Abstract
The daily challenges of living in an under-resourced community can create a sense of despondency, which could be addressed through contextually relevant therapeutic interventions (Ebersöhn, 2015). This research project sought to investigate the efficacy and sustainability of an Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) based therapeutic intervention to address hopelessness among learners in an under-resourced South African context. This was done by interviewing the teachers of learners who had previously completed the eight-week Logos Equus intervention programme, together with questionnaires completed by the learners at the time of the intervention. The ability of South African learners to experience hope and build resilience is greatly affected by the contextual challenges faced within under-resourced communities. A need exists for sustainable interventions for addressing hopelessness generated by contextual deprivation. This study attempted to gain insight into the sustainability of an equine assisted intervention with learners from an under-resourced community in Gauteng, South Africa. A qualitative research study was conducted through the lens of a Social Constructivist paradigm. Data was collected for this study through a combination of semi-structured interviews with the educators, together with secondary data from a previous and independent project with learners from the same context, to ascertain whether long-term benefits of the equine assisted intervention are evident. Three teachers were purposively selected from two schools in the Diepsloot community. The findings suggest that both hope, and resilience, improved throughout the intervention and sustained to two years later. The participant teachers reflected that the learners who had participated in the project two years prior continued to manage and adapt their behaviour positively to the challenges they face. The equine assisted intervention was effective in building hope and resilience for addressing the psychosocial challenges of individuals living within the under-resourced community in South Africa. Recommendations are to explore the use of this equine assisted intervention in similar communities in the various demographic areas of South Africa and further afield. Keywords: equine therapy, hope, psychosocial challenges, resilience, South Africa, sustainability.
M.Ed. (Educational Psychology)