Browsing by Subject "Community development"

Now showing 1 - 3 of 3
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Bridging the gap: investigating challenges and way forward for intersectoral provision of psychosocial rehabilitation in South Africa
    (BioMed Central, 2016-03-09) Brooke-Sumner, Carrie; Lund, Crick; Petersen, Inge
    Background: Intersectoral collaboration between government sectors such as Health and Social Development and nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) in communities is crucial for provision of psychosocial rehabilitation (PSR) for those with severe mental illness. This study aims to provide recommendations for strengthening such intersectoral collaboration in South Africa and with relevance to other low and middle income countries (LMIC), particularly African countries. Methods: Twenty-four in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 key informants from the South African Department of Health, two key informants from the Department of Social Development, four key informants from the NGO sector and one key informant from a service user organisation at national level. Framework analysis was conducted with NVivo 10 software. Results: Challenges to intersectoral work identified were lack of communication between sectors, problems delin eating roles, and each sector’s perception of lack of support from other sectors. Participant-identified strategies for addressing these challenges included improving communication between sectors, promoting leadership from all levels and formalising intersectoral relationships through appropriate written agreements; as well as ensuring that the available resources for PSR are effectively re-directed to district level. Conclusions: This study has outlined several directions for progress to address challenges for intersectoral working for PSR in South Africa. These may be of relevance to other LMIC, particularly those in Africa. Political will and a longterm view will be necessary to realise these strategies.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Citizen participation : a problem when beneficiaries are not involved in the establishment of a service
    (1988) Gamede, Sibongile Elizabeth; Nghatsane, David M
    There are problems concerning citizen participation in projects especially in the NICRO-Vaal Service. This study reviews participation of community residents in establishing a Welfare Service for crime prevention and rehabilitation of offenders in the Vaal-Triangle Area. Participation is reviewed with special reference to the beneficiaries of the service. The study has al so reviewed the history of citizen participation, as well as the different models and modes of participation in projects. Participation in the NICRO-Vaal Service is divided into two categories. There is participation by community residents who are interested in the project because there has never been a service that was specifically concentrating on prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families and crime-prevention programmes in the area. These community residents have been receiving guidance from the National Council for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders. They formed a committee which is still administering NICRO Services in the area. The second category of participation, is participation by the beneficiaries of the service. Service beneficiaries have been attending all meetings where they were invited by the committee. They endorsed the committee's activities, but they have never been actively involved in NICRO Services. This became clear when the transport services that were organized for the families of prisoners, were administered at a loss. This is indicating that there is "limited" participation from the beneficiaries' si.de. They are still not active in NICRO Services in general. The hypothesis in this study is, "A Service that 1S established without the beneficiaries' involvement is consequently weakened". Both primary and secondary resources of information are used. The information pertaining to the history of the project was obtained from the records of the National Council for Crime Prevention and Rehabilitation of Offenders (NICRO) and the Minutes of the NICRO-Vaal Services Committee. Information from the beneficiaries of the service was obtained by administering an interview schedule to families of prisoners. The study's hypothesis has been confirmed. The study concludes by proposing an alternative model of participation. Human service organizers will benefit from the study's findings by learning different strategies and modes of starting a project.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Open Access
    Makgotla : a vehicle for development in rural communities?
    (1996) Mangokwana, Andries Mphoto; O'Brien, Connie
    This is an exploratory study using a qualitative approach. This study attempts to explore the nature of makgotla found in the rural community of Ramokgopa. It examines the structure and operation, nature of services rendered, successes, areas of concern as well as the role of makgotla played in community development. The primary objective was to assess the viability of makgotla as a vehicle for development in rural communities. Data was collected via in-depth interviews, and using a community-forum approach. Eleven headmen/key members and five consumers of services were selected for interviewing. Two community meetings were also held for the same purpose. The study found that makgotla have taken initiatives and efforts to develop their own community. This is in spite of the fact that there are areas of concern like gender sensitivity that need to be addressed. The study concludes with some recommendations, one of them being that local government officials be made aware of the presence of makgotla and how best to engage in a dialogue which will reap benefits for the community.