This thesis focusses on the Social World of Climbing in North West Wales whilst also drawing on particular examples either nationally or internationally when illustrating certain arguments. The study applies an ethnographic approach in order to examine what climbing is and how its relationship to style and competition is inherently bound with the sport and raises questions of authenticity in its activity. The work attempts to give insights and develop an understanding of processes that are important to the climbing world whilst at the same time taking account of climbers and groupings of climbers positions in relation to it. The study includes both historical and contemporary analysis which is relevant to the work as a whole. The aim of the thesis is to provide a deep understanding of the climbing world and its many facets.

Urban sprawl with the advent of automobile commuting has led to the loss of a “sense of place” and the decline of informal public gathering in the urban core of Windsor, Nova Scotia. Building an integrated sense of community is the thesis objective. An interactive relationship between the town’s history and landmarks, and elements such as edges, paths, and districts, is established in the physical form of a new downtown civic square located at the intersection of the traditional main street (Gerrish) and Grey Street. The civic square enables new, year-round civic activities including a library, market, art gallery, and skating rink, enhanced by informal gathering spaces. The square revives Windsor’s “sense of place,” providing an anchor of public space and activity for citizens a ten-minute walk from surrounding residential neighbourhoods, and offers the opportunity for informal meetings and the element of surprise within the journeys of daily life.

Introduction The use of technology and Internet-based activities (IBAs) is increasing in society. However, seniors with limited experiences with the Internet can experience restricted participation in meaningful activities that are dependent on the Internet. Also, social transitions during aging might lead to reduced social activities and social contacts and to increased experiences of loneliness, all of which might have negative health implications. Therefore, there is a need to advance the knowledge of how occupational therapists can support seniors’ use of IBAs and create opportunities for social contacts and social activities during aging. Aim The overall aim of this thesis is to increase the knowledge of how Internet-based activities influence seniors’ participation in society, how seniors experience and are influenced by support from a social Internet-based occupational therapy intervention, and how different aspects of this intervention can contribute to healthy ageing. Methods In study I, seniors’ experiences of IBAs were explored and described through interviews with 10 seniors (66–82 years old) that were analyzed with the constant comparative method. In study II, a multiple case study with five seniors (65–85 years old) was used to explore the design of an Internet-based occupational therapy social intervention program and how it influenced social activities and social contacts among the participants. The qualitative and quantitative data from multiple sources were analyzed by pattern matching. In study III, an explorative randomized crossover study with an AB/BA design was conducted with 30 seniors (61–89 years old) who were vulnerable to loneliness and who participated in the intervention program. The quantitative data were analyzed with parametric and non-parametric statistics. In study IV, a qualitative interview study was conducted to collect the experiences of 15 seniors (66–87 years old) from the previous intervention process in study III. The interviews were analyzed with the constant comparative method. All participants in studies I–IV were community-dwelling, retired seniors without home-care services.   Results Complex interactions of different aspects influence seniors’ possibilities and preferences for taking part in IBAs. The performance of IBAs yielded different experiences of participation in society (study I). The initial explorative results indicated that the client-centered and individually adapted intervention program supports participation in social IBAs (SIBAs) and other social contexts (study II). After participation in the intervention program, the experiences of loneliness significantly decreased, and satisfaction with social contacts on the Internet increased for one group (study III). If an individual’s requirements are met during the intervention process, experiences of habitual SIBA usage, increased self-reliance, and enriched social contacts and social activities both on and off the Internet might be facilitated (study IV). Conclusion This thesis provides knowledge of how social support, experiences of and accessibility to technology, life-changing events, and identified meaningfulness with online activities influence the motivation to participate in social and Internet-based activities. The occupational therapist should address the individual’s perspective in the intervention program so as to adapt the intervention and to support experiences of satisfactory participation and enhanced social activities and social contacts for seniors. In addition, healthy aging might be supported by the intervention program due to the reduction in loneliness and increased participation in social activities and society. Further evaluation of the framework and content of the intervention program for seniors with restricted participation in IBAs and SIBAs and high levels of loneliness is suggested.

The current study explored the contributions of the Salvation Army (TSA) to social organization in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Being one of the leading Church-based non-governmental organizations (NGOs), TSA plays a fundamental role in delivering social services to the DRC. To understand the organization's social activities in the African state, the researcher adopted a qualitative phenomenological research design to explore the lived experiences of the respondents on TSA's role as a social organization. A sample population of 10 participants (n=10) drawn from Kinshasa, DRC, was used, and in-depth interviews were adopted in collecting data. From the research, it was evident that the primary themes that emerged included shelter, disaster management, education, healthcare, and social growth and development. The research illustrated that TSA's services align with its principles and doctrines of helping humankind. TSA's goal is to alleviate the suffering of humanity by providing basic social services. Hence, TSA collaborates with other organizations, particularly the government, to address immediate social challenges affecting a particular community. The research concluded that TSA is a social organization driven by the desire to serve all people equally, whether believers or non-believers address social challenges impeding their well-being. TSA continues to play a pivotal role in alleviating the well-being of communities in impoverished Kinshasa, DRC.

Introduction: Health, and well-being of older Canadians have been extensively studied. Less is known about health and well-being of older Canadians with disability. Study Objectives: 1) describe social participation patterns of older Canadian adults with disability; 2) determine the most commonly reported barriers for their participation in leisure and social activities; and 3) examine the independent effect of participation in leisure and social activities on their general health and life satisfaction. Methods: A secondary analysis of cross-sectional data from the 2006 Participation and Activity Limitation Surveys (PALS) was performed. Results: A significant independent effect of participation in leisure and social activities on the positive general health and positive life satisfaction of older Canadians with disability, for both men and women, was confirmed. Conclusions: Participation in leisure and social activities is a potential venue to enhance health, and well-being of older Canadian adults with disability. / October 2016

The thesis deals with a separate analysis of the local development and the state of social activities. Closer examination focuses on the method of financing and support of local development and civil society initiatives in the Central Bohemian Region. In the Czech Republic are these initiatives defined best by the competition "Village of the Year" since 1995. The aim of this work is to assess the impact of civic initiatives in the local development and quality of life in selected communities. The results of the competition in the field of communities' social life are represented by both the current state and the information from directed interviews and surveys. These interviews were conducted with the representatives of the communities awarded for a community life. Contribution of the thesis will be to provide partial conclusions and recommendations concerning the potential development of rural communities with regard to the existence of civil initiatives, primarily in the Central Bohemian Region. Some general or cross-sectional findings can be applied to other regions in the Czech Republic.

Sociality, and especially sociocultural activities in the community are very important when experiencing the value and meaning of the person’s life, developing such qualities as friendship, spirituality, mutual understanding, responsibility and self-help, preserving traditions and national culture, feeling secure and satisfied. The aim of this thesis is to discuss senior pupils’ participation peciliarities in useful social activities considering territorial community. Pupils’ useful social activities in the territorial community is one of the innovations which appeared when implementing education reform. Social (useful for the society) activities are the civil, ecological and other activities offered or chosen by the pupils themselves and performed at a suitable time. The aim of these activities is to develop pupils’ understanding of values, personal, social, communication and work skills, which are called general personal skills in the General Syllabus. The research has shown that school’s openness to the local community’s social, cultural and civil needs establishing partnership with various institutions determines the peculiarities of the useful social activities. It was also observed that pupils, who live in the city, have greater possibilities to choose useful social activities than the ones who live in the region. However, region school pupils have taken more active part in useful social activities in the recent years than the city pupils.

The theme of this diploma thesis is the Multipurpose Center of Jevišovice. The complex consists of two buildings and an adjacent parking lot. Building A is wheelchair-accessible, stand alone with a flat roof over three above-ground floors. The building has a gallery, a marriage hall and the Jewsovice office. Buildings B are situated as separate buildings, with a flat roof over two above-ground floors. There are rooms for social activities in the building.

Syftet med litteraturöversikten var att sammanställa och beskriva äldre personers erfarenheter av social delaktighet vid ensamhet och social isolering. Litteraturöversikten genomfördes med resultat från 13 st kvalitativa artiklar inhämtade från databaserna PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO och AMED. Författarna identifierade likheter och skillnader och dataanalysen resulterade i två teman; När det sociala livet förändras samt Att upprätthålla social delaktighet. Resultatet visar på att förluster i det sociala nätverket och sviktande hälsa påverkar äldre personers sociala delaktighet. Det framkommer även att aktiviteter som utförs i enskildhet eller tillsammans med andra var ett sätt att hantera förluster i det sociala nätverket. Vidare framkommer det att nära relationer samt att engagera sig i andra och göra aktiviteter tillsammans är viktiga för välmående och kan även fungera som stöd vid förändringar i livet. Slutsatsen i litteraturöversikten är att klientcentrering är av vikt för att främja till social delaktighet då äldre personer har olika behov och hanterar förändring på olika sätt. Vidare är det av vikt att utveckla interventioner med fokus på aktiviteter i sällskap med andra för att stödja social delaktighet för äldre personer. / The purpose of this literature review was to compile and describe older people's experiences of social participation in loneliness and social isolation. The literature review was performed with results from 13 qualitative articles obtained from the databases PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO and AMED. The authors identified similarities and differences and the data analysis resulted in two themes; When social life changes and To maintain social participation. The results show that losses in the social network and failing health influences older people’s social participation. It also appears that activities performed alone or together with others were a way of dealing with losses in the social network. Furthermore, it emerges that close relationships and doing activities for and with others are important for well-being and can also serve as support for changes in life. The conclusion of this literature review is that client centeredness is important for promoting social participation as older people have different needs and handle a changed life situation in different ways. Further, it is important to develop interventions with focus on activities in the company of others to support possibilities for social participation among older people.

Life at the gates of the city