Die ontwerp en evaluering van ‘n maatskaplike groepwerkprogram ter verbetering van die maatskaplike funksionering van die vrou in ‘n myngemeenskap

Abstract

The South African circumstances are subject to constant, astonishingly rapid and profound changes (Strydom, 1990: 1 ). These changes have an influence on numerous aspects of one's life, but especially on the life of a woman. The position of the woman in the mining community is probably worse, due to her lower level of education, her isolation and the typical mining culture which is difficult to change. Little pleasure for the enrichment of a woman is found in the mining community. All these factors may give rise to a poor self-image. A poor self-image is detrimental to one's life as a whole, one's actions and relationships (Barnard, 1985: 1 ). If the woman does not function effectively, it could lead to the disintegration of her whole family. Social group activities for adult women are opportunities which could be utilised to develop a woman (Letsebe, 1998: 1-9). From the data bases that were utilised for this literature study, it was obvious that no social group activities exist for developing the self-image of a woman in the mining community. It appears to be a fundamental need, as there are numerous problems in the mining community, and it would alleviate the task of a group leader if an intervention programme were available to bring about the required change. The primary aim of this investigation was to determine whether the application of a planned, intensive intervention programme, based on social group work for women in a mining community, would bring about an improvement in their social performance. The objectives thus formulated for attaining the primary aim, were the following: To study the performance of women in a mining community by means of an exploratory investigation (participant observation); to design an intervention programme for women, based on the literature study and mentioned interventional research which will develop and indicate a definite change in their physical well-being, encourage them to learn life and manual skills and help them to maintain various good relationships; to evaluate the intervention programme that was designed (single-system design). These aims and objectives were achieved after a thorough literature study and interventional research had been undertaken. lnterventional research was used as the method of investigation and incorporates the following phases: problem analysis and project planning , the gathering of information and synthesis, design, early development and pilot testing, evaluation and advanced development, and dissemination. Each of these phases consisted of several steps which offered excellent guidelines for embarking on this study. Participative observation and the single-system design were used as methods for gathering material. As far as participative observation is concerned, ten women from the Glenharvie mining community were randomly selected as trial subjects for the investigation. Each one of these trial subjects was interviewed on three different occasions. A qualitative questionnaire was used as structure for gathering the required information. The integration of the questions and answers of the participative observation was explained throughout the thesis. After the needs of the women in the mining community had been established, an intervention programme was designed and presented to two separate groups of women in the mining community. The groups consisted of seven and eight members respectively. Group meetings took place every alternate week (holidays excluded) and covered nineteen meetings. At the first, tenth and nineteenth meetings the self-image of each woman was evaluated. The results of the self-image evaluations were graphically represented. The hypothesis of this investigation, namely the design, presentation and evaluation of an intervention programme for women in the mining community which will improve their social performance, that is, the positive development of their self-image, which in turn has a positive influence on their care for their physical well-being, life and manual skills, and the maintenance of various relationships, was concluded.