Finding Inner Strength in the Face of Adversity Kgopolano GROW Group Empowerment Journey

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 37-52
Author(s):  
Keitseope Nthomang
Keyword(s):  
Group Discussions ◽  
Donor Funding ◽  
The Past ◽  
The Face ◽  
Inner Strength ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
Group Empowerment ◽  
Cycle Of Poverty ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Women’S Views

This article describes how numerous studies in Botswana have found high levels of poverty among women, in particular, those in female-headed households. Extreme poverty among women continues despite government programme interventions designed to end poverty. This article reports the findings of an initially donor-funded women's empowerment project in an urban village, Molepolole, Botswana. At the center of this project are 14 women who are experimenting with the GROW model to transform their lives. Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions the women's views on the past, present, and future of the project were solicited. Content and thematic analysis were utilized on the data. The results confirm the potential of the GROW model in transforming the lives of women facing insurmountable hardships. The Grow model inspired women to gather inner strength and break the cycle of poverty by continuing the project beyond donor funding.

Finding Inner Strength in the Face of Adversity Kgopolano GROW Group Empowerment Journey

2019 ◽  
pp. 1614-1631
Author(s):  
Keitseope Nthomang
Keyword(s):  
Focus Group ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Donor Funding ◽  
The Face ◽  
Inner Strength ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
Group Empowerment ◽  
Cycle Of Poverty ◽  
Depth Interviews

This article describes how numerous studies in Botswana have found high levels of poverty among women, in particular, those in female-headed households. Extreme poverty among women continues despite government programme interventions designed to end poverty. This article reports the findings of an initially donor-funded women's empowerment project in an urban village, Molepolole, Botswana. At the center of this project are 14 women who are experimenting with the GROW model to transform their lives. Through in-depth interviews and focus group discussions the women's views on the past, present, and future of the project were solicited. Content and thematic analysis were utilized on the data. The results confirm the potential of the GROW model in transforming the lives of women facing insurmountable hardships. The Grow model inspired women to gather inner strength and break the cycle of poverty by continuing the project beyond donor funding.

scholarly journals Sociality and temporality in local experiences of distress and healing: Ethnographic research in northern Rwanda

2020 ◽  
pp. 136346152094967
Author(s):  
Yuko Otake ◽  
Teisi Tamming
Keyword(s):  
Community Involvement ◽  
Social Practice ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Idioms Of Distress ◽  
Ethnographic Research ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Post War ◽  
Social Reconnection ◽  
Depth Interviews

Prior studies have traced sociality and temporality as significant features of African healing. However, association between the two has not been explicitly investigated. This paper explores how sociality and temporality are associated in local experiences of distress and healing among northern Rwandans. The ethnographic research, including in-depth interviews, focus-group discussions and participant observation, was conducted in 2015–2016, with 43 participants from the Musanze district who have suffered from not only the genocide but also post-genocide massacres. Findings identified common local idioms of distress: ibikomere (wounded feelings), ihungabana (mental disturbances), ihahamuka (trauma), and kurwara mu mutwe (illness of the head, severe mental illness). One stage of distress was perceived to develop into another, slightly more serious than the previous. Social isolation played a significant role in the development as it activated ‘remembering’ and ‘thinking too much’ about the past and worsened symptoms. Subsequently, healing was experienced through social reconnection and a shift of time orientation from the past to the future; the healing experience traced a process of leaving the past behind, moving forwards and creating a future through community involvement. The experiences of distress and healing in this population were explained by two axes, i.e. sociality (isolation – reconnection) and temporality (past – future), which are associated with each other. Given the sociality–temporality association in African post-war healing, the study highlights that assistant programmes that facilitate social practice and future creation can be therapeutic and be an alternative for people who cannot benefit from talking-based and trauma-focused approaches.

scholarly journals “I felt like a TRIO champion”: end-user perspectives on their role as co-designers of multi-purpose technologies

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 163
Author(s):  
Kawango Agot ◽  
Alexandra Lutnick ◽  
Mary Kate Shapley-Quinn ◽  
Khatija Ahmed ◽  
Timothy Okello ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Data ◽  
End Users ◽  
End User ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Study Staff ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
User Perspectives ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Prevention Of Hiv ◽  
Women’S Views

Background: The likelihood that research will be relevant to and accepted by end-users and their communities is enhanced when the perspectives of both the “researchers” and the “researched” are considered. The Tablets, Ring, Injections as Options (TRIO) Study, conducted with young women in Kenya and South Africa, assessed the acceptability and preferences of three placebo-only multi-purpose technology (MPT) forms for prevention of HIV and unintended pregnancy. The objective of this analysis was to assess whether, and if so how, the women participating in the TRIO Study perceived themselves as co-designers of the three MPT products. Methods: We conducted 55 in-depth interviews, 6 focus group discussions, and 5 dissemination workshops with TRIO Study participants. Woven throughout these activities were questions and opportunities for participants to reflect on their role in the study, and to what extent they identified with their role as a co-designer. Qualitative data from these activities were analyzed thematically. Results: The analysis revealed four key themes about what resulted in the women’s views as co-designers: altruism, respectful treatment, agency, and reciprocity. The women were aware of their role in determining what end-users would and would not prefer and were motivated by a desire to help themselves and others. They recognized their role as co-designers and cited being treated well by study staff, being given a chance to make choices during the study period, and being recognized as equal partners of the researchers as the main reasons. Conclusions: If prevention products are going to be successfully developed, end-users and researchers must work hand in hand. Engaging participants meaningfully as co-designers in product development research can be a powerful tool in the effort to ensure new prevention products brought to market are acceptable to the population of interest.

scholarly journals POLA USAHA TANI PETANI GAMBIR DI NAGARI SIGUNTUR, KABUPATEN PESISIR SELATAN, PROPINSI SUMATERA BARAT

Sosio Informa ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erwin Erwin
Keyword(s):  
Production Management ◽  
Economic Conditions ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Dry Land ◽  
The Past ◽  
West Sumatra ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Land Community

Approximately 85% of people working as a farmer villages Siguntur gambier. In general socio-economic conditions of farmers gambier are in very limited circumstances, land area (1 s / d 1.5 acres) and a relatively small capital. Most farmers do harvest 2 or 3 times a year. Average yields ranged from 600 kg farmer up to 1000 kg. Price gambier in the past 2 years ranged from 18,000, - s / d Rp22.000, - Farmers' income ranged between Rp 1.200.000, - up to Rp 2 million. Efforts to make improvements to the quality of gambier face many obstacles disebabkaan by gambier farmers farming patterns. The purpose of the study to identify patterns gambier farmers farming and strategies undertaken by farmers gambier to increase revenue. The study was conducted in Nagari Siguntur, one of the producers gambier villages in the South Coastal District, West Sumatra province. The data was collected using qualitative techniques; observation, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Data were analyzed with pendektan emics and ethics. The results of this study indicate that the pattern of gambier farmers still farming conventionally and low farmer productivity; farmers' low level of education; gambier production management depends lender, people call it as toke. These conditions resulted in a family of farmers who are in poverty gambier. On that basis, the future of farming patterns can be developed that integrate plant gambier with cattle gambier to increase farmers' income in the future.Keywords: farming patterns, dry land, community economic empowerment.Sekitar 85% dari masyarakat nagari Siguntur bekerja sebagai petani gambir. Secara umum kondisi sosial ekonomi petani gambir berada dalam kondisi yang sangat terbatas, luas lahan (1 s/d 1,5 hektar ) dan modal usaha relatif kecil. Sebagian besar petani melakukan panen 2 atau 3 kali dalam satu tahun. Rata-rata hasil panen petani berkisar antara 600 kg sampai 1000 kg . Harga gambir dalam 2 tahun terakhir berkisar antara Rp18.000,- s/d Rp22.000,- Pendapatan petani berkisar antara Rp 1.200.000,- sampai Rp 2 juta. Upaya untuk melakukan perbaikan terhadap kualitas gambir mengalami banyak hambatan disebabkaan oleh pola usaha tani petani gambir. Tujuan penelitian mengidentifikasi pola usaha tani petani gambir dan strategi yang dilakukan oleh petani gambir untuk meningkatkan pendapatan. Penelitian dilakukan di Nagari Siguntur, salah satu nagari penghasil gambir di Kabupaten Pesisir Selatan, Provinsi Sumatera Barat. Pengumpulan data dilakukan dengan menggunakan teknik kualitatif; observasi, wawancara mendalam dan diskusi kelompok terfokus. Data dianalisis dengan pendektan emik dan etik. Hasil penelitian ini menunjukkan bahwa pola usaha tani petani gambir masih konvensional dan produktivitas petani rendah; tingkat pendidikan petani rendah; manajemen produksi gambir tergantung pemberi pinjaman, masyarakat menyebutnya dengan sebutan toke. Kondisi ini yang mengakibatkan keluarga petani gambir berada dalam kemiskinan. Dengan dasar itu, kedepan dapat dikembangkan pola usaha tani yang mengintegrasikan tanaman gambir dengan ternak sapi untuk meningkatkan pendapatan petani gambir di masa depan.Kata kunci: pertanian pola, lahan kering, pemberdayaan ekonomi masyarakat.

Khaps in Haryana, Gender and Honour: A Field Study

Social Change ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 004908572110135
Author(s):  
Nirmala Devi ◽  
Aditya Parihar
Keyword(s):  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
First Century ◽  
Regulatory Function ◽  
Elderly Men ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
The Past ◽  
Northern India ◽  
Community Organisation ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Made In

In the past, harmonious relations existed between villages and neighbouring localities largely because of the regulatory function of khaps, a community organisation representing a clan or a group of related clans, found mostly in northern India, especially in Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. The members of these khaps have always wielded enormous economic, social and political power. Made up of comparatively rich and elderly men, their orthodox views have found place in their regressive diktats. Day-to-day issues and problems are referred to these elected bodies which give their rulings. The present study looks at why progressive and modern ideologies are still being successfully resisted by communities despite an effort being made in this direction. The study also explores elements of continuity and changes seen within khaps. Based on extensive fieldwork, which includes in-depth interviews along with focussed group discussions conducted in 20 villages in the so-called khap belt of Haryana, the article seeks to understand the mindset of the members of khaps and the society they represent and how patriarchal thinking still is accepted and is relevant in twenty-first century India.

Nomadic Migration and Rural Violence in Nigeria

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 64-95
Author(s):  
Nsemba Edward Lenshie ◽  
Patience Kondu Jacob
Keyword(s):  
State Government ◽  
Migration Pattern ◽  
Land Resources ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Security Governance ◽  
North East ◽  
Descriptive Approach ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Depth Interviews

The relationship between Fulani herdsmen and farmers has in recent years become hot-tempered motivated by competitive control of land resources, particularly in central and north-east Nigeria. In Taraba State, the ongoing nomadic migration pattern from the Sahel in quest of pastures has led to violent confrontation between Fulani herdsmen and farming indigenous natives. Using a descriptive approach consisting of documented evidence, in-depth interviews, and focus group discussions, the analysis revealed that conflicts between Fulani herdsmen and indigenous native farmers have culminated in population displacement and destruction of life and property in numerous rural enclaves in Taraba State. Despite the consequences of the conflicts, the Taraba State government was unable to act proactively because of the centralization of command over Nigerian security agencies. Accordingly, the study suggests decentralization of security agencies in Nigeria, especially the police, as the way forward for effective security governance in Nigeria.

We're Still Here

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer M. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Working Class ◽  
Puerto Rican ◽  
Search For Meaning ◽  
Fair Share ◽  
Political Struggle ◽  
Conspiracy Theories ◽  
Self Help ◽  
Self Interest ◽  
The Face ◽  
Depth Interviews

The economy has been brutal to American workers. The chance to provide a better life for one’s children—the promise at the heart of the American Dream—is slipping away. In the face of soaring economic inequality and mounting despair, we might expect struggling Americans to rise up together and demand their fair share of opportunity. And yet, the groups who stand to gain the most from collective mobilization appear the least motivated to act in their own self-interest. This book examines why disadvantaged people disable themselves politically. Drawing on in-depth interviews with over one hundred black, white, and Puerto Rican residents in a declining coal town in Pennsylvania, We’re Still Here demonstrates that many working-class people are fiercely critical of growing inequality and of the politicians who have failed to protect them from poverty, exploitation, and social exclusion. However, the institutions that historically mediated between personal suffering and collective political struggle have not only become weak, but have become sites of betrayal. In response, working-class people turn inward, cultivating individualized strategies for triumphing over pain. Convinced that democratic processes are rigged in favor of the wealthy, they search for meaning in internet conspiracy theories or the self-help industry—solitary strategies that turn them inward, or turn them against each other. But as visions of a broken America unite people across gender, race, and age, they also give voice to upended hierarchies, creative re-imaginings of economic justice, and yearnings to be part of a collective whole.

Epilogue: On the Current and Future State of Historical Writing

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Allan Megill
Keyword(s):  
Historical Writing ◽  
Conceptual Difficulty ◽  
Universal History ◽  
The Past ◽  
Initial Decision ◽  
Future State ◽  
The Face ◽  
History Of

This epilogue argues that historians ought to be able to produce a universal history, one that would ‘cover’ the past of humankind ‘as a whole’. However, aside from the always increasing difficulty of mastering the factual material that such an undertaking requires, there exists another difficulty: the coherence of universal history always presupposes an initial decision not to write about the human past in all its multiplicity, but to focus on one aspect of that past. Nevertheless, the lure of universal history will persist, even in the face of its practical and conceptual difficulty. Certainly, it is possible to imagine a future ideological convergence among humans that would enable them to accept, as authoritative, one history of humankind.

scholarly journals Nairobi Early Childcare in Slums (NECS) Study Protocol: a mixed-methods exploration of paid early childcare in Mukuru slum, Nairobi

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. e000822
Author(s):  
Robert C Hughes ◽  
Patricia Kitsao-Wekulo ◽  
Sunil Bhopal ◽  
Elizabeth W Kimani-Murage ◽  
Zelee Hill ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Methods ◽  
Focus Group ◽  
Early Years ◽  
Epidemiological Methods ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Early Childcare ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Childcare Providers

IntroductionThe early years are critical. Early nurturing care can lay the foundation for human capital accumulation with lifelong benefits. Conversely, early adversity undermines brain development, learning and future earning.Slums are among the most challenging places to spend those early years and are difficult places to care for a child. Shifting family and work structures mean that paid, largely informal, childcare seems to be becoming the ‘new normal’ for many preschool children growing up in rapidly urbanising Africa. However, little is known about the quality of this childcare.AimsTo build a rigorous understanding what childcare strategies are used and why in a typical Nairobi slum, with a particular focus on provision and quality of paid childcare. Through this, to inform evaluation of quality and design and implementation of interventions with the potential to reach some of the most vulnerable children at the most critical time in the life course.Methods and analysisMixed methods will be employed. Qualitative research (in-depth interviews and focus group discussions) with parents/carers will explore need for and decision-making about childcare. A household survey (of 480 households) will estimate the use of different childcare strategies by parents/carers and associated parent/carer characteristics. Subsequently, childcare providers will be mapped and surveyed to document and assess quality of current paid childcare. Semistructured observations will augment self-reported quality with observable characteristics/practices. Finally, in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with childcare providers will explore their behaviours and motivations. Qualitative data will be analysed through thematic analysis and triangulation across methods. Quantitative and spatial data will be analysed through epidemiological methods (random effects regression modelling and spatial statistics).Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been granted in the UK and Kenya. Findings will be disseminated through journal publications, community and government stakeholder workshops, policy briefs and social media content.

scholarly journals Political Vigilante Groups in Ghana: Violence or Democracy?

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 321-338
Author(s):  
Justice Richard Kwabena Owusu Kyei ◽  
Lidewyde H. Berckmoes
Keyword(s):  
Democratic Governance ◽  
Focus Group Discussions ◽  
Group Discussions ◽  
Political Field ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Electoral Campaigns ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Members ◽  
Organisational Structures ◽  
Depth Interviews

Literature on political vigilante groups has centred on the violence and conflict that emanate from their activities. This article approaches political vigilante groups as political actors who engage in political mobilisation and participation and therewith also contribute to nation state building. It explores how such groups participate in Ghana’s democratic governance and asks whether violence is an inevitable characteristic. The article builds on individual in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with political vigilante group members in Kumasi and Tamale in 2019. Findings show that political vigilante “youth” appeared to refer primarily to the social position attributed to non-elite groups in the political field. Political vigilante groups are multi-faceted in their organisational structures, membership, and activities both during electoral campaigns and during governing periods. While some groups revert to violence occasionally, the study concludes that political vigilante groups, in enabling different voices to be heard, are also contributing to democratic governance.

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