THE PROCESS OF DEFINING THE CONCEPT OF SUSTAINABILITY: A CASE STUDY OF THE “HOLDING HANDS” INCOME-GENERATING COMMUNITY PROJECTS IN THE NORTH WEST PROVINCE
Abstract
The problem of poverty is multi-dimensional and has many facets and levels. In South Africa the lack of jobs is adding to this problem. Therefore, a strategy to alleviate poverty is through income-generating community projects. In the evaluation of community projects, it is always an issue to know when a project is sustainable. This study focuses on the “Holding Hands” income-generating community projects in the North West Province of South Africa. The project team accepted the Brundtland definition of sustainability to plan the interventions. However it seems to be important to know what the understanding is of sustainability by the participants to be able to measure progress of the project. The aim of this paper is to establish a demographic profile of a typical member of an income-generating community project in the “Holding Hands” project and to describe their understanding of the concept of Sustainability. The “Holding Hands” income-generating community project developed over time since 2001 through Participatory Action Research, including quantitative and qualitative methods. It includes 5 groups of women from the previously disadvantaged communities in different districts of the North West Province of South Africa. A survey was conducted and information on rating aspects of the meaning of sustainability to the project members was collected. Statistical analysis included frequency distributions, correlations and comparisons between different geographical areas. This is the first analysis of this kind done in the “Holding Hands” project. This information creates knowledge about the viewpoint of the indigenous communities in an income generating project and can be used to guide other similar projects towards a realistic planning for success. It can also be useful to influence policy in terms of job creation and entrepreneurship.
Keywords: Assets, community development, community projects, disadvantaged communities, income-generating projects, indigenous knowledge, livelihoods, poverty, sustainability, sustainability indicators, skills developmentKeywords
Assets community development community projects disadvantaged communities incomegenerating projects indigenous knowledge livelihoods poverty sustainability sustainability indicators skills development
References
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- Dyubhele, N. S. (2011). “The survival strategies of unemployed rural women: a Case study of Wooldridge”. PHD - Business and Economic Sciences. Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. South Africa.
- Ellis, S. M. & Steyn, H. S. (2003). “Practical Significance (Effect Sizes) Versus or in Combination with Statistical Significance (P-Values)”. Management Dynamics. 12 (4).
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- Oldewage-Theron, W. and Slabbert, T, J, C. (2010). “Depth of Poverty in an Informal Settlement in the Vaal Region, South Africa”. Health SA Gesondheid. 15 (1).
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- Van Niekerk, L. (2006). “Women’s income-generating activities in a disadvantaged farming community: Towards sustainability”. Dissertation - Masters in Consumer Sciences. Potchefstroom: NWU. South Africa.
- Van Niekerk, L. & van Niekerk, D. (2009). “Participatory Action Research: Addressing Social Vulnerability of Rural Women through Income-Generating Activities”. JAMBA: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies. 2(1).
- Vorster, H.H., Wissing, M.P., Venter, C.S., Kruger, H.S., Kruger, A., Malan, N.T., De Ridder, J.H., Veldman, F.J., Steyn, H.S., Margarets, B.M. & Macintyre, U. (2000). “The Impact of Urbanization on Physical, Physiological and Mental Health of Africans in the Northwest Province of South Africa: The THUSA Study”. South African Journal of Sciences. (96).
Abstract
References
- Bell, S., & Morse, S. (2008). Sustainability Indicators. Measuring the Immeasurable? . Cornwall
- UK: TJ International.
- Blewitt, J. Ed. (2008). Community, Empowerment and Sustainable Development. Cornwall UK: TJ International
- Bonthuys, A., Botha, K. F. H., Nienhaber, A. W., Freeks, F. E. & Kruger, A. (2011). “The Effect of The LIFEPLAN® Programme on the Psychological Wellbeing of a Rural Community in South Africa”. Journal of Psychology in Africa. 21 (3).
- Chachamovich, E., Fleck, M. P., & Power, M. (2008). “Literacy Affected to Adequately Discriminate Among Categories in Multipoint Likert Scales”. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 62 (2009).
- Dyubhele, N. S. (2011). “The survival strategies of unemployed rural women: a Case study of Wooldridge”. PHD - Business and Economic Sciences. Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. South Africa.
- Ellis, S. M. & Steyn, H. S. (2003). “Practical Significance (Effect Sizes) Versus or in Combination with Statistical Significance (P-Values)”. Management Dynamics. 12 (4).
- Field, A. (2009). Discovering Statistics Using SPSS. 3rd Ed. London: Sage Publications.
- Goduka, N. (2012). “Re-Discovering Indigenous Knowledge – Ulwazi Lwemveli for Strengthening Sustainable Livelihood Opportunities within Rural Contexts in the Eastern Cape Province”. Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems. 11 (1).
- Green, J. M. (2008). Trials and tribulations of setting up a community energy shop in a rural area, Kwazulu-Natal: Lessons learnt. http://timetable.cput.ac.za/_other_web_files/_cue/DUE/2007/PDF/015M_Green.pdf Date of access: 8 March 2012.
- Hortensia, M. C. B. (2008). “Income generating NGOs in post-apartheid South African townships: What role and challenge in poverty reduction? A case study of Women for Peace, Kagiso”. Dissertation - Masters in Arts. Johannesburg. University of Witwatersrand. South Africa
- Kadozo, N. (2009). “Sustainable livelihood approaches: The future for income generating projects in urban areas? An evaluation of five income generating projects in Tembisa. Dissertation” - Master’s Degree. Pretoria: UNISA. South Africa
- Kruger, A., Lemke, S., Phometsi, M., Van’t Riet, H., Pienaar, A.E. & Kotze, G. (2006). “Poverty and Household Food Security of Black South African Farm Workers: Legacy of Social Inequalities”. Public Health Nutrition, 9 (7).
- Lemke, S., Bellows, A.C. & Heuman, N. (2009). “Gender and Sustainable Livelihoods: Case Study of South African Farm Workers”. Innovation and Sustainable Development. 4 (2/3).
- Mayer, J.M., Gordhan, S., Manxeba, R., Hughes, C., Foley, P., Maroc, C., Lolwana, P., & Nell, M. (2011). Development Planning Division Working Paper Series no. 28. Johannesburg: Development Bank of Southern Africa
- Makhalane, V. (2009). “The assessment of factors contributing to the sustainability of poverty relief projects in the Eastern Cape”. Dissertation - Master’s Degree. Port Elizabeth: Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University. South Africa.
- Meyiwa, T. & Ngubentombi, S. (2010). “Reflecting on Research Practices and Indigenous Community Benefits for Poverty Alleviation Purposes in the Eastern Seaboard Regions of South Africa”. Indilinga: African Journal of Indigenous Knowledge Systems. 9 (2).
- Mokgotho, R. F. (2010). “Problems affecting the sustainability of income-generating project at Hlatlolang ABET Centre”. Dissertation - Master’s Degree Polokwane: University of Limpopo. South Africa.
- Niesing, C.M. (2012). E”valuation of sustainability indicators used in the Holding Hands community project in the North West province”. Dissertation - MBA. Potchefstroom: NWU. South Africa.
- Niesing, C.M. & Scholtz, E.M. (2013). “Income-generating community projects: The role of motivation and sustainability”. In Bisschoff, C.A., Ed. Human capital management. Potchefstroom:North-West University. p. 36-50.
- Nkosi, Z. E. (2010). “The impact of income generating projects on women in Utrech”t. Dissertation - Master’s Degree. Empangeni: University of Zululand. South Africa.
- Oldewage-Theron, W. and Slabbert, T, J, C. (2010). “Depth of Poverty in an Informal Settlement in the Vaal Region, South Africa”. Health SA Gesondheid. 15 (1).
- Pronyk, P. M., Harpham, T., Busza, J., Phetla, G., Morison, L.A., Hargreaves, J. R., Kim, J. C., Watts, H. C. & Porter, J. D. (2008). “Can Social Capital Be Intentionally Generated? A Randomized Trail from Rural South Africa”. Social Science & Medicine. 67.
- United Nations. (1987). “Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future”. http://www.un-documents.net/our-common-future.pdf
- Van Niekerk, L. (2006). “Women’s income-generating activities in a disadvantaged farming community: Towards sustainability”. Dissertation - Masters in Consumer Sciences. Potchefstroom: NWU. South Africa.
- Van Niekerk, L. & van Niekerk, D. (2009). “Participatory Action Research: Addressing Social Vulnerability of Rural Women through Income-Generating Activities”. JAMBA: Journal of Disaster Risk Studies. 2(1).
- Vorster, H.H., Wissing, M.P., Venter, C.S., Kruger, H.S., Kruger, A., Malan, N.T., De Ridder, J.H., Veldman, F.J., Steyn, H.S., Margarets, B.M. & Macintyre, U. (2000). “The Impact of Urbanization on Physical, Physiological and Mental Health of Africans in the Northwest Province of South Africa: The THUSA Study”. South African Journal of Sciences. (96).
Details
| Primary Language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal Section | Articles |
| Authors | |
| Publication Date | August 31, 2015 |
| Submission Date | August 30, 2015 |
| Published in Issue | Year 2015Volume: 1 Issue: 2 |
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