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Item Open Access Deelnemende aksienavorsing as metode van gemeenskapsbemagtiging(University of the Free State, 2004) Reyneke, RoelfEnglish: This article discusses how participatory action research may be used as a method of empowering communities. Attention is paid to the value of such research within the welfare context as well as to the underlying values and assumptions of the approach. Examples are provided to illustrate the characteristics and the process. It is shown that participatory action research may be used as a developmental strategy in communities since its empowerment component is very strong.Item Open Access Die narratiewe werkswyse in gemeenskapsontwikkeling(University of the Free State, 2004) Du Plessis, RethaEnglish: The narrative method, a fundamentally new direction in the therapeutic world, can be used in community development work. In implementing the five “micro-maps” developed by Michael White (1998), the social worker will continually concentrate on successfully entering the community. It is important to act from a position of ignorance in order to enable the members of the community to explore their narratives. Once the community has done this, the task of the social worker is to identify problem themes and then to facilitate a process enabling community members to externalize these themes and develop unique outcomes that may form the basis of new stories. Definitional ceremonies provide opportunities for witnessing new narratives. The implementation of “taking-back” practices may contribute to a process whereby stories of hope, sustainability and empowerment are developed. The narrative method has the potential to empower communities to such an extent that they take over their own development.Item Open Access Van verklarings en probleme na beskrywings, innerlike sterkte en oplossings: ’n oplossinggefokusde terapeutiese model(University of the Free State, 2004) Ferreira, SandraEnglish: Since 1994 the Department of Welfare has gradually moved away from the notion of social welfare to that of social development. The state department has redefined its role in social policy from caregiver to enabler, and its aim to the empowerment of individuals, families and communities. This means that the existing models of assistance, which often place a client in a dependent role, have to be revised. The strengths perspective, along with a solution-focused model, may provide an answer in this regard. This approach moves away from a focus on problems to a context in which solutions based on the strengths of the client receive attention. Instead of an analyst trying to determine and explain the causes of a problem, the therapist becomes a facilitator of the client’s own achievement of the desired empowerment.Item Open Access Regverdiging vir ’n multigenerasiebenadering tot geweld teenoor vroue(University of the Free State, 2004) Schoeman, HenkEnglish: Bowen’s multigenerational approach to family functioning is applied in an analysis of violence against women in cohabiting and marital relationships. It moves away from linear analysis of the victim and the perpetrator to a circular approach reaching beyond the dynamics of the nuclear family. This approach offers an explanation of the multigenerational transfer of violence and is appropriate to the analysis and description of the emotional, cognitive and behavioural aspects of those involved. It also elucidates contributing factors to dysfunctionalities in some children from violent families and clarifies why only certain children from such families perpetuate violent behaviour in their adult relationships.Item Open Access Social work among primary-school children: promoting emotional intelligence(University of the Free State, 2004) Blom, RindaEnglish: This article addresses important aspects of social work service-rendering to primaryschool children in respect of emotional intelligence. The primary-school child is constantly confronted with developmental tasks, such as adapting to school and social activities. There is also an increasing global emphasis on the role of emotional intelligence skills in a child’s adjustment. The focus of this article is on abilities and skills related to two components of personal emotional competence, namely selfawareness and emotional self-regulation, and one component of interpersonal emotional competence, namely empathy. It aims to provide guidelines for social workers in this regard.