involved in the schools and school activities on an ongoing daily basis. In this thesis, I argue for an opportunity for schools and the community to collaborate in a way that would be mutually beneficial. In this, I was guided by the School-Based Complementary Learning Framework (SBCLF) in gaining a greater understanding of how multiple stakeholders could support a school to obtain basic functionality. A key stakeholder is the community in which a school is located, and the multidimensional framework provided a framework to understand why the community would want to get involved in the school. Following a Participatory Action Learning and Action Research (PALAR) design, I recruited 15 community volunteers from the existing pool at my then school; some of whom had been volunteering for over twelve years. We formed an action learning set where we collaboratively sought to understand the processes and conditions needed to recruit, support and sustain community volunteers and their involvement in the school. From this action learning set emerged a key advisors’ set, comprising five members of the action learning set, who were entrusted with the responsibility of planning, preparing and analysing the action learning set meetings. Transcripts and visual artefacts from the action learning set meetings and a focus group meeting of the school management team were analysed to generate data, complemented by secondary sources, such as documents. This participatory approach to data generation allowed the voice of every participant to be heard; agency was increased through active participation; and the sense of affiliation to the group was deepened. The iterative design of the research process further ensured that the participants also engaged in a critical discourse analysis of the emerging data, of which the trustworthiness was enhanced through the use of dialogic and process, catalytic, rhetoric, democratic and outcome validity. The emergence of the data through this collaborative engagement was underpinned by the ethical values of mutual respect; equality and inclusion; democratic participation; active learning; making a difference; collective action; and personal integrity. The findings revealed that community volunteers did add immense value to the school by supporting teaching and learning processes. However, the community volunteers also harboured expectations of material support and opportunities to develop skills. In addition, the study revealed that the hierarchical culture and structures present in most South African schools need to become more democratic and collaborative, with those working to make the school more functional, including community volunteers, being valued, acknowledged and supported. The participants also constructed their understanding of what a community school should be and do and how it should serve the interests of the children from the community. A process model was constructed from these findings regarding on ways to recruit, sustain and support community volunteers involved in community schools, specially designed so that schools could adapt it to suit individual contexts. This study is unique; I am not aware of any similar study ever having been conducted in a community school in South Africa. Furthermore, the collaborative approach used in the study helped ensure that the methodology used could be of value to principals and other school stakeholders in addressing the various complex challenges that confront schools in these contexts. Also, the findings will add to the theoretical body of knowledge around volunteerism, especially in difficult socioeconomic conditions.

The health care system in South Africa is currently under strain and it does not cater for everyone's needs. This has left a gap in society whereby you will find that the poor citizens of the country are not being catered for in terms of getting access to adequate healthcare. With this existing gap, there are Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in some of the poor communities in the country. These NGOs have volunteer caregivers who go around the community and taking care of the sick people. Research has often ignored these volunteer caregivers, this current research study investigated the experiences of these volunteer caregivers. The goals of the research study were to investigate the experiences of the caregiver, the motivations of the caregivers and the challenges that they encounter and how they cope with the challenges that arise while performing their caregiving duties. The study was based on the phenomenological paradigm. This paradigm believes that the subjective experience of the individual is an essential source of information. In-depth interviews were conducted with the four participants who took part in the study. An interview guide was utilised to help guide the interview process. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) was used in analysing the data. IPA is a way of analysing data, which investigates how a person, in a given setting understands an experience. The findings showed that the caregivers had both negative and positive experiences. They experienced the care recipients as being appreciative of them. However, they experienced the family members of the care recipients as being uncaring; financial constraints were also a negative experience. Several challenges were stated by the participants, including a lack of government support, alcohol abuse by the care recipients and challenging working conditions. The participants were motivated to volunteer as caregivers by a number of things. Altruistic motivation was the first, which included the love for the community and the poverty in the community. Reciprocity was another motivating factor, as well as religious duty and career advancement. In this research study there was one coping strategy that came out; the participants stated that they seek advice and consult with someone or go for supervision within the organization when they are faced with a difficult situation. The findings in the research study were similar to those found in previous research. One notably different finding was that in previous research, the caregivers have been found to abuse alcohol in order to cope with stress. However, in this research study, the care recipients are the ones who are abusing alcohol. The research recommends that the government assists the informal caregivers, either financially or with infrastructure.

This study was undertaken as an explorative, qualitative study to explore the motives for foreign volunteers to volunteer at an NGO in South Africa. Increasing numbers of young adults and adolescent school leavers from developed countries are choosing to take a sabbatical year to engage in volunteer work in foreign, often developing countries. In South Africa, much of this work takes place in the Non-governmental sector, around environmental and humanitarian issues including HIV and AIDS. The incentives underlying this behaviour are of interest to try to understand what motivates altruistic, pro-social behaviour. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2007.

MSCPNT / Department of Nutrition / Malnutrition is a problem facing virtually every country in the world. Inappropriate feeding practices such as bottle feeding, early introduction of weaning foods, lack of variety in the diet are a known major cause of the onset of malnutrition in young children. Lack of nutrition knowledge, particularly about feeding practices, is critical as it affects the nutritional status of children. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of caregivers’ nutrition knowledge and feeding practices on the nutritional status of 2 to 5 years old children in the Makhuduthamaga Municipality, South Africa. A crosssectional study with an analytical component was carried out in the Makhuduthamaga Municipality in the Limpopo Province, South Africa. One hundred and twenty children aged 2 to 5 years and their caregivers were conveniently sampled from four villages. A validated questionnaire was used to gather demographic information, caregivers’ nutritional knowledge and feeding practices. Anthropometric measurements taken were weight, height and mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of the children as well as weight and height of the caregivers. Descriptive and inferential statistics were utilized. Chi-square was used to determine the influence of caregiver’s nutrition knowledge and feeding practices on the nutritional status of children. The significance level was set at p< 0.05. Most caregivers (66.7%) were between the ages of 19 and 35 years. More than half (54.2%) of the children were male. Most of the caregivers (70%) had attended school up to secondary level and only 4.2% had obtained a tertiary qualification. Most of the caregivers (85%) were unemployed. Children were mostly (70.2%) cared for by their biological mothers. Some caregivers reported not to have any source of nutrition education (41.7%), while 43.3% reported that health professionals were their source of nutrition education. Both nutrition knowledge and feeding practices were not satisfactory in the current study. Almost all children (94.2%) were breastfed at some stage in their lives. However, 47.5% were given infant formula while they were still less than six months old. It was found that more than half of the caregivers (62.5%) introduced solids foods before 6 months. Maize meal soft porridge was reported as the main solid food first introduced to 66.7% of the children, followed by infant cereals (25%). Stunting was found in 41.7% of children. Prevalence of overweight and obesity was observed amongst both caregivers and children. Overweight and obesity prevalent of caregivers was at 30.8%. No significant correlation was observed between the caregivers’ nutrition knowledge, the feeding practices and the nutritional status of children. However, family income showed positive correlation with the nutritional status of children. Nutrition education strategies intertwined with economic empowerment of mothers should be enforced to capacitate caregivers to voluntarily make proper feeding practices. / NRF

The hospice volunteer is viewed as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, with various roles directed at enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. The purpose of this study is to provide an integrated picture of the hospice volunteer, their role, the human dimensions of this role and the impact this has on their lives as not much has been written in literature about this specific sub-group of hospice workers. The context of the study is a hospice in Gauteng where the researcher works as a volunteer. The ethnographic case study has been chosen as an appropriate research design as it explores the above phenomenon from the volunteers' point of view. The subjects are three volunteers who have been active at the hospice for at least twelve months. Evidence in terms of specific interviews and observations are used to draw conclusions. The interviews are based on a minimal number of open-ended questions. The primary method of analysis is the examination of transcripts from these in-depth interviews. A thematic analysis is carried out in which a detailed description of the emerging themes are given. Four major themes are identified and explored: Description of the role; The experience of being a volunteer; A way of coping; and The influence of the hospice culture. Sub-themes that emerge within each case study vary due to the individual nature of the experience of the role. Themes are explored in light of current theory and findings. This was to note the similarities and differences of this specific sub-group of volunteers compared to others found in the literature reviewed for this study. As there is a scarcity of literature pertaining specifically to hospice volunteers, the study depends mostly on writings pertaining to hospice staff and volunteers in general. A summary and integration of the core findings of the three case studies is given and their similarities and differences are explored. How some of the different themes interlink is also discussed. Although various sub-themes found in the individual case studies are significant to the individual cases, some of them can be incorporated into common themes when looking at the volunteers as a group. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed as well as recommendations for the hospice organisation and further research. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The hospice volunteer is viewed as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team, with various roles directed at enhancing the quality of life of patients and their families. The purpose of this study is to provide an integrated picture of the hospice volunteer, their role, the human dimensions of this role and the impact this has on their lives as not much has been written in literature about this specific sub-group of hospice workers. The context of the study is a hospice in Gauteng where the researcher works as a volunteer. The ethnographic case study has been chosen as an appropriate research design as it explores the above phenomenon from the volunteers' point of view. The subjects are three volunteers who have been active at the hospice for at least twelve months. Evidence in terms of specific interviews and observations are used to draw conclusions. The interviews are based on a minimal number of open-ended questions. The primary method of analysis is the examination of transcripts from these in-depth interviews. A thematic analysis is carried out in which a detailed description of the emerging themes are given. Four major themes are identified and explored: Description of the role; The experience of being a volunteer; A way of coping; and The influence of the hospice culture. Sub-themes that emerge within each case study vary due to the individual nature of the experience of the role. Themes are explored in light of current theory and findings. This was to note the similarities and differences of this specific sub-group of volunteers compared to others found in the literature reviewed for this study. As there is a scarcity of literature pertaining specifically to hospice volunteers, the study depends mostly on writings pertaining to hospice staff and volunteers in general. A summary and integration of the core findings of the three case studies is given and their similarities and differences are explored. How some of the different themes interlink is also discussed. Although various sub-themes found in the individual case studies are significant to the individual cases, some of them can be incorporated into common themes when looking at the volunteers as a group. The strengths and limitations of the study are discussed as well as recommendations for the hospice organisation and further research. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

South African health systems are struggling to cope with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Home based care has become an invaluable resource that relieves overburdened and under-resourced hospitals. Home based carers provide basic nursing care and support to patients and their families, in the patient's home. Little is know about what motivates home based carers. Minimal research has been undertaken to investigate the expectations and experiences of these noble voluntary helpers. This study was conducted with a sample of home based carers at Community Outreach Centre, St Mary's, Mariannhill. Being field focused it used a qualitative research approach and participatory action research methodology. Focus group discussions were conducted with home based carers to explore their needs, motivations and expectations of Community Outreach Centre. The study enlightens us about issues related to home based care that directly affect them. Despite the painful realities of their lives, they appeared positive about serving as volunteer home based carers. / Social work / M.A. Social Science (Social Work)

South African health systems are struggling to cope with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Home based care has become an invaluable resource that relieves overburdened and under-resourced hospitals. Home based carers provide basic nursing care and support to patients and their families, in the patient's home. Little is know about what motivates home based carers. Minimal research has been undertaken to investigate the expectations and experiences of these noble voluntary helpers. This study was conducted with a sample of home based carers at Community Outreach Centre, St Mary's, Mariannhill. Being field focused it used a qualitative research approach and participatory action research methodology. Focus group discussions were conducted with home based carers to explore their needs, motivations and expectations of Community Outreach Centre. The study enlightens us about issues related to home based care that directly affect them. Despite the painful realities of their lives, they appeared positive about serving as volunteer home based carers. / Social work / M.A. Social Science (Social Work)

Bibliography: leaves 241-295 / Text in English with summaries in English, Afrikaans and Setswana / This study, to enhance understanding of volunteer well-being and to develop a conceptual model of volunteer well-being through an in-depth exploration of volunteers’ work–life experiences, was guided by an interest in volunteering as well as curiosity about well-being as a concept. My perception of the importance of volunteering for our society was based on first-hand knowledge of a volunteering context operating in the Gauteng health sector, as well as the volunteering literature, which confirmed its importance and encouraged me to conduct research on this resource. The literature on well-being highlights its importance for employees in particular and organisations in general and thus justifies the study. The literature also supported my preference for conducting this research on volunteer well-being from a qualitative perspective. Further motivation for the research was provided by my awareness of the challenging nature of the volunteering context as well as the adverse personal circumstances of the volunteers. Accordingly, recognising the importance of well-being in volunteers, I was prompted to dedicate attention to this dynamic work context. To achieve its aim, in this research I applied a qualitative research approach and a hermeneutic (interpretive) phenomenological research methodology. In-depth interviews were used to explore the work–life experiences of eight volunteers and a phenomenological hermeneutical analytic process was used to analyse the data. The data were further contextualised and the findings supported by the relevant well-being literature. Based on the findings, a conceptual model of volunteer well-being was constructed. This model enhances our understanding of volunteer well-being, ultimately contributing to knowledge and practice in the field of volunteering. / Die hoofdoel van hierdie studie was om die begrip van vrywilligerswelstand te bevorder en om ’n konseptuele model van vrywilligerswelstand te ontwikkel deur ’n omvattende ondersoek van vrywilligers se werklewe-ervarings. Die studie was gelei deur ’n belangstelling in vrywilligerswerk en ‘n nuuskierigheid oor welstand as ’n konsep. My waarneming van die belangrikheid van vrywilligerswerk vir ons samelewing is gebaseer op eerstehandse kennis van ’n vrywilligerskonteks in die Gautengse gesondheidsektor en die literatuur oor vrywilligersdienslewering, wat die belangrikheid daarvan bevestig het en my aangemoedig het om navorsing oor hierdie hulpbron te doen. Die literatuur oor welstand beklemtoon veral die belangrikheid daarvan vir werknemers en organisasies oor die algemeen, en regverdig dus die studie. Die literatuur het ook my voorkeur om hierdie navorsing oor vrywilligers se welstand vanuit ’n kwalitatiewe perspektief te benader, ondersteun. My bewustheid van die uitdagende aard van die vrywilligerskonteks asook die ongunstige persoonlike omstandighede van die vrywilligers het my verder gemotiveer om die navorsing te doen. Dienooreenkomstig, as erkenning van die belangrikheid daarvan om vrywilligers se welstand te fasiliteer, is ek geïnspireer om aandag te skenk aan hierdie dinamiese werkskonteks. Om hierdie doel te bereik het ek ’n kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering en ’n hermeneutiese (verklarende) fenomenologiese navorsingsmetodologie in hierdie navorsingsprojek gebruik. Indiepte onderhoude is gebruik om die werklewe-ervarings van agt vrywilligers te ondersoek, en ’n fenomenologiese, hermeneutiese, analitiese proses is gebruik om die data te ontleed. Die data is verder gekontekstualiseer en die bevindings is deur die tersaaklike literatuur ondersteun. ’n Konseptuele model van vrywilligerwelstand is op grond van hierdie bevindinge opgestel. Hierdie model bevorder ons begrip van vrywilligerswelstand, en lewer sodoende ’n bydrae tot die kennis en ervaring op die terrein van vrywilligerswerk. / Thutopatlisiso eno ya go tlhama sekao sa kgopolo sa boithaopi go tswa mo mogopolong wa seemo se se amogelesegang sa botshelo ka go sekaseka go ya kwa botennye, maitemogelo a tiro a baithaopi, e kaetswe ke kgatlhego mo boithaoping, keletso ya go itse ka ga mogopolo wa seemo se se amogelesegang sa botshelo le dikwalo tse di ka ga boithaopi. Kitso e e tseneletseng ya bokao jwa boithaopi jo bo dirang mo lephateng la boitekanelo la Gauteng, gammogo le dikwalo tsa boithaopi, di tlhomamisitse botlhokwa jwa boithaopi mo setšhabeng sa gaetsho mme tsa nthotloetsa go dira patlisiso ka ntlha eno. Go tlaleletsa, thutopatlisiso eno e tlhomamisitswe ke dikwalo tse di ka ga seemo se se amogelesegang le botlhokwa jwa seemo se se amogelesegang sa botshelo se se totileng badiri ka bo bona le ditheo ka kakaretso. Dikwalo gape di tshegeditse tlhopho ya me ya go dira patlisiso ka ga seemo se se amogelesegang sa botshelo jwa baithaopi ka mogopolo wa go batla go batlisisa mabaka a a bakang seemo se se rileng. Thotloetso e nngwe ya patlisiso e tlisitswe ke temogo ya me ya dikgwetlho tsa boithaopi gammogo le maemo a a sa amogelesegeng a baithaopi. Fela jalo, ka go lemoga botlhokwa jwa go gokaganya seemo se se amogelesegang sa botshelo mo baithaoping, ke ne ke patelesega go tota mofuta ono wa tiro. Go fitlhelela maikaelelo ano, patlisiso eno e dirisitse mokgwa wa patlisiso o o lebelelang mabaka a a rotloetsang ntlha e e rileng (qualititative research) le mokgwa wa patlisiso o o ranolang (hermeneutic phenomological research methodology). Go dirisitswe dipotsolotso tse di tseneletseng go sekaseka maitemogelo a tiro a baithaopi mme ga dirisiwa thulaganyo ya tshekatsheko ya phenomenological hermeneutial go sekaseka tshedimosetso. Tshedimosetso e ne ya bewa ka bokao mme diphitlhelelo tsa tshegediwa ka dikwalo tse di maleba. Go ikaegilwe mo diphitlhelelong tseno, go ne ga thalwa sekao sa kgopolo sa seemo se se amogelesegang sa botshelo jwa baithaopi. Go tshitshinngwa gore go dirisiwe sekao seno go dirisa ka botlalo le go netefatsa go nnela leruri ga tiro ya baithaopi, gore kwa bokhutlong go tshwaelwe mo kitsong le mo tirong mo lephateng la boithaopi. / Psychology / D. Phil. (Psychology)