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Social development and women : theory and practice

Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 2002 / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This research investigates the social development approach from the
viewpoint of developing an understanding of the applicability thereof in a
social work environment in a South African context.
Based on the level of underdevelopment in the country, the social
development process, which involves a dynamic multi-disciplinary approach
with a strong emphasis on the positive outcomes of growth and
empowerment, is thought to offer a wide range of possible fields of
application.
To provide clarity and gain insight into the dimensions and elements
involved, different aspects of the South African and international scenarios
provide a background for the arguments promoting the social development
approach as a positive intervention for the helping professions.
The purpose of this research is to broaden the field of knowledge for
practitioners and organisations dealing with poverty and deprivation by
providing an extension of options in practice models.
The research report includes an investigation of the elements and concepts
associated with social development, with particular emphasis on the role of
women. Knowledge and understanding of these concepts will assist in
widening the horizons of field workers and assist in deciding on appropriate
responses when faced with the problems of South Africa and its apartheid
legacy.
Development in the South African context is examined with the focus on the
main role players, namely government and the welfare sector. Recurring
themes in development programmes that have been identified as elements for
success are described by means of case examples from good international practice models. The applicability of many of these cases should serve as
stimuli for instituting initiatives in local situations of need.
The empirical research used the qualitative method to examine, by means of
focus groups, the effects of the identified elements in five social development
projects in the Western Cape. The focus groups were conducted with the aid
of open-ended question guides. The findings and responses of the focus group
respondents were analysed and discussed in relation to findings described in
the literature by various authors.
It is believed that the findings of this research can be utilised as practical
guidelines for instituting and running social development projects by social
workers, as well as practitioners from other fields, to address the problems of
poverty and underdevelopment in the country by paying special attention to
the role of women in such projects. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie navorsing ondersoek die maatskaplike ontwikkeling benadering met
die oog daarop om 'n begrip te kry van die toepaslikheid daarvan in 'n
maatskaplike werkomgewing in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks.
Die toestand van onderontwikkeling in die land het tot gevolg dat die
maatskaplike ontwikkelingsproses, wat 'n sterk multi-dissiplinêre benadering
behels en positiewe gevolge van groei en bemagtiging beklemtoon,
waarskynlik 'n wye veld van toepassingsgeleenthede bied.
Ten einde duidelikheid en insig te kry oor die omvang van die veld en die
beginsels wat ter sprake is, word die argumente wat die maatskaplike
ontwikkeling benadering ondersteun teen die agtergrond van verskillende
aspekte van Suid-Afrikaanse en internasionale toestande bespreek.
Die doel van die navorsing is om die kennisveld van maatskaplike werk en
organisasies wat te doen het met armoede en verwaarlosing te verbreed en die
keuses van praktykmodelle uit te brei.
Die navorsingsverslag sluit 'n ondersoek in van konsepte en elemente
waarmee maatskaplike ontwikkeling geassosieer word, met die klem op die
rol van vroue. Kennis en begrip van die toepassing van hierdie konsepte sal
veldwerkers se horisonne verbreed en help met besluitneming oor gepaste
diensleweringsmodelle wanneer met die probleme van Suid-Afrika en die
gevolge van apartheid gekonfronteer word.
Ontwikkeling in die Suid-Afrikaanse konteks word ondersoek met die klem
op die hoof rolspelers in die veld, nl. die regering en die welsynsektor. Herhalende temas in internasionale ontwikkelingsprogramme as elemente
van sukses is geïdentifiseer en word beskryf d.m.v. gevallestudies van
internasionale goeie praktyke.
Die toepaslikheid van baie van hierdie gevallestudies behoort as
aanmoediging te dien vir inisiatiewe op plaaslike vlak.
Vir die empiriese ondersoek, is gebruik gemaak van die kwalitatiewe metode
om, d.m.v. fokusgroepe by vyf projekte in die Wes-Kaap, die effektiwiteit van
die geïdentifiseerde elemente vir sukses te toets. Die fokusgroepe is gelei aan
die hand van 'n oop vraelys.
Die reaksies van die deelnemers aan die fokusgroep is verwerk en in die
konteks van die literatuurstudie bespreek.
Dit word aanvaar dat die bevindings van die navorsing deur maatskaplike
werkers en ander dissiplines gebruik kan word as praktiese riglyne by die
beplanning en loodsing van maatskaplike ontwikkeling projekte in die
bekamping van armoede en onderontwikkeling, met spesiale aandag aan die
rol van vroue.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/53057
Date12 1900
CreatorsNieman, A. J.
ContributorsGreen, S., Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Social Work.
PublisherStellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Source SetsSouth African National ETD Portal
Languageen_ZA
Detected LanguageUnknown
TypeThesis
Format138 pages
RightsStellenbosch University

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