Authors:Sharlotte Tusasiirwe Pages: 1 - 11 Abstract: There is some consensus that colonial white western social work which centers on western philosophy, theory and epistemologies is inappropriate, irrelevant for African contexts. The need to create a culturally appropriate and locally relevant social work has been echoed for decades now with social workers proposing various approaches including indigenisation and decolonisation. I have found the interchangeable use of indigenisation and decolonisation in social work literature rather confusing, leaving me with unanswered questions about what the terms mean and when or how to use these terms. While it may be true that indigenisation and decolonisation are interrelated or inextricably tied because they were brought about by the need to address colonisation in social work where the western model of social work was imposed in other diverse contexts as a universal model that transcends all cultures, it has also been argued that indigenisation and decolonisation are different processes conveying different ideas. This paper seeks to examine these terms to analyse the difference between the approaches and how they can be adopted in the Ugandan context to progress the process of creating culturally appropriate and locally relevant social work. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Mzukisi Xweso, Derick Blaauw, Rinie Schenck Pages: 12 - 20 Abstract: In South Africa and in other parts of the world, day labourers are often faced with contingencies owing to the unregulated nature of their work. The activities of the day labourers fall within the informal sector, with difficult working conditions. This study sought to investigate and assess the coping strategies that day labourers in East London adopt in order to survive. This study utilised a qualitative research approach to gather data from 18 day labourers who were recruited at six hiring sites to participate in the study using semi-structured individual interviews appropriately. Resilience theory provided the theoretical basis for the investigation. The data that the interviews generated was analysed by means of thematic analysis. The findings revealed day labourers’ reliance on various sources of support (including churches), willingness to work according to the requirements of prospective employers, and alternative means of generating income are the key survival strategies adopted by the day labourers through their daily endeavours within the context of their work. The findings underscored the need for coordination among NGOs and government institutions in order to provide a fit-for-purpose combination of strategies to alleviate the immediate material needs of day labourers as well as to enhance their resilience to ensure a just transition to social justice in the long run. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Ricanos Jaure, Alexander Gregory Pages: 21 - 30 Abstract: This paper explores asset based approaches in the support, protection and empowerment for learners in Child Headed Households (CHH) in the context of parental migration in Zimbabwe. Left-behind children in the context of parental labour migration are perceived to be disadvantaged in terms of healthy behaviours and psychosocial functioning because of parental absence. It therefore becomes critical that education and community stakeholder organisations explore the environment of CHH learners in the scope of Ubuntu with the objective of establishing sustainable, roots-driven interventions. This study followed the qualitative research approach and data was collected through a focus group discussion organised, as an information sharing session. Six purposively selected learners in CHH arrangements and seven key community informants from a secondary school in the Shurugwi district of Zimbabwe, informed the study. The study revealed that the optimal utilisation of available environmental assets, capacities and skills that are rooted in culture goes a long way in building resilience. This in turn becomes an important mediating resource in improving the wellbeing and educational experiences of left behind children in Zimbabwe. The understanding is that parents will continue to be absent, hence, harnessing the best out of their circumstances is cardinal in building sustainable support. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Ashadi L Diab, Mustaqim Pabbajah, Kamaruddin, Ratri Nurina Widyanti, Widi Fajar Widyatmoko, Zainal Said Pages: 31 - 41 Abstract: The dispute between the laborers and the corporations never settled well, and yet the local wisdom has never been taken into account. This instance of overriding led to internal disharmony and drove the productivity down. Despite several attempts, either negotiation or judicial processes, the dispute always ends in discontent for both parties. As this situation prolonged, local wisdom and indigenous knowledge must be taken into account. This study explored the potentiality of utilizing local wisdom to end the dispute in an amicable settlement. It was a descriptive study with a descriptive analysis. The data were collected through observations, interviews, and sampling-technique documentations. This study flaunted three stages in the dispute settlement. First, it began with a conciliation settlement between the conflicting parties mediated by the local authorities. Second, industrial dispute settlement through the utilization of Sara Wanua, local wisdom, to facilitate the local community. Third, a final settlement through a legal proceeding in the district court. The utilization of local wisdom in the dispute settlement has a significant impact because of shared cultural values and ethnic relations. Following these three stages of the dispute settlement, this study suggested more frequent socialization to educate people about the functions and the roles the local wisdom held in settling the dispute between the laborers from the local community and the industrial corporations. Hence, a good understanding and practice of local wisdom should keep the dispute down between these conflicting parties. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Zintle Ntshongwana, Pius Tanga Pages: 42 - 49 Abstract: The aim of this paper was to examine impediments that hinder social workers in providing effective services to families confronting family violence at Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Violence within families is both a global and gendered issue. In helping victims to cope with the effects of family violence, social workers provide a number of services. However, social workers encounter numerous challenges that hinder the effectiveness and efficiency of their services. A sample of 10 participants was selected through purposive sampling. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews, which yielded rich information on a host of challenges experienced by social workers. Findings showed clearly that the funding required for ensuring the sustainability of the organisations is insufficient, and that the human resources are unstable. Findings further indicated how culture hinders social workers into properly interact with families confronting family violence. It can be concluded that these challenges delay social workers to achieve the aim of the profession as well as playing their roles fully. Eradicating family violence calls for a multi-sectoral model, as it has broader implications beyond the social welfare system. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Vincent Mabvurira, Faith Kambarami Zengeni, Rosemary Chigevenga Pages: 50 - 57 Abstract: Child trafficking and child smuggling are part of the crimes perpetrated against children. In most cases girls are the most affected as they are exploited for profit. This study examined the processes and policies around child trafficking in Zimbabwe. The study was conducted in Beitbridge and Plumtree border towns. Due to the evasive nature of the area under study, it adopted a qualitative approach. A sample of 22 participants were interviewed. Child smuggling was mainly reported as children were smuggled across the borders predominantly for the purposes of reunification with families among migrant families in working in South Africa. The children were smuggled through buses, taxis, trucks and some went through undesignated and illegal points. As children cross the borders with strangers they are at risk of being exploited and sexually abused. There is therefore need to set up a trans-frontier task force on trafficking between Zimbabwe, South Africa and Botswana. This may help to ascertain whether smuggling cases are not turning into trafficking and to investigate cases in destination cities. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Kabo Diraditsile, Dolly Ntseane Pages: 58 - 66 Abstract: This paper considers the feasibility of entrepreneurship development as a secondary method of social work practice. This is an area where social work profession plays a pivotal role in Botswana. The paper is based on the narrative approach and documentary research methodology to explain this phenomenon. It examines the evolution of social work in Botswana and other African countries and highlights the lessons learnt from the primary and secondary social work methods. It argues that as long as social work remains principally involved in remedial and custodial services, the profession will increasingly find itself marginalized. Hence, it concludes that although entrepreneurship development in social work practice has not yet been fully attained in Botswana, the current situation where a significant number of the social workers are employed in entrepreneurship development sectors should be fully applauded, recognized, encouraged and emulated. Therefore, the paper advocates for adoption of entrepreneurship development in social work on a wider scale across Africa and other regions to address the twin challenges of rising youth unemployment and high levels of poverty. The paper recommends that for positive change to be realized and/or for social work to meaningfully address socioeconomic challenges in Botswana and elsewhere in Africa, it must reappraise its curriculum to give it radical-transformative dimensions that include entrepreneurship development as part of its methods. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
Authors:Sultan Khan Pages: 67 - 75 Abstract: Africa, just like its counterparts in the global South finds itself wanting to support its child development programmes due to poverty. It is a continent ravished by many socio-economic and political factors that impedes the healthy growth of its children. In order for Africa to advance itself, investment in its vulnerable children can help secure the next generation of active and participating citizens. One way to achieve this is through cash transfers which is lauded to alleviate child poverty. South Africa has followed suite to the cash transfer paradigm in its attempt to alleviate poverty amongst millions of its children which takes up a significant share of the national budget. Although South Africa has been generous in providing cash transfers for child care, its efficacy has been both positive and negative. The exact extent of its effects is a grey area. Notwithstanding, the study aims at analysing how child support grants has fared since its implementation and whether mechanisms can be put in place for child and youth care workers to support governments attempt at alleviating child poverty through cash transfers. A total of 45 articles were reviewed of which 13 were in the international domain, 17 in the African continent and the remaining 15 in the South African context. The articles contained policy reports, legislations, statistical reports, minutes of parliamentary meetings and reports, which provided a backdrop to the study. The review covered the contemporary period dating 2015 to 2021. Of these articles, 16 were identified for its relevance, context and conceptual framework in understanding cash transfers and its potential to ameliorate child poverty. Themes derived from these sources of information focussed on the global, continental and South African state of child poverty, the nature of child and multi-dimensional poverty, attempts made in the continent and South Africa to arrest child poverty through cash transfers and the need to look at other social and child care resources that are necessary to supplement child poverty programmes through cash transfers. PubDate: 2022-05-04 Issue No:Vol. 12, No. 1 (2022)
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