A social work empowerment programme for HIV/AIDS poverty stricken families

Abstract

This research forms part of the Tswaragano project. The study further reports on the project of a multi-disciplinary programme that was developed and implemented by postgraduate students of the North-West University, comprising two doctoral students and five masters students. People from the project including the researcher were involved in this effort. The main objective of this research was to develop a social work programme as an empowerment initiative for poverty-stricken families in rural area of Heuningvlei: to investigate the strengths in these families and to empower them to play a supportive role in the care of dependent and vulnerable family members. The difference between this study and that of other disciplines that were part of Tswaragano is that the focus of this programme was mainly on empowerment programme for poverty-stricken families affected by HIV and AIDS. At the time when the first part of the project was completed, Heuningvlei was part of the North-West Province. Since 2007, Heuningvlei was reallocated to the Northern Cape Province. The results of the current study reinforced the notion that a link exists between HIV, AIDS and poverty. Unfortunately, some of the results of the programme indicated little improvement; however this does not necessarily imply that the programme was ineffective as a whole; and, recommendations were made for community, individuals and government for future practice.