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This research is based on a youth intervention organisation founded by the researcher in 1997. The organisation (Agape Copeland Train) is located in the Northern Cape. Youths’ contexts in the Northern Cape are fraught with psychological, social and relational problems, including violence, alcoholism, teenage pregnancies, depression, crime, poverty, and curtailed future prospects. An exploratory enquiry, informed by ecological and positive psychology, is undertaken. In particular, this research focuses on the (often neglected) perspectives of facilitators who work with youth. Exploration of how facilitators’ well-­‐being is impacted on whilst serving youth in this challenging context is undertaken. Interviews with facilitators yielded themes of positive transformation, including shifts in mindsets and positive affect. In addition, aspects of the organisation’s development, as relevant to the context of the research, are described and a model of youth facilitation This research is based on a youth intervention organisation founded by the researcher in 1997. The organisation (Agape Copeland Train) is located in the Northern Cape. Youths’ contexts in the Northern Cape are fraught with psychological, social and relational problems, including violence, alcoholism, teenage pregnancies, depression, crime, poverty, and curtailed future prospects. An exploratory enquiry, informed by ecological and positive psychology, is undertaken. In particular, this research focuses on the (often neglected) perspectives of facilitators who work with youth. Exploration of how facilitators’ well-­‐being is impacted on whilst serving youth in this challenging context is undertaken. Interviews with facilitators yielded themes of positive transformation, including shifts in mindsets and positive affect. In addition, aspects of the organisation’s development, as relevant to the context of the research, are described and a model of youth facilitation process, as developed by facilitators within the organisation, is presented. The researcher’s own experiences in the organisation (as director and as a facilitator) are reflected upon. Observations, incidents, and experiences are used as additional data sources. Facilitating vulnerable youth from an ecological systems perspective is an intricate, reflexive, complex and challenging process. / Psychology / MA (Clinical Psychology)

Thesis (PhD)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South African adolescents live in a transitional society during a life stage in which they seek to stabilise their identity. They face a heritage of widespread violence and poverty, the lived impact of HIV/AIDS and substance abuse, incessant bombardment by media modelling leisure and vice, an erratic education system, and strained family and social bonds. Noting these challenges South African psychology seeks to become more socially relevant and provide formalised opportunities for positive youth development, supporting the growth of strengths and virtues, and making high human potential actual. Psychologists should seek to provide interventions that can turn the tide of social degeneration towards individual and community flourishing. Schools provide an optimal context for such interventions, with adventure programmes providing a valuable mechanisms by which holistic development, flow, interdependence, competence, and modelling of pro-social values can be experienced. This study sought to investigate the different ways in which one such school-based wilderness adventure programme was experienced and the specific aspects of the programme responsible for variation in outcomes using the methodology of phenomenography. Phenomenography is a research method used to map the qualitatively different ways in which people understand, perceive, or experience various aspects of a specific phenomenon. By understanding the different ways a phenomenon can be experienced, and identifying the critical aspects responsible for more or less powerful ways of experiencing the phenomenon, phenomenography provides a powerful tool for improving educational delivery but had yet to be used as a method to study psychological interventions. Phenomenographic analysis of the descriptions of the 27 day adventure programme, in which participants covered 360km on foot, bicycle and canoe, and engaged in group debriefs, journalling, and a 30 hour solo, revealed four conceptions of the programme: (a) long gruelling school hike, (b) school initiation / rites of passage programme, (c) once-in-a-lifetime group adventure, or (d) multifaceted learning and development opportunity. These categories of description are structured hierarchically, from least to most powerful, and are directly related to the perceived outcomes of the programme. At the lowest level, perceived processes and outcomes are largely physical, whereas at the highest level participants descriptions are more complex, and focused more on learning and developmental change that was accrued during the programme and could be transferred to the participant's home and social context. There are six major dimensions of variations that were identified in the data that help to understand the hierarchical relationships between the four identified categories of description. These include (a) the overall characterisation of the programme, (b) the nature of group interactions and processes, (c) the nature of the interactions and emotional connection participants had with their adult leaders, (d) the depth with which participants engaged with their experiences on the programme, (e) the personal relevance that trials, interactions and accomplishments had for participants, and (f) the type of growth and learning that was perceived to have accrued as a result of the wilderness adventure programme. These findings have important implications for both adventure programming design and implementation, and for research on psychological interventions. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrikaanse adolessente leef in ‘n oorgang samelewing gedurende ‘n lewensstadium waarin hulle poog om hul identiteit te stabiliseer. Hulle staar ‘n erfenis van wydverspreide geweld en armoede in die gesig, die geleefde impak van MIV/VIGS en dwelmverslawing, die aanhoudende bombardement deur die media wat ontspanning en onsedelikheid modelleer, ‘n wisselvallige onderwyssisteem, en gespanne gesins- en sosiale verbintenisse. Suid-Afrikaanse sielkunde het kennis geneem van hierdie uitdagings en poog om meer sosiaal relevant te word, en om geformaliseerde geleenthede te verskaf vir positiewe jeugontwikkeling wat die ontwikkeling van sterktes en deugde ondersteun, sowel as om hoë menslike potensiaal te aktualiseer. Sielkundiges behoort te streef om intervensies te verskaf wat sosiale agteruitgang kan verander in individuele- en gemeenskapsflorering. Skole verskaf ‘n optimale konteks vir so ‘n intervensie, met avontuur programme wat ‘n waardevolle meganisme verskaf deur middel waardeur holistiese ontwikkeling, vloei, interafhanklikheid, bevoegdheid, en die modellering van pro-sosiale waardes ondervind kan word. Hierdie studie het gepoog om die verskillende maniere te ondersoek van hoe so ‘n skoolgebaseerde wildernis avontuur program ondervind was, asook die spesifieke aspekte van die program wat verantwoordelik was vir die variasie in uitkomste deur middel van die gebruik van fenomenografiese metodologie. Fenomenografie is ‘n navorsingsmetode wat gebruik word om kwalitatief verskillende maniere te karteer van hoe mense verskillende aspekte van ‘n spesifieke fenomeen begryp, waarneem, of ondervind. Deur die verskillende maniere te verstaan van hoe ‘n fenomeen ondervind kan word, en deur die kritiese aspekte te identifiseer wat verantwoordelik is vir die òf meer òf minder kragtige maniere van hoe die fenomeen ondervind kan word, verskaf fenomenografie ‘n kragtige instrument wat aangewend kan word vir verbeterde onderwyslewering alhoewel die metode tot dusver nog nie aangewend is om sielkundige intervensies te bestudeer nie. Fenomenografiese analise van die beskrywings van ‘n 27-dag avontuur program, waarin deelnemers 360 km te voet, per fiets en kanoe gedek het, en deelgeneem het aan groepontlontings, dagboekhou, en ‘n 30-uur solo, het vier opvattings van die program onthul: (a) ‘n lang, uitmergelende skool staproete, (b) ‘n skool inwyding- / passasierite program, (c) ‘n eenmalige groep avontuur, of (d) ‘n veelsydige leer- en ontwikkelingsgeleentheid. Hierdie beskrywingskategorieë is hierargies gestruktureerd, van die mins tot die mees kragtig, en is direk verwant aan die waargenome uitkomste van die program. Op die laagste vlak is waargenome prosesse en uitkomste grootliks fisies, teenoor die hoogste vlak waar die beskrywings van deelnemers meer kompleks is, en meer gefokus is op leer- en ontwikkelingsverandering wat oploop tydens die program, en oorgedra kan word tot die deelnemer se huis- en sosiale konteks. Daar is ses hoof variasie dimensies wat geïdentifiseer is in die data wat lei tot ‘n beter begrip van die hierargiese verhoudings tussen die vier geïdentifiseerde beskrywingskategorieë. Hierdie sluit in (a) die algehele karakterisering van die program, (b) die aard van die groep interaksies en prosesse, (c) die aard van die interaksies en emosionele verband wat deelnemers gehad het met hulle volwasse leiers, (d) die diepte waarmee deelnemers geskakel het met hul ondervindings van die program, (e) die persoonlike relevansie wat beproewings, interaksies en prestasies gehad het vir die deelnemers, en (f) die tipe groei en leer wat ervaar is en vermeerder het as gevolg van die wildernis avontuur program. Hierdie bevindings het belangrike implikasies vir beide die ontwerp van avontuur programmering, die implementering daarvan, en vir navorsing op sielkundige intervensies.

Thesis (MPhil (Sustainable Development Planning and Management))--University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / This research explores spaces for enchantment and the unknown, exploring our relationship to fairy-tales and alternative ways of dreaming that break from a modern worldview, using complexity thinking as lens. I conducted extra-mural group work with two groups of adolescents from disadvantaged backgrounds. I considered the world young people receive at a metaphysical level; the world they dream of, connect to and enact. My thesis is based on the premise that we must act towards a ‘sustainable unknown development’ that goes beyond modern deadly homogenisation. The research objectives were as follows: Firstly, to explore the relationship between dreams (about the future) and a sustainable future. Secondly, to reflect, based on the group’s holding-space, on our relationship to dreams. Thirdly, to reflect on possible alternative ways of approaching the unknown and enacting enchantment to create change. Fourthly, to explore the importance of imagination and creativity with regards to the above. I review literature pertaining to the affects of the modern paradigm, specifically in its fairy tale blueprinting form, on our world. I argue that this paradigm is currently dangerous to the earth as a living system; causing the oppression and abandonment of nature, the feminine, children and our imagination. Alternative ways such as states of ‘interbeing’, polycentric thinking, and the experience of thresholds and heterotopian spaces where differences meet, are considered. The importance of personal experience and imagination in building resilience and meaning in the unknown are emphasised. My research uses a practical design of ‘enchantment methodology’. Methodologically it tries to tackle some ontological questions, considering different approaches in which negotiation is possible at a metaphysical level. My findings were that although alternative approaches do exist they cannot be generalised in a modern thinking way. Beyond the modern numbness and the tantrums of breaking away from its devastating divides, is the potential of inner wisdom found in our own hearts. Recommendations are that more holding spaces are created to promote an alternative relationship to the unknown to nurture a sense of enchantment.

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Considering the growing poverty and unemployment in South Africa, there is clearly an urgent need for development, particularly among the historically disadvantaged communities where the level of inequality is the highest. Sport has been viewed by a number of scholars as a possible vehicle for developing communities. In this regard, involvement in sport and exercise has been linked to psychological wellbeing, capacity building and skills development among adolescents, which leads to the empowerment of individuals. This study investigates the functioning of a Sport Development Academy, which uses canoeing as a mechanism to improve the quality of lives of people living in a rural community in The Valley of a Thousand Hills in Kwa-Zulu Natal. This qualitative investigation targeted a group of seven young men, between the ages of nineteen and twenty-nine years old, who were interviewed in order to examine their lived experiences as a result of participating in the Academy and the extent to which the Academy impacted positively on their lives. The Positive Youth Development Paradigm, Bronfenbrenner’s Eco-Systems Theory and the Athlete-Coach relationship view, was used as a lens through which the research findings were examined. The Athletes in the Academy learnt a number of values and skills such as hard work, determination and respect. They became involved in pro-social behaviors as opposed to anti-social behaviors due to their participation in the sport development programme. This participation resulted in the gaining of social capital which can lead to upward social mobility. The capacity of these athletes has also been improved. These above factors improve the psychological wellbeing of the individuals and equip them with essential values and skills that make them more employable. The research findings suggest that the involvement of the seven young men in the Academy produced a number of positive impacts. Therefore, the results of the research indicate that sport can be used, to a certain extent, as a vehicle through which development can occur. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Groeiende armoede en werkloosheid in Suid-Afrika dui dat daar duidelik 'n dringende behoefte vir ontwikkeling, veral onder die voorheen-benadeelde gemeenskappe is waar die vlak van ongelykheid die hoogste is. Sommige navorsers sien sport as 'n moontlike voertuig vir die ontwikkeling van hierdie gemeenskappe. In hierdie verband word betrokkenheid in sport en oefening gekoppel aan sielkundige welstand, kapasiteitsbou en die ontwikkeling van vaardighede onder tieners wat lei tot die bemagtiging van individue. Hierdie studie ondersoek die funksionering van 'n sportakademie wat gebruik maak van die sport kanovaart as 'n meganisme om die gehalte van die lewens van mense te verbeter wat woon in die landelike gemeenskap van die Vallei van 'n Duisend Heuwels in Kwa -Zulu Natal. Hierdie kwalitatiewe ondersoek van 'n groep van sewe jong mans, tussen die ouderdomme van negentien en nege-en-twintig jaar oud, het bestaan uit onderhoude wat gevoer is om hul ondervindinge te ondersoek as 'n gevolg van hul deelname aan die Akademie en die mate waarin dit ‘n positiewe impak op hul lewens gehad het. Die Positiewe Jeugontwikkeling Paradigma, Bronfenbrenner se Ekosisteemtoerie en die atleet - afrigter verhouding is gebruik as 'n lens waardeur die bevindinge ondersoek is. Die atlete in die Akademie het 'n aantal waardes en vaardighede aangeleer soos harde werk, deursettingsvermoë en respek. Hulle het betrokke geraak in pro-sosiale gedrag in teenstelling met anti-sosiale gedrag as gevolg van hul deelname in die ontwikkelingsprogram. Dit het gelei tot die toename van hul sosiale kapitaal wat gelei het tot groter sosiale mobiliteit. Die kapasiteit van hierdie atlete is ook verbeter. Die bogenoemde faktore het gelei tot die verbetering van hul sielkundige welstand en om hulle toe te rus met noodsaaklike waardes en vaardighede om hulle meer geskik te maak vir toekomstige loopbane. Die navorsing dui verder daarop dat die betrokkenheid van die sewe jong mans in die Akademie 'n aantal positiewe invloede tot gevolg het. Die resultate van die navorsing dui dus daarop dat sport tot ‘n sekere mate gebruik kan word as 'n middel waardeur ontwikkeling kan plaasvind.

Thesis (MComm)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A major societal challenge in post-1994 South Africa is that of questionable public leadership and the scarcity of ethical and effective leadership. Coupled with this are high expectations from the public directed at government institutions, which need to respond to the basic needs of citizens, and private business institutions, which need to create and sustain economic activity in an often uncertain environment. These transitional challenges call for outstanding leadership in public and private institutions. However, one can make a justified and evidence-based argument that the state of leadership in South Africa, particularly in the public sector, is not living up to these expectations. Added to this challenge of poor leadership is a youthful population that faces numerous challenges. However, from the youth of today the leaders of tomorrow are to emerge. South Africa and Africa as a whole are experiencing a youth population boom; a phenomenon that has been classified as having the potential to either be a demographic dividend or a ticking time bomb. In order to promote the development of youths, the South African government has attempted to respond to the multiplicity of challenges facing the youth by instituting the National Youth Act; a National Youth policy; the National Youth Service and a National Youth Development Agency (NYDA). This research submits evidence that the effectiveness of these interventions has not been satisfactory and that they do not include the intentional development of emerging South African leaders. The question, therefore, arises as to whether intentional development of future emerging leaders should not be taking place on a greater scale and in such a manner so as to ensure an improved leadership landscape in the future. This question necessitates exploratory inquiry into the phenomenon of youth leadership development in South Africa and represents the central theme of this research. Non-governmental organizations and university-based institutions have created leadership development programmes that target an emerging leaders' cadre in South Africa. These programmes are structured in different ways, but all have a leadership curriculum with theoretical and practical elements in common. The goal of this research will be to conduct an exploratory analysis of this emerging South African youth leadership development practice and to provide a theoretical and programmatic perspective on it based on an analysis of two case studies. The research is divided into four sequential phases. The first phase consists of a theoretical review of the concepts of leadership and youth leadership development. The second phase analyzes the context and challenges of South Africa’s youth and youth leadership development. The third and fourth phases transpose the theoretical and contextual analysis with youth leadership development practice in South Africa. This is done by means of the analysis of two case studies and the responses gathered from a semi-structured questionnaire answered by a sample population of emerging South African leaders. The cases analyzed are the South Africa Washington International Programme, a non-governmental organization specialising in developing emerging South African leaders, and the Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Institute for Student Leadership Development of Stellenbosch University. The research showed that the concept of youth leadership development is theoretically underdeveloped, and limited information could be derived from the American literature on college student development. The research also indicated that the scale of youth leadership development in South Africa is relatively small. However, programmes developed and implemented by non-government organizations and tertiary-based institutions suggest an emerging practice of youth leadership development in the country. This emerging practice is not well researched in the South African context. In response, this study succeeds in highlighting a number of knowledge gaps that could address this lack. The research concludes with evidence that suggests that an investment in the professionalization of youth leadership development programmes will result in a future generation of ethical and effective South African leaders that will bring about positive transformational change in the Republic. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Twyfelagtige openbare leierskap en die skaarsheid van etiese en effektiewe leierskap is ’n wesenlike maatskaplike uitdaging in post-1994 Suid-Afrika. Tesame met hierdie het die publiek hoë verwagtinge vanaf die regering, wat nodig het om te reageer op basiese behoeftes van landsburgers, en vanaf ’n sakesektor, wat ekonomiese aktiwiteite moet bewerkstellig in soms volatiele omstandighede. Hierdie oorgangsuitdagings vra vir uitstaande leierskap in openbare en private instellings. ’n Regverdige en bewys-gebaseerde argument kan gemaak word dat die toestand van leierskap in Suid-Afrika, veral in die openbare sektor, nie aan verwagtinge vir goeie leierskap voldoen nie. Bykomend tot hierdie uitdaging van swak leierskap is ’n jong bevolking wat talle uitdagings in die gesig staar. Die jeug van vandag is egter die groepering waaruit toekomstige leiers te voorskyn kom. Suid-Afrika en Afrika in geheel beleef ’n oplewing van jeug populasie en hierdie verskynsel word deur sommige geklassifiseer as ’n moontlike demografiese dividend of ’n tydbom met negatiewe implikasies vir sosio-ekonomiese stabiliteit. Ten einde die jeug te bevorder wend die Suid-Afrikaanse regering pogings aan om te reageer op die verskeidenheid van jeug uitdagings deur die instelling van die Nasionale Jeug Wet, Nasionale Jeug beleid, die Nasionale Jeugdiens en ’n Nasionale Jeugontwikkelingsagentskap. Hierdie navorsing lê bewyse dat die doeltreffendheid van hierdie intervensies nie bevredigend is nie en fokus nie op doelgerigte ontwikkeling van opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse leiers nie. Die vraag ontstaan dus of doelgerigte ontwikkeling van toekomstige opkomende leiers nie op ’n groter skaal en op so ’n wyse moet plaasvind om ’n beter leierskapslandskap in die toekoms te verseker nie? Hierdie vraag skep ’n geleentheid vir ’n verkennende ondersoek na die verskynsel van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika en verteenwoordig die sentrale tema van hierdie navorsing. ’n Beperkte aantal nie-regeringsorganisasies en universiteit-gebaseerde organisasies is geskep om jeugleierskapsontwikkeling programme te bestuur wat gemik is op die ontwikkeling van ’n opkomende leierskader in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie programme is gestruktureer in verskillende maniere, maar het elk ’n leierskapskurrikulum met teoretiese en praktiese elemente in gemeen. Die doel van hierdie navorsing is om ’n verkennende analise te doen oor hierdie opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse jeugleierskapsontwikkeling praktyk en om ’n teoretiese en programmatiese perspektief hiervoor te verskaf, gebaseer op ’n ontleding van twee gevallestudies. Die navorsing is verdeel in vier opeenvolgende fases. Die eerste fase bestaan uit ’n teoretiese oorsig van die konsep van leierskap en jeugleierskapsontwikkeling. Die tweede fase ontleed die konteks en uitdagings van Suid-Afrika se jeug en jeugleierskapsontwikkeling. Die derde en vierde fases integreer die teoretiese en kontekstuele analise met jeugleierskapsontwikkeling praktyk in Suid-Afrika. Dit word gedoen deur middel van ontleding van twee gevallestudies en ontleding van terugvoer verkry deur ’n semi-gestruktureerde vraelys wat beantwoord is deur ’n steekproef bevolking van opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse leiers. Die gevalle ontleed is die Suid-Afrikaanse Washington Internasionale Program (SAWIP), ’n nie-regeringsorganisasie wat spesialiseer in die ontwikkeling van opkomende Suid-Afrikaanse leiers, en die Frederik van Zyl Slabbert Instituut vir Studente Leierskapsontwikkeling van die Universiteit Stellenbosch. Die navorsing het getoon dat die konsep van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling teoreties onderontwikkeld is met beperkte studies wat in die Amerikaanse literatuur oor studente-ontwikkeling gevind is. Die navorsing het ook aangedui dat die skaal van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling in Suid-Afrika relatief klein is, hoewel programme wat ontwikkel en geïmplementeer word deur nie-regeringsorganisasies en tersiêr-gebaseerde instellings dui op ’n opkomende praktyk van die jeugleierskapsontwikkeling in die land. Hierdie opkomende praktyk is nie goed bestudeer in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks nie. In reaksie slaag die studie daarin om ’n aantal kennisgapings in hierdie verband te beklemtoon. Die navorsing sluit af met bewyse wat daarop dui dat ’n belegging in die professionalisering en formalisering van jeugleierskapsontwikkeling as ’n praktyk sal lei tot ’n toekomstige generasie van etiese en effektiewe Suid-Afrikaanse leiers wat positiewe transformasie in die Republiek teweeg sal bring.

Thesis (MDF)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The South African population involves huge numbers of young people. The majority of these young people are unemployed and unable to make a living as a result of the inability of the economy to absorb them into the labour market. Other young people attempt to make a living through entrepreneurship. However, the participation of young people in entrepreneurship is very low. Young people face many challenges associated with lack of funding and business development support services, technical skills and development. The problems facing the country substantially caused socio-economic challenges resulting in a shrinking economy. This translated into an inability of both the private sector and government to create and sustain jobs. The government of South Africa established the National Youth Development Agency (here called the Agency) with the mandate to reduce poverty by making sound investments. This facilitates opportunities for young people to acquire skills, promote creation of jobs or pursue meaningful self-employment opportunities through various enterprise development initiatives. The agency developed the Enterprise Development Finance Programme as an economic development approach. The agency provides access to financial and non-financial services to the previously disadvantaged youth in a sustainable manner that improves and promotes sustainable livelihoods for the low-income groups. The study evaluates the effectiveness of the EDFP. The public and private sector offers different programmes aiming at equipping aspiring and established entrepreneurs with skills, knowledge, and motivation to enable business development and growth in the country. However, the challenge is that many do not have entrepreneurial minds. Those who have entrepreneurship knowledge do not know about the programmes, or the programmes are not easily accessible particularly to people in the rural areas. In addition, these programmes are not co-ordinated and as result we are not in a position to tell immediately as to who is doing what and where. This also makes it difficult to identify gaps and to maximise the impact of the programmes. There is a need to audit all programmes aimed at improving the economic development of the country. The government of South Africa must instil a culture of entrepreneurship at all levels to promote and nurture entrepreneurship skills. Vigorous entrepreneurial activity and innovation is needed to alleviate high unemployment levels through a combination of improved quality education and skills development. Promotion and support of entrepreneurship should form an important component of policy options considered to increase economic growth for the long term. The Economic Development Finance programme provides SME and microfinance funding which is seen as an important strategy for economic growth. Education and skills development is an important tool that supports the culture of entrepreneurship, as it contributes to the success of businesses. The private and public institutions should intensify their involvements and consider both financial and non-financial support for youth enterprises and entrepreneurs equally. The support for entrepreneurship should be holistic and cover funding, technical training, training in business and financial management, and business linkages.