Today, unlike yesterday we talk about Moral Regeneration amongst the Vhavenḓa youth of today and throughout the whole world. Strategies of combating this monster that is snatching our youth are recommended in this study. The problem dealt with in this study is the issue of Moral degeneration amongst the youth which needs to be regenerated. There are many causes of moral degeneration amongst the youth discussed in this study which are accompanied by the remedial strategies. As a way forward in this study, observations of researchers and scholars on how to find the solution about moral degeneration that has impacted on the lives of Vhavenḓa youth and other youth of today around the globe were focused on. The literature review in this study was based more on issues that are linked to Indigenous Knowledge Systems as discussed by various scholars. This study used the qualitative research methodology though quantitative minimally. The sampling of data was more purposive though there were cases of convenience and snowballing so as to get more data. Data for this research study was collected through questionnaires and interviews from a host of interviewees. This data was analysed using open and axial coding. The findings were grouped or categorised into major themes in terms of selective coding. Reasons behind the findings were explained too. Finally, consequences, implications for further study and also recommendations were indicated. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African languages)

Submitted in fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Technology, Information Technology, Durban University of Technology, Durban, South Africa, 2013. / This study reports on the application of decision making core technology adoption theory to empirically examine youth preferences for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) preventive actions. In order to contribute to the open discourse on whether technology adoption rate is higher for male or female, goal desire, goal intention, action desire and action intention elements of decision making core theory were tested. A mobile health information system was implemented as an HIV information disseminating tool and used for experimentation to determine adoption by youths. A dataset of 118 pupils from two high schools was used for pilot investigation. A dataset of 292 undergraduate youths aged 10-24 years from two universities in South Africa was generated to validate the research model. The Partial Least Square (PLS) analytic modelling technique was used to determine the predictive power of decision making core model from the input dataset. Results of experimentation show that regardless of the gender youth accepts to use mobile information system to access HIV information. The predictive power of the decision making core model was found to be independent of gender factor, which was also not found to moderate the relationship between Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC) and action intention. In addition, gender was not found to moderate the order of importance in factors that predict youth preferences for HIV preventive action. PBC, action desire and goal desire were selected as the most important predictors of HIV preventive actions. The factor of action desire was found to mediate the relationship between PBC and action intention such that the mediation effect was stronger for male youth (68%) than for female youth (19%). Finally, the decision making core model better predicted youth preferences for HIV preventive actions as compared to two models based on Theory of Reason Action (TRA) and Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB).

Thesis (MEd)--University of Stellenbosch, 2007. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: “… education must seek to help pupils become morally just individuals” (Waghid, 2004b:535). South Africa, as a fairly young democracy, faces many challenges. Education of its youth into adults that can fulfil their obligations in a democratic society is but one of these challenges. A democracy can only be successful when a country’s citizens internalise basic values such as mutual respect and responsibility. Newspapers and news reports unfortunately tell of increasing moral decay amongst the youth of South Africa. In this research, various models of value education are critically evaluated in order to determine the best model for establishing values in the youth. Character education is discussed as a balanced and comprehensive approach to value education, and critical comments on the Manifesto on Values, Education and Democracy attempt to show its relevance for value education in practice. The increase in social problems such as poverty, single-parent families and AIDS orphans, leads to an increase in “at-riskchildren” in South Africa. This study therefore also investigates possible ways in which teachers can contribute to instilling positive values in at-risk learners. The establishment, development and internalisation of values are a long and intricate process in which schools, parents and society are all important stakeholders. This research shows the importance of cooperation between all role players to instil values in South Africa’s young people and that the process of value education slowly but surely shows results. Key concepts: values, value education, character education, youth at risk / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: “Democratic citizenship requires that people cultivate mutual respect, warmth, friendship, trust, self-respect, dignity, generosity and compassion towards each other” (Waghid, 2004b:536). Suid-Afrika kom, as betreklik jong demokrasie, voor talle groot uitdagings te staan. Die opvoeding van die jeug tot volwassenes wat hulle plek in ’n demokratiese samelewing kan volstaan, is een van die uitdagings. ’n Demokrasie kan egter net slaag as basiese waardes soos respek en verantwoordelikheid by landsburgers geïnternaliseer is. Dagblaaie en nuusberigte skets ongelukkig ’n somber prentjie van morele verval onder die Suid-Afrikaanse jeug. In hierdie navorsing word verskillende modelle van waardeopvoeding krities geëvalueer, om te ondersoek watter model die beste resultate behoort te lewer in die vestiging van waardes by die jongmense van Suid-Afrika. Karakteropvoeding word bespreek as ’n gebalanseerde en omvattende benadering tot waardeopvoeding en die manifes oor waardes, opvoeding en demokrasie word krities bespreek om aan te toon in watter mate dit relevant is vir waardeopvoeding in die skoolpraktyk. Die toename van sosiale probleme soos armoede, enkelouer-gesinne en VIGS-wesies lei daartoe dat ’n toenemende aantal Suid-Afrikaanse kinders as risiko-leerders bekend staan. Daarom word in hierdie studie ook ondersoek ingestel na moontlike maniere waarop opvoeders positiewe waardes by risiko-leerders kan vestig. Die vestiging, ontwikkeling en internalisering van waardes is ’n langsame en ingewikkelde proses waarin die skool, ouers en die gemeenskap belangrike rolspelers is. Hierdie studie toon dat samewerking tussen die rolspelers baie belangrik is by die vestiging van waardes by Suid-Afrikaanse jongmense, en dat die proses van waardeopvoeding stadig maar seker resultate lewer. Trefwoorde: waardes, waardeopvoeding, karakteropvoeding, risiko-leerders

Thesis (MEdPsych)--Stellenbosch University, 2013. / Bibliography / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A literature search done by the researcher has noted that there is little information available regarding transadolescents’ experience within the South African context. In a society that only acknowledges two genders, transgenderism remains invisible. The transgender minority group tends to be more neglected, misunderstood and stigmatized than their homosexual peers. Transadolescents, who are already in a challenging phase of development, are at risk for negative outcomes such as bullying, scholastic problems, social isolation and depression. The aim of this research is therefore to explore and describe the transadolescents’ subjective experience in their own words. To facilitate this process the research was positioned in the interpretative/constructionist paradigm, in terms of which it is based on the premise that subjective experiences are created during social interaction. Bronfenbrenner’s bio-ecological model was used as theoretical framework to illustrate the reciprocal interactions between the various micro- and macrosystems. The qualitative research approach was used to explicate the essence of the participants’ lived experience. Phenomenology was selected as the most appropriate research design. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with three transadolescents and thematic analysis was used to code and organise the data and to present it in the form of a narrative report. Five themes and associated categories were identified. It was found that the transadolescent experiences identity formation as particularly challenging and that there are individual differences between self-identities and gender expressions. The process of disclosure towards parents is accompanied by considerable anxiety and there are major differences in the disclosure practices that are followed. Parents’ reactions differ and can range from acceptance to eviction. Preference is given to friends who are also seen as being ‘different’ and it can be quite a relief to share their identity with friends regardless of their reactions. Even though South Africa has a policy of inclusive education, the reality is one of discrimination, bullying and isolation. Furthermore, medical services in South Africa are inadequate and transadolescents are exposed to discrimination and unsympathetic professionals. Consequently much must still be done to promote understanding of transadolescents, so that the different contexts in which they move can be better prepared to deliver effective and supportive services. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Tans is daar beperkte inligting beskikbaar omtrent die transadolessent se beleweniswêreld binne die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks. Binne ‘n samelewing wat slegs twee genders erken, speel transgenderisme agter geslote deure af. Die transgender-minderheidsgroep word meer afgeskeep, misverstaan en gestigmatiseer as hul homoseksuele eweknieë. Binne ‘n alreeds uitdagende ontwikkelingsfase, is die transadolessent besonder weerloos vir negatiewe uitkomste soos afknouery, skolastiese probleme, sosiale isolasie en depressie. Die doel van die studie is gevolglik om die transadolessent se subjektiewe belewenis in hul eie woorde te verken en te beskryf. Om hierdie proses te fasiliteer is die studie geposisioneer in die interpretatiewe/ konstruksionistiese paradigma wat voorstel dat subjektiewe ervarings tydens sosiale interaksie geskep word. Bronfenbrenner se bio-ekologiese model is as teoretiese raamwerk gebruik om hierdie wederkerige interaksie tussen die verskillende mikrostelsels en die makrostelsel te illustreer. Die kwalitatiewe navorsingsbenadering is gevolg om ‘n waarheidsgetroue beeld weer te gee van die deelnemers se subjektiewe belewenis en fenomenologie is as mees geskikte navorsingsontwerp gekies. Semi-gestruktureerde onderhoude is met drie transadolessente gevoer en die data is met behulp van die tematiese analise gekodeer, georganiseer en in ‘n narratiewe verslagvorm weergegee. Die data-analise het gelei tot die identifisering van vyf temas en gepaardgaande kategorieë. Daar is bevind dat identiteitsvorming ‘n uitdagende proses vir die transadolessent is en dat individue se self-identiteit en uitlewing van hul identiteit verskil. Die openbaarmakingsproses aan ouers gaan met geweldige angstigheid gepaard en daar is groot individuele verskille in die wyse waarop dit geskied. Ouers reageer verskillend en dit wissel van algehele aanvaarding tot uitsetting. Voorkeur word gegee aan vriende wat ook as ‘anders’ bestempel word en ongeag vriende se reaksie, is dit ‘n verligting om hul identiteit te deel. Ten spyte daarvan dat Suid-Afrika inklusiewe onderwyspraktyke voorstaan, is die realiteit een van diskriminasie, afknouery en isolasie. Voorts is die mediese dienste in Suid-Afrika ontoereikend en transadolessente word blootgestel aan diskriminasie en onsimpatieke professionele persone. Te oordeel hieraan, moet daar baie gedoen word om die transadolessente beter te verstaan sodat die verskillende kontekste waarbinne hulle beweeg, beter voorbereid is om effektiewe en ondersteunende dienste te lewer.

For many decades, the World Health Organisation had highlighted the growing importance of chronic non-communicable diseases in developed and developing countries, with an increase in lifestyle-related diseases. Physical inactivity has been identified as one of the risk factors, in addition to other leading risk factors like diet, and the use of tobacco and alcohol, contributing to the occurrence of non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancers, obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Based on the researcher's observations while living in Belhar community for more then ten years, it was hypothesized that the level of physical inactivity among adolescents could become a public health problem in the future if not addressed immediately.

Background: The South African youth is confronted by unemployment. Ironically, even the youth of Soweto Township experience the harsh realities of unemployment, despite them playing a significant role to fight the apartheid regime. Therefore, the study explores the experiences of the youth of Soweto with regards to unemployment. Method: This study adopted a qualitative research approach and case study design. The purposive sampling method was used to select the sample. The sample consisted of ten unemployed youth of Soweto Township. The unstructured interview was utilised to collect data. Results: One of the main findings in this study was the fact that unemployment has impacted negatively on young people in Soweto Township. Unemployment has led to psychological effects and isolation amongst the jobless youth of Soweto. Conclusion: There is a need for great job opportunities for the youth in South Africa to grow the economy. This could also reduce crime among young people since it is well known that some of the young people have engaged in criminal activities due to unemployment. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

Xenophobia is a notoriously difficult concept to explore, especially within the complex South African environment. This exploration has two elements: the theoretical and the practical. The theoretical element focuses mainly on the theories of xenophobia in South Africa, as well as the theoretical response of the Church to the problem. The practical element is a qualitative empirical exploration using small scale focus group interviews to gain insight into the relationship between xenophobia and religion, with special reference to young Christians of The Methodist Church of Southern Africa. The findings seem to suggest that “being religious” does not prevent xenophobic attitudes and emotions and that there is potential to have xenophobic reactions in people who “perceive” themselves to be religious living in an environment of economic and social hardships. Religious involvement combined with economic and social factors may promote xenophobic reactions. In an indirect way(s) religion may be one of the “causes” of xenophobia. / Philosophy, Practical and Systematic Theology / M. Th. (Practical Theology)

Thesis (MTech (Public Management))--Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2019. / A socio-economic problem presently facing South Africa is the rate of youth unemployment, which is among the highest in the world. The South African Government has been involved in a number of initiatives, together with the advancement of a labour-intensive Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in order to reduce unemployment and poverty. The EPWP was initiated in 2004 with the aim to place the jobless into productive work in the public sector social services where these EPWP beneficiaries are provided with relevant training and transfer of appropriate skills. However, the EPWP only creates temporary work opportunities that have limited influence on the lives of the beneficiaries. The main objective of the study was to examine the performance of the Youth Work Project (YWP) as an EPWP in a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government in order to determine its sustainability of job creation. The secondary aims of the study were to explain the process of the YWP as implemented through the EPWP by a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government. A third objective was to examine whether the Public Works employment opportunities enhance subsequent employability of participants once they exit this programme. Fourthly, recommendations was forwarded as to how best the EPWP can be used as a tool for helping unemployed youth with a permanent work opportunity. The sample frame computed of thirteen (13) individuals, therefore purposive sampling was considered the most suitable technique to use in this study. The semistructured interviews were conducted with five (5) management officials responsible for the EPWP and unstructured questionnaires were administered to eight (8) available EPWP beneficiaries placed at a selected department of the Western Cape Provincial Government.

Text in English / Background: The South African youth is confronted by unemployment. Ironically, even the youth of Soweto Township experience the harsh realities of unemployment, despite them playing a significant role to fight the apartheid regime. Therefore, the study explores the experiences of the youth of Soweto with regards to unemployment. Method: This study adopted a qualitative research approach and case study design. The purposive sampling method was used to select the sample. The sample consisted of ten unemployed youth of Soweto Township. The unstructured interview was utilised to collect data. Results: One of the main findings in this study was the fact that unemployment has impacted negatively on young people in Soweto Township. Unemployment has led to psychological effects and isolation amongst the jobless youth of Soweto. Conclusion: There is a need for great job opportunities for the youth in South Africa to grow the economy. This could also reduce crime among young people since it is well known that some of the young people have engaged in criminal activities due to unemployment. / Psychology / M.A. (Psychology)

The South African context gives rise to a number of significant adversities that challenge the stability of the individual child and the survival of their families. The repercussions of these adversities are profound. Once risk begins to accumulate, the probability of a negative developmental trajectory increases. A group of South African children that are a particularly vulnerable, at risk, and marginalized group are those youth who are excluded from school. Access to the schooling system represents an important node of care and support with the potential of linking vulnerable children to key services. Eight youth from a town in a former homeland in rural KwaZulu Natal, who are excluded from the schooling system, participated in this research. The research aimed to map their experiences of school exclusion through a participatory photo interview technique. Using Bronfenbrenner's (1979) socio-ecological systems theory, this study has indicated that exclusion from school relates to risk factors present in the five contextual systems that a child functions within. From this research one can see how each risk factor adds to the web of exclusion that makes these youth hard to identify, access and help. The findings indicate that there is a need to further investigate the South African child care grant system and the impact it has on access to schooling, as well as to develop macrosystemic interventions to alleviate poverty. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritburg, 2007.