Using the CYRM-28 With South African Young People: A Factor Structure Analysis

Purpose: The factor structure of the Child and Youth Resilience Measure (CYRM-28) was originally established using a Canadian sample. This factor structure was not confirmed in a study with New Zealand youth. Given such variability, the current study investigated the factor structure of the CYRM-28 in a sample of Sesotho-speaking South African youth who participated in Pathways to Resilience Study. Method: Using latent variable modeling, we tested six varied models in two randomly selected samples ( n1 = 559; n2 = 578). Results: Fit statistics indicated that a three-factor variation of the New Zealand model, namely, individual, family/relational, and composite context, fitted best. The contextual composite synthesizes the CYRM-28 clusters that measure social skills, educational, spiritual, community, and cultural resources. Conclusion: The contextual composite reflects traditional African ways of being. Accordingly, understanding the factor structure of the CYRM-28 precedes practitioner capacity to promote resilience in an evidence-informed way.

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PERCEPTIONS OF SOUTH AFRICAN YOUTH OF LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMES: A CASE IN THE LEPELLE-NKUMPI MUNICIPAL AREA

Commonwealth Youth and Development ◽

10.25159/1727-7140/1637 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 77-89

Author(s):

Matshidiso Kanjere

Keyword(s):

Leadership Development ◽

Young People ◽

South African ◽

Rural Areas ◽

Research Approach ◽

Practical Applications ◽

South Africans ◽

African Youth ◽

Multiple Challenges ◽

The Government

The South African youth faces multiple challenges that range from illiteracy, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and HIV/AIDS, to unemployment. These challenges and many other ills in society have led to interventions by government, and private and other civil societies. The government has established and initiated a number of programmes that aim at building capacity and helping the youth to cope with these multiple challenges. Some of the programmes are aimed at building leadership capacity among the impoverished youth in rural communities. A lot of money is being invested in these programmes, which are meant to develop young South Africans. However, there are some young people who do not participate in these programmes. They are also not in the formal education system, self-employed or employed elsewhere. And they are despondent. The government, private sector and non-governmental organisations are trying hard to bring these youths and others into the developmental arena, so that they can be active participants in the economy of the country in the near future. However, little research has been conducted to assess the broad impact of the various programmes in the country. The contribution that these programmes are making toward improving the livelihoods of young people has to be determined on a larger scale. Nevertheless, this article reports on an investigation that was conducted on a smaller scale, at the Lepelle-Nkumpi Local Municipality. The aim of the research was to explore the perceptions young South Africans have of the leadership development programmes that they have participated in. A mixed research approach was used to collect data and the key findings indicated that knowledge accumulated through participation in the programmes does not always translate into practical applications. However, the programmes were deemed to be valuable in instilling a positive life-view. The study recommends that support systems be established in the rural areas to assist young people with life challenges.

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Reading for pleasure : the influence of reading clubs in selected Bahananwa Limpopo primary schools

Journal of African Languages and Literary Studies ◽

10.31920/2633-2116/2020/v1n3a7 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (3) ◽

pp. 133-155

Author(s):

Kgomotlokoa Linda Thaba-Nkadimene ◽

Maletšema Ruth Emsley

Keyword(s):

South African ◽

Primary Schools ◽

Cultural Theory ◽

Negative Impact ◽

Positive Influence ◽

Reading For Pleasure ◽

Theory Of Reading ◽

Research Findings ◽

African Youth ◽

Reading Clubs

The challenges of reading experienced by learners exerts a negative impact on reading for pleasure, and learners' outcomes. In an attempt to address such reading challenges, Reading Clubs were launched to promote reading for pleasure among South African youth. This study examines the influence of Reading Clubs on learners' attitudes to Reading for Pleasure and the outcomes thereof. The study was informed by the Top-Down Model of Reading and the Cultural Theory of reading for pleasure. Interviews were conducted in five purposively selected schools with five Sparker coaches and five teachers. The research findings reveal a positive influence of Reading Clubs on reading for pleasure and learners' outcomes. This is reflected through improved levels of reading for pleasure. This study ultimately recommends that schools learn from best practices of Reading Clubs, and that government strive to make Reading Clubs a sustainable project.

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