Abstract

205 submissions

# Sort descending	Operations	Status	Status	Title	Lastname	Firstname	eMail	Institution	Title of Presentatation	Theme Selection	Abstract
44	View	Accepted	Accepted	Dr.	Matsea	Thabisa	[email protected]	University of Venda	Social work and faith-based organizations collaboration: strengthening response to mental health problems in rural areas	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	Mental health problems have become prevalent concern that affects individuals, groups, and communities significantly. Social workers and faith leaders are often the first point of contact when individuals and families face mental health problems or traumatic events. While social work is known for its role in promoting mental health and preventing mental health problems, faith-based organizations can play an important role in supporting individuals and families experiencing mental health problems and encouraging them to seek help. Faith-based interventions appear to be a culturally sensitive way to address mental health problems. Drawing on secondary data and the author’s research on mental health related issues in rural arears, this paper explores the opportunities that can be created because of collaboration between social work and faith-based organizations. It will analyze their role in dealing with mental health problems. The paper will also explore how this collaboration can strengthen response to mental health problems.
45	View	Accepted	Accepted	Dr.	Bredell	Sandra	[email protected]	Hugenote Kollege	A WORK-LIFE PERSPECTIVE ON THE SUBJECTIVE WELLBEING OF SOCIAL WORKERS	THEME 4: Quality management and enhancement of social services	During the COVID-19 pandemic an array of situations needed the attention of frontline social workers, who already faced high caseloads and who were expected to push aside their own families’ challenges to render services in often unsafe environments in uncertain times. This paper reports on a study, which seeks to gain an understanding of the subjective wellbeing of social workers from a work-life perspective. In this qualitative study, a semi-structured interview schedule was used to interview 11 frontline social workers and 12 supervisors. Key findings suggest that participants felt stressed and overworked and they do not receive adequate supervisory support, other than related to work issues, and they admitted to struggling with work-life balance. Recommendations focussed on a connection between the subjective wellbeing of social workers in both their work and life domains within eight dimensions of wellness, namely emotional, financial, social, spiritual, occupational, physical, intellectual and environmental dimensions. 149 words
46	View	Accepted	Accepted	Dr.	Kubanga	Kefentse	[email protected]	The University of Alabama	2. Exploring the Efficacy of Microfinance Interventions in Enhancing the Resilience of Low-Income Women in Botswana	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	Financial empowerment of low-income populations has long been hailed as a strategy that could foster their long-term resilience. However, little is known about how which microfinance programs are associated with the resilience of low-income women in Botswana. Through the lens of the resilience theory, this phenomenological study explored resilience experiences of 19 low-income women enrolled in a microfinance program. Content analysis was adopted to develop themes around participants` strengths, talents, skills and personal traits they used to overcome adversity. The findings revealed that women`s strengths included being industrious, dexterous and caregivers, and talented in baking, sewing, crocheting and hairdressing. Religion and prayer were a source of hope during difficult times while their entrepreneurial skills were a means of survival. This study demonstrates that interdisciplinary collaborations between microfinance providers and human behavior practitioners could strengthen economic empowerment interventions to leverage on clients` positive attributes to respond to their non-financial needs.
47	View	Rejected	Accepted	Dr.	Kubanga	Kefentse	[email protected]	The University of Alabama	Exploring the Efficacy of Microfinance Interventions in Enhancing the Resilience of Low-Income Women in Botswana	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	Financial empowerment of low-income populations has long been hailed as a strategy that could foster their long-term resilience. However, little is known about how which microfinance programs are associated with the resilience of low-income women in Botswana. Through the lens of the resilience theory, this phenomenological study explored resilience experiences of 19 low-income women enrolled in a microfinance program. Content analysis was adopted to develop themes around participants` strengths, talents, skills and personal traits they used to overcome adversity. The findings revealed that women`s strengths included being industrious, dexterous and caregivers, and talented in baking, sewing, crocheting and hairdressing. Religion and prayer were a source of hope during difficult times while their entrepreneurial skills were a means of survival. This study demonstrates that interdisciplinary collaborations between microfinance providers and human behavior practitioners could strengthen economic empowerment interventions to leverage on clients` positive attributes to respond to their non-financial needs.
48	View	Accepted	Accepted	Ms.	Polaki	Reatile	[email protected]	NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO	Reasons for Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among National University of Lesotho students	THEME 1: Promoting stakeholder partnerships that protect, support and enhance resilience during adverse events and trauma	Covid-19 is a contagious disease caused by coronavirus. Vaccine hesitancy is the delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccination services. This paper looks into the reasons for Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy among National University Lesotho students. The study used purposive and snowball sampling methods to select 24 participants; 21 students and 3 key informants. The study found reasons for vaccine hesitancy to include possibility for side effects, conspiracy theories, religious beliefs, short time for vaccine development, fear of needles, preferred natural immunity and lack of information. This paper addresses the gaps in Covid-19 vaccine hesitancy studies as most were conducted in western countries and not much in Africa especially in Lesotho. The study recommends educating people about the benefits of taking the vaccine while disseminating information on what Covid-19 is.
49	View	Accepted	Accepted	Mr.	Sehlabane	Katiso	[email protected]	National University of Lesotho	Socio-Educational Coping and Survival Mechanisms Utilised by Lecturers and Students at the National University of Lesotho for Sustenance Amidst Covid-19.	THEME 4: Quality management and enhancement of social services	It remains without a doubt that the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic did bring with it ginormous of economic and other challenges, these which were less prepared for, particularly by less developed countries, Lesotho included. The lengthy lockdown which was abruptly imposed mandated of the National University of Lesotho to resort to online teaching and learning, the avenue which was not of popular preference before. A myriad of social and educational challenges accompanied this initiative. It necessitated by this reason that both the instructors and students cohorts develop survival and coping mechanisms accordingly. The study does intent therefore to examine these mechanisms, using resilience theory to guide the study. The study will utilise a qualitative research design, preferring herein a thematic analysis. Both students and lecturers will be sampled using purposive sampling technique. Interview guides will be preferred for data collection.
50	View	Accepted	Accepted	Dr.	Xaba	Fikile	[email protected]	University of Zululand	COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, ECOTOURISM AND TRADITIONAL LEADERSHIP INTERFACE IN BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION.	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	Ecotourism is one of the main economic drivers of community development. The degradation of land and extinction of species along the coast, because of natural disasters may be regarded as the main threats to sustainable livelihood. This paper serves to explore if the interface of community development, ecotourism and traditional leadership serve as the key drivers for economic development and sustainable livelihood. A qualitative design was used to conduct the study, involving traditional leaders, programme officials, project managers and owners of ecotourism ventures in four local municipalities situated in Northern KwaZulu- Natal in South Africa. 20 participants from uMkhanyakude District Municipality were recruited through a purposive sampling method. The Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) was used as an explanatory lens. In findings, the interface of community development, ecotourism, and traditional leadership serves as the key drivers for economic development and sustainable livelihood in uMkhanyakude District Municipality. The paper concluded that the human beings’ reliance on plants and animals is indispensable. Keywords: Community development, traditional leadership, ecotourism, economic drivers, Sustainable Livelihoods Approach.
51	View	Accepted	Accepted	Dr.	Mamaleka	Mmaphuti	[email protected]	UNIVERSITY OF VENDA	Effective Supervision is still a major concern: Challenges observed during the training of supervisors.	THEME 4: Quality management and enhancement of social services	The paper shares some experiences gathered during the supervision training of some supervisors for the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The University of Venda, Department of Social Work conducts workshops for supervisors who assist in supervising the 4th-year-level students. The observation made shows challenges that question the validity of supervision as key in social workers’ training. Challenges such as academic base particularly on the application of theories, supervision processes, and functions as key factors are wanting. Failure to address these challenges affects social work as a practice-based profession and an academic discipline as defined by ASSW & IFSW (2014). Measures to be deployed in mitigating the challenges observed will be shared. The recommendations will make a significant contribution to enhance the training and practice of social work as a profession. Keywords: supervision, social work, profession, training
52	View	Accepted	Accepted	Ms.	sikhitha	Tshireledzo Vannesa	[email protected]	UNIVERSITY OF VENDA	ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL WORK SERVICES TOWARDS ADDRESSING BARRIERS TO LEARNING IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN SIBASA CIRCUIT, VHEMBE DISTRICT	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	This study investigated social work services in addressing barriers to learning in public schools, Sibasa Circuit in Vhembe District. The study was conducted in two public secondary schools, focusing on Grade 11 and 12 learners. A qualitative study that used an exploratory research design was conducted. Purposive sampling was used to draw a sample from learners, educators, and social workers. Semi-structured individual interviews and focus groups were used to collect data and were thematically analyzed. The findings revealed that learners encountered the following barriers: teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, bullying, peer pressure, and poverty, which disturbs them to focus on school activities. The findings also revealed that social workers should provide psychosocial counseling, and educational support in addressing barriers to learning. The researcher recommends that the schools appoint social workers permanently to address barriers to learning experienced by learners. Keywords: Barriers to Learning, Learners, School Social Work, Social Work Services
53	View	Accepted	Accepted	Ms.	Khatakane	Thandiwe Lucy	[email protected]	National University of Lesotho	Psychosocial effects of COVID-19 and its vaccine on the National University of Lesotho community.	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	This study aims to investigate the psychosocial effects of COVID-19 and its vaccine on the National University of Lesotho community, on their academic level and social level. The findings were obtained through interviewing 20 participants. Quota sampling was used and thematic analysis for analysing the data. The analysis showed that most people did not vaccinate voluntarily. The vaccinated students and the unvaccinated, both experienced fear, anxiety and depression. Schools had to adapt to a new learning platform that is online, NUL not being an exception. However, it resulted in poor academic performance. Lastly, Lesotho government did not take heed of every citizen’s mental health including people living in the rural areas with limited access to resources for acquiring knowledge. It is a crucial need to have people with relevant skills to hold awareness campaigns that equip people with knowledge to care for themselves during such pandemic.
54	View	Accepted	Accepted	Prof.	Harms-Smith	Linda	[email protected]	University of Pretoria	TRANSFORMATIONAL AND EPISTEMIC DECOLONIALITY: CRITICAL CONSIDERATIONS	THEME 4: Quality management and enhancement of social services	A complete disruption is required to transform the materiality of coloniality and colonial dynamics of power, being and knowledge. Psycho-political violence through racist inferiorization and dehumanization is still ongoing in a world of capitalism, coloniality and patriarchy. Coloniality is evident in global relationships of economic and political domination and inequalities. The colonial matrix of power must be interpreted through an explicitly political, decolonial epistemology, for a politics of resistance, disruption, and refusal to emerge. This paper explores ‘colonization of the mind as the destruction of history and subjugation of languages. It proposes: 1) understanding epistemic Eurocentrism as the ideological interests of the ruling classes; 2) embracing surrealism, creativity and imagination 3) exercising epistemic disobedience through Southern knowledges; 4) destabilizing colonial hierarchies; 5) refuting the characterisation of knowledge as indigenous; 6) subverting the colonial project of the University; and 7) accepting that there can be no real decoloniality without material transformation.
55	View	Accepted	Accepted	Ms.	Mokhele	Nkotseng	[email protected]	National University of Lesotho	PSYCHOSOCIAL DAMAGE TO CHILDREN WHO EXPERIENCE SEXUAL AND PHYSICAL ABUSE IN MAFIKENG HA MOTOKO	THEME 1: Promoting stakeholder partnerships that protect, support and enhance resilience during adverse events and trauma	Numerous children worldwide face abuse in different forms including sexual and physical abuse, in most cases inflicted by someone close or their family. This study examines the psychosocial impact of such abuse on children, considering the perspectives of victims, caregivers and key informants. The findings highlights a range of detrimental effects, including post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, depression, impaired interpersonal relationships, and social isolation. It is recommended to raise awareness through campaign, educating caregivers on how to handle cases of abuse. To address this study, a fitting methodology was identified. In this study interpretivism has been used in regard to the research paradigm. The study also adopted a qualitative research approach and qualitative study design. In-depth interview was also used for collection of data and such data was analysed and assembled in a comprehensive fashion. Implementation of the study was inclusive of ethical considerations such as confidentiality, informed consent and trustworthiness.
56	View	Accepted	Accepted	Mr.	Spaumer	Andrew	[email protected]	University of South Africa (UNISA)	South African Social Workers Unemployment: Opportunities within Customary Initiation Act 2 of 2021	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	Male initiation ceremonies have historically played a significant role in South African society. Most people who follow these traditions are from the Xhosa, Zulu, Sotho, and Ndebele ethnic groupings. A rite of passage from adolescence to manhood, the initiation ceremony is seen as a significant cultural and social event. Older men with knowledge of the community's traditions and customs supervise the initiation procedure. These men oversee imparting knowledge about cultural values, obligations, and customs related to manhood. They are frequently seen as mentors or advisors for the initiates. Social workers must safeguard vulnerable populations in accordance with their legal, ethical, and professional obligations. Indigenous knowledge is a recognized foundation for professionalizing social work, therefore social workers are expected to be culturally competent and ethically engage with various clients. The Customary Initiation Act (Act No. 2 of 2021) gives social workers the chance to offer counselling to initiates and their parents, particularly in the event of a death. The Act also gives social workers who have undergone initiation the chance to employ their newly learned abilities as initiation school principals and caregivers. The unemployment of social workers may be addressed by such an opportunity.
57	View	Accepted	Accepted	Dr.	Ncube	Mpumelelo	[email protected]	University of the Free State	A conceptual model for Decolonising Teaching & Learning	THEME 4: Quality management and enhancement of social services	Since the early to mid-20th century, calls for decolonization have been made across African states, but little progress has been made beyond a mere shift in political power. Africa's underdevelopment persists, while its people increasingly imitate European and North American cultures. Despite extensive research and discussions on decolonization, it seems that true decolonization, especially in education, has not been achieved. This presentation focuses on the tenets of decolonisation in learning and teaching, and how it contributes to knowledge production in Africa. The objective is to advance the broader goals of the decolonial project. The paper reviews existing literature and explores the need for decoloniality and practical strategies for decolonizing academic institutions. Critical race theory (CRT) is employed to examine key aspects that require attention in the decolonization of learning and teaching. The paper also offers recommendations on how different academic disciplines can initiate discussions and actions to decolonize their teaching processes and content. Overall, the article provides a conceptual framework for decolonizing the curriculum
58	View	Accepted	Accepted	Dr.	Malan	Hanelie	[email protected]	North-West University	South African-born international adoptees searching for their origin	THEME 3: Strategies toward the normative development of society	Intercountry adoptions take place when a child’s permanency placement cannot be addressed in his country of birth. An average of 200 children have been placed with adoptive parents yearly since intercountry adoptions from South Africa began in 2000, mostly in Europe. There has been an increase in requests for origin searches from South African-born adoptees and their birth parents. Given the diversity of African cultures and the history of adoption, there appears to be a need for more evidence-based research to help professionals who provide origin search services to these adoptees and their biological families. This presentation is based on a study that develop the content of a post-adoption social work program to assist adoptees in their origin search. The qualitative approach was used to first explore adoption social workers experiences and processes regarding origin search. Secondly, the life experiences, cultural views, and expectations of South African-born adult adoptees, adoptive parents, and the biological parents in the origin search were explored.
59	View	Pending Review	Pending Review	Mr.	Nduli	Sethenjwa Bonny	[email protected]	UKZN	“Zifunani iziStabane La”: Remaining Resilient in the face of resistance, the voices of queer students residing in University residences in eThekwini Metropolitan.	THEME 1: Promoting stakeholder partnerships that protect, support and enhance resilience during adverse events and trauma
60	View	Accepted	Accepted	Mr.	Nduli	Sethenjwa Bonny	[email protected]	UKZN	“Zifunani iziStabane La”: Remaining Resilient in the face of resistance, the voices of queer students residing in University residences in eThekwini Metropolitan.	THEME 1: Promoting stakeholder partnerships that protect, support and enhance resilience during adverse events and trauma
61	View	Rejected	Accepted	Mr.	Matthews	Clifford	[email protected]	SACAP	Gender based violence of substance abusers during the Covid 19 pandemic	THEME 1: Promoting stakeholder partnerships that protect, support and enhance resilience during adverse events and trauma	The presentation will address the manner in which Gender Based Violence manifested during the Covid 19 pandemic in relation to people with substance abuse disorder. The content is rather more experiential than research driven with the use of case studies to illustrate major content.
62	View	Accepted	Accepted	Mr.	Nduli	Sethenjwa	[email protected]	UKZN	The perceptions and attitudes of primary school learners towards same-sex parenting in South African townships.	THEME 1: Promoting stakeholder partnerships that protect, support and enhance resilience during adverse events and trauma	The increased availability of choices for same-sex couples to become parents contributes to the growth in same-sex parenting. Although most children born to same-sex couples are the biological offspring of one of the parents, an increasing number are the product of donor insemination, surrogacy, foster care, and adoption. Adolescents with same-sex parents reported feeling more connected at school. Another study reported that children in gay and lesbian households are more likely to talk about emotionally difficult topics and are often more resilient, compassionate, and tolerant. There is still a dearth of literature that speaks to school learners in townships. This paper explores the perceptions and attitudes of primary school learners on same-sex parenting. This study draws on queer theories and analyses a subset of qualitative data with ten school learners. Keywords: Same-sex, school learners, queer theory, sexuality, education.
63	View	Accepted	Accepted	Mr.	Nduli	Sethenjwa	[email protected]	UKZN	Exploring the end-of-life care and re-integration of elderly offenders released on medical parole in eThekwini Municipality, South Africa.	THEME 2: Building sustainable, resilient, and self-reliant communities through indigenous modalities, inter-sectoral collaborations, and partnerships	The increasing number of seriously ill offenders re-entering society as elderly parolees after incarceration has severe ramifications for post-incarceration service providers, especially those providing social work programmes, monitoring, and supervision services in community correctional centres (COMCOR). Elderly parolees experience several difficulties, including maintaining their livelihoods, as they are well past work age and often lack family members to assist them after their release from incarceration. Often, post-incarceration social work programmes do not prioritise the needs of elderly parolees during service delivery, further straining the transition process of elderly parolees released from custody. The study aims to explore the experiences of caregivers and correctional service providers during the reintegration process of elderly offenders released on medical parole after incarceration. The study will utilise qualitative methods to explore the perceptions and experiences of elderly parolees and correctional service providers in the Department of Correctional Services. The study was situated in Durban Community Corrections (COMCOR), a reintegration centre under the Durban Management Area in the KwaZulu-Natal Province. The sample comprised fifteen (n=15) caregivers and ten (n=10) correctional social workers responsible for rendering social work programmes.

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2023 Conference