D.Ed / Communities in a society consist of individuals within those communities. There are many individual members in those communities who are not effectively involved in serving that society. This study focuses on guiding individual members in a society to effective service in their community. Individuals who report for service in a community are referred to as volunteers. Many people don’t experience full spiritual health because they live selfcentred lives. People don’t realize that there is value in community service. Making a difference in the community by voluntary service leads to inner fulfilment and meaning. To accompany volunteers in finding their places of service, the following research question was asked: “What can be done to further voluntary community service?” The aim of this study was the description, implementation and evaluation of a Psycho-Educational Program to mobilize service in individuals to thereby further mental health. From a methodological viewpoint a qualitative research strategy was applied to realize the purpose mentioned above. A method of scouting and describing was further applied. The field - work was done by means of semi-structured interviews with volunteers. The results obtained were analysed and categorized. The findings of the data were justified by means of literature control. The trustworthiness of the findings was assured in this way. The following main themes were identified: · Points of departure to discover your place of service · Establishing healthy relationships The results of the data analysis show that the volunteer wants to know what value community service has to offer before he makes his time available for service. The volunteer’s involvement in the community should benefit his spiritual health by his experiencing meaning, peace and even health. The research indicated the fact that the volunteer should move through a process of self-discovery to find his place of service. When the volunteer discovers who he is and organizes his life accordingly, it should promote meaning to life. In the research it surfaced that volunteers in many cases experience that human relationships are inadequate. People from different backgrounds and with different types of personality form part of the community team. Therefore an effort should be made to further healthy inter-personal relationships. It is necessary that volunteers develop the social skills to promote healthy inter-personal relationships. In the research it also became clear that the facilitator plays an important role in the volunteer’s guiding process. He must guide the volunteer to find his place of service and to make him part of the community. Subsequently a service program for volunteers was developed. The program was developed out of the themes and categories. The program’s intent is to guide the volunteer in discovering his place of service. By being involved in the field of service which compliments his true “I” or identity, mental health will be attained. Secondly the program’s intent is to equip facilitators so that volunteers can be empowered for service. In conclusion the implementation and evaluation were discussed. Regard to the implementation, it was recommended that community leaders be trained during workshops to implement the service program in their communities. Thereafter they should develop facilitators in their respective communities who will guide volunteers in the process of finding their own places of service. The program was facilitated to a number of volunteers. Their experience was related during a focus - group interview. The data collected were analysed and categorized. The following conclusions were made: The program led to the fact that they realized the value of community service. The partakers discovered their true “I” or identity. This knowledge could be used to determine which type of service would lead to the greatest mental health. They also learned the necessary interpersonal skills for effective community service. The thesis therefore puts a community service program in place that will guide volunteers to find their place in service and to live to the full. In that way they will contribute effectively to society and will also benefit in mental health.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:uj/uj:14736 |
| Date | 19 November 2008 |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Johannesburg |
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