SCK3703-Community Work assignment 2.

SCK3703-Community Work assignment 2. Introduction This assignment is based on community work .The assignment has four questions that provides the student an opportunity to integrate the community work knowledge and the understanding in how to apply theoretical guidelines in facilitating community work project through a case study. This assignment illustrates how imperative it is for a facilitator to have the knowledge of theory, professional skills, and ethical principles of the participatory development, the features of community development, and the outcomes of community development when working with a community as a whole. 3 Downloaded by Rufaro Chikovore () lOMoARcPSD| Question 1 Summarise the case study according to the five steps of community work process. Step 1: Do a situation – analysis The basic purpose of the first step of the community work process is to gain an understanding of the nature of the practice situation in which you find yourself. In the case study of the “Development of the Ikageng-Witkoppen pre-primary school”, clearly describes how change was brought about together with and in communities by applying a participatory approach (Weyers 2011: 91). Task 1: Analyse the context: The first task the student did was to get to know the environment of the Witkoppen community. She did an initial analysis of the contextual community to familiarise herself with the system that would be the general target for change. The student applied a direct observation research technique to gain some basic understanding of the nature and “feel” of Witkoppen community. She observed the infrastructures and the day to day way of living of its in habitants. The student realized that even though Witkoppen was an affluent white residential area, that there were a vast amount of mainly black people who was socially and economically disadvantaged within the community .She observed that there were very few facilities developed, little transport, overcrowding, a lack of privacy ,teenage pregnancies alcoholism and child neglect. Task 2: Analyse the expectations: to gain more insight the social worker at the Witkoppen health clinic introduced the student to the principal of Witkoppen School, Mr. Sam Makama. Here the student learned more about the history and the development of the school. The principal was excited about the student’s ideas. After gaining the support from the principal, the student made contact with the teachers each teacher had a story to share .The student learned what the main concerns of the teachers were. Task 3: Compare findings with the practice models: at this stage the student had a good understanding of the context within which she would operate, what was expected of her and which practice models would probably be used. 4 Downloaded by Rufaro Chikovore () lOMoARcPSD| Step 2: Identify and analyse the impediments The purpose of the second step is to identify and gain an understanding of the nature of the social problems, social needs and /or the unutilised potential in the community that should be the focus of your attention. This should be combined with a preliminary feasibility study. Task 1: Identify the impediments that should receive attention: when the student performed direct observation she identified that the Witkoppen community had many impediments. The community of Witkoppen mainly the black people were socially and economically disadvantaged due to the apartheid government. Many of these families were split up due to the migrant labour situations. She realized that a high percentage of the children growing up in the area came from single parent families and that there were very few facilities within the community. Impediments were also found when a SWOT analysis was done in conjunction with the principal. When contact was made with the teachers, the student became aware of the difficulties experienced in teaching pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds. Due to the disadvantaged conditions like overcrowding, lack of privacy, little stimulation and inadequate transport. Children would fall asleep in class, because they had to walk far to get to school. There was also a high crime rate with the community and crimes like child abuse and child neglect was all too common. There was a high failure rate and a large number of children dropping out of school prematurely. The failure rate gave rise to other problems as some children had to remain in the junior primary classes for many years. Task 2: Define, analyse and prioritise the impediments: after the student heard from the community, principal, teachers it became apparent that the main concern was the high failure rate. The student tabulated the responses and she presented a list of problems for discussion that she obtained through the SWOT analysis, direct observations, interviews and questionnaires. She called for a meeting with the teachers to discuss, define, analyse and prioritise the impediments within the community. Deciding on a priority rating is arguably one of the most difficult task that had to be performed by the student and committee. After they the assessment the student had to know what the ‘real needs’ of the community were.