Social development: theory, practice and evaluation

Abstract

Prior to 1976 few facilities and projects existed to serve the underprivileged communities in Grahamstown. Numerous attempts to establish development programmes had failed. From 1976 to 1981 informal attempts were initiated and a number of community based facilities were established. From 1981 to 1991 the Centre for Social Development assumed responsibility for this work and was able, with an enlarged staff, to inaugurate a wide range of projects and programmes. These cater to thousands of deprived people and enable them and their children to realise an improved quality of life. The dynamic processes and policies which have been employed are investigated. The value of this work is noteworthy because of the limited number of research papers on indigenous grassroots development projects in South Africa. The methods which have been utilised to enable unemployed people to play meaningful roles in their own communities are investigated. These include the establishment of much needed facilities and the in-service training of workers and committee teams to run and service them. Of particular importance is the role and structure of the Centre as an umbrella and resource organisation. The work of the Centre and its projects is described and evaluated. The qualitative, quantitative, exploratory and descriptive methods are used. The relationships between social welfare, community work and social planning are considered in relation to the theoretical base of the Centre. The situation in the Black and Coloured townships of Grahamstown, where most of the projects are located, is described with special reference to population, housing, basic services, crime and disease. Reasons for the high unemployment rates are enumerated. Various development models are described and their strengths and weaknesses assessed. Of particular significance are the origins of the Centre, the qualities brought to the project by the founding Director, its fundraising techniques, and procedures for training, supervision and project support. Aspects of development strategy not stressed in the literature, but of particular importance in the South African situation, are highlighted. These include the basic necessity for adequate financing, the provision of bursaries for tertiary study, the importance of nutritious food, the creation of job opportunities and the value of child centred projects as an access to the wider community. The necessity of financial control in the individual projects is also stressed. The primary aim of this work is to ascertain how projects have been established and maintained in a community where nothing on this scale has been attempted before. A secondary objective has been to find the theoretical base that best suits the work of the Centre. This is the social planning model in the social welfare field