Abstract
D.Litt. et Phil. (Social Work)
This study seeks to illuminate the contribution that complementary and indigenous practices can make to providing holistic social work interventions to vulnerable communities in South Africa. In pursuit of this goal, spirituality and indigenous knowledge are the two theoretical approaches that frame this study. More specifically, body-mind-spirit practices are used as an expression of both spirituality and indigenous knowledge. This links closely to attempts in South Africa to decolonise and indigenise social work practice and education.
The objectives of the study were to explore the lived experiences of vulnerable groups using a selection of complementary and indigenous practices; to identify the contribution that these complementary and indigenous practices make to enhance and enrich the achievement of social work goals with vulnerable groups; and to explore the potential of complementary and indigenous practices to bridge the micro-macro divide in social work and empower vulnerable communities in South Africa. To achieve the objectives, two parallel research processes were implemented. The first process was with a group of community caregivers in Ga-Rankuwa, a peri-urban community, on the outskirts of Pretoria. Through a training intervention, a selection of complementary and indigenous practices were transferred to them. They used these practices for wellness and self-healing and then, in turn, used these practices with their families, their client families and members of the community. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was used to interpret the findings from the community group. The second process was with a group of social workers in academia and private practice, who served as a spiritual learning community. They read the transcripts from the community group processes and reflected on whether complementary and indigenous practices could advance social work goals, as well as whether the community group were using these practices beyond themselves and, in this way, bridging the micro-macro divide. Thematic analysis was used to interpret the findings from the spiritual learning community. The findings from the research show that while complementary and indigenous practices do not eliminate the structural problems of poverty and unemployment experienced by vulnerable communities, they do provide temporary relief from these conditions. These practices provide vulnerable communities with the tools and techniques for self-care and to promote well-being. In the process, vulnerable communities are empowered so that they are able to access other resources needed to resolve their life challenges. Moreover, the...