An educational intervention program for female farm dwellers focusing on resource management

Abstract

In this study, the empowering of the female farm dwellers by education and training in order to increase their knowledge and skills in family resource management, is investigated. It forms part of the FLAGH Study (Farm Labour, Agriculture and General Health). Education and training can empower women to increase their knowledge and skills, which will improve their well being as well as that of their families. According to the situation analysis, which was conducted on the women of a farming community, it is indicated that the female farm dwellers lacked knowledge about the optimum use of their resources such as time, budgeting and energy. The objective of the research was to design, implement and evaluate an education and training program, which could help them to manage their resources. An available sample of 27 Tswana speaking female farm dwellers, 16 to 40 years of age, residing on adjacent farms in the Potchefstroom district of the North-West Province of South Africa participated. An intervention program was planned and implemented. The presentation of the components of the program, which was adapted from the WOF 10 Program for their specific needs was translated into Tswana. The method used for evaluation included qualitative and quantitative pre- and post-tests on their family resource management skills. The results, which were statistically analysed by using a test and calculating the effect size, indicated a statistically and practically significant increase in their resource management knowledge. The female farm dwellers' knowledge and skills regarding resource management increased, which could result in improvement of quality of life. It is recommended that resource management courses form part of any developmental project to contribute to the empowerment of participants' maximising the use of resources thereby improving their livelihood without any extra financial costs.