Abstract
M.A.
The South African government is faced with challenges to come up with strategies to combat poverty by involving communities in their own development. Poverty relief projects are one of the strategies designed to address poverty through involving communities. The researcher observed that there is lack of commitment by project members to better their lives and eradicate poverty within their communities.
The study was undertaken among community members who were involved in poverty relief projects in Modimolle municipality, Waterberg District in Limpopo Province, funded by the Department of Health and Social Development. It was undertaken in order to determine the reasons for turnover of people in poverty relief programmes within the context of poverty relief projects.
The goal of the study was to identify the problems that hinder the sustainability of poverty relief projects.
The objectives were to:
To conduct a literature study on Poverty Relief Projects.
To identify problems within Poverty Relief projects
The study was exploratory, descriptive and qualitative in nature as it aimed to explore and describe the reasons that hinder poverty relief projects from being sustainable.
The researcher conducted a theoretical study on poverty as a social problem, the causes of poverty and the importance of community participation in their own development. From the literature study, it was emphasised that participation of a community for their own development is important in self-help projects to promote reliability of community members and minimise poverty.
The researcher compiled a semi-structured interview which was administered to 12 project participants who had previously been involved in poverty relief projects in Modimolle municipality, Waterberg District in Limpopo Province. The document analysis of 12 participants was done.
The study formulated guidelines and recommendations that will help the poverty relief projects to be sustainable.
Main Findings
1. Respondents recognise the importance of poverty relief projects and felt that fixed monthly income in poverty relief projects will encourage project members and there will be commitment amongst them.
2. Skills offered in poverty relief projects are relevant and worthwhile as it gives project members opportunity to look for relevant jobs.
3. The majority of the respondents had an opinion that funds should be given to an individual who will be in charge of the project and who will recruit people who are unemployed. Unlike the group initiative, an individual will make sure that the project becomes sustainable.
4. Training opportunities were valued as important as they give project members necessary skills for further opportunities.
Conclusions in this study indicate that:
1. The Department of Health and Social Development consider giving funds to an individual, unlike a group of people and who would involve unemployed people in the projects to instil commitment amongst project members.
2. The department should equip project members with relevant skills for tendering.
3. Continuous and intense evaluation of project outcomes, should be communicated back to the projects, in order to improve and strive for poverty eradication.