UWCScholar :: Browsing by Author "Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)"

Browsing by Author "Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)"

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Challanges related to working conditions experienced by social workers practising in rural areas
(University of Stellenbosch, 2012) Alpaslan, Nicky; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
Introduction: In view of the references to the “poor working conditions” of social workers (Kusambisa in Chibba, 2011), which make it a challenge to retain social workers in rural areas (Kruger, 2008:44), and the exodus of social workers from the profession in search of “better working conditions” (Dlamini in Ngomane, 2010:4), the researchers’ decided to embark on a research project with the aim of revisiting and exploring the working condition-related challenges experienced by social workers practising in rural areas.
Conceptual research on the term facilitation: reducing an elephant to chewable chunks
(University of Stellenbosch, 2007) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Louw, Huma
Aim of the article: With this article the researchers used a conceptual research process to: explore the meanings of the concept of facilitation; identify the key facilitating actions/behaviours of the facilitator and the potential/purpose of these actions; provide a theoretical base explaining and understanding facilitation.
Day labourers in Pretoria, Windhoek and the United States - a comparison of two capitals and a different world
(AOSIS OpenJournals, 2008) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Blaauw, Phillip (Derick)
Purpose: The aim of this paper is to compare the economic dynamics of day labouring in two Southern African capital cities, namely Windhoek and Pretoria, against the background of the experiences of day labourers in a developed country such as the United States. Problem investigated: People waiting at the side of the road, hoping to obtain a piece job for the day, is a typical phenomenon in a situation where people are forced to venture into the informal sector to generate an income. Day labour is a national and international phenomenon that seems to be on the increase. Literature on the similarities and differences across different geographical areas and levels of economic development is limited, however. Approach: For the purpose of this study, day labourers in Pretoria were the subject of a case study which was compared with studies done in Windhoek and the United States during the same period, namely 2003 to 2004. The general demographics of day labourers in these two cities were investigated, as well as their employment history and the income earned. Findings and implications: Day labourers in Pretoria and Windhoek were mainly male, fairly young, generally low skilled, earning low and uncertain levels of income and working under harsh conditions. This corresponds to the demographic characteristics of day labourers in the United States. In both the United States and Southern Africa, day labour pays poorly. It was found that day labourers seldom earn more than the subsistence level of income for the respective countries discussed in this paper. A significant portion of day labourers in Pretoria, Windhoek and the United States previously held formal sector jobs. The biggest difference is to be found in the future prospects of day labourers. The opportunity for day labourers in the United States to make the transition into the formal sector of the economy is far better than for their counterparts in Southern Africa. Value of the research: The paper expands existing knowledge of day labouring as part of the informal labour market. This is important given the significance of the informal sector in South Africa and Africa at large. It provides a comparison between experiences of the same activity in a developed country and in two cities in developing countries, illustrating important similarities and differences in this regard. Conclusion: Day labour is a complex phenomenon, and a number of problems, violations and abuses may be found in this sector of the labour market. In order to address these issues successfully, the particular set of circumstances facing day labourers in different areas must be accounted for.
Day labourers, unemployment and socio-economic development in South Africa
(Springer Verlag, 2009) Harmse, Alet; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Blaauw, Phillip (Derick)
One of the most visible forms of unemployment is the men who stand at the side of the road or on corners daily, waiting for any job that may come their way. It is estimated that there are nearly 1,000 places in South Africa where a minimum of about 45,000, mostly black African men, stand, waiting to be picked up. The South African space economy is characterised by an uneven distribution of economic activities. International empirical studies have shown that there is a geographical or spatial coincidence between levels of unemployment and levels of gross domestic product per capita. The first objective of this article is to highlight some of the basic demographic dynamics of day labourers. The second is to investigate the spatial distribution of and the relationship between day labourers, unemployment and the general level of socio-economic development in South Africa. Day labourers share a number of common characteristics, but there were also obvious differences in their morale and spirit. The analyses showed that there is also a general spatial coincidence between levels of socio-economic development and the numbers of day labourers in South Africa, with a relatively high correlation coefficient between the two.
The employment history of day labourers in South Africa and the income they earn - a case study of day labourers in Pretoria
(University of Pretoria, 2006) Blaauw, Phillip (Derick); Louw, Huma; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
Introduction: With the opening up of the South African economy, following its successful democratisation and adherence to a strict programme of trade liberalisation, the number of highly-skilled (professionals, managers and technicians) persons employed showed strong growth, while the number of less skilled persons in employment declined (Whiteford & van Seventer, 1999: 3). Unemployment remains one of the major macroeconomic problems facing this country. The official unemployment rate in September 2005 was 26,7 per cent (Statistics South Africa, 2006a: iv). In spite of the recent positive news on the unemployment front, the foreseeable future is evidenced by large numbers of unemployed people.
Explaining migrant wages: the case of Zimbabwean day labourers in South Africa
(The Clute Institute, 2012) Blaauw, Phillip (Derick); Pretorius, Anmar; Schoeman, Christie; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
There has been an increasing inflow of migrants and refugees into South Africa during the last two decades. The origin of these migrants is mainly from South Africa’s long-established sources of migrant workers, including countries from the Southern African Development Community. Over the last decade, African immigrants have encountered brutal manifestations of resentment at their presence in South Africa. The reasons for this are multifaceted, but one of the pertinent perceptions is that immigrants from the country’s northern borders are taking South Africans’ jobs. It is often claimed that casual immigrant workers are willing to work for very low daily wages. In doing so, they get temporary employment in the informal and formal economy at the expense of South African workers, who have much higher reservation wages in the same informal labour market. This is the first study to focus on the wages of migrant day labourers in South Africa by investigating the determinants of day labour wages for migrant day labourers from Zimbabwe. The respondents for this study were interviewed during the first countrywide survey of day labourers in South Africa during 2007. The paper concludes that the income from migrant day labourers from Zimbabwe often exceeds that of the average day labourer in South Africa. The Zimbabweans are, in many cases, better qualified than the average day labourer in South Africa. The main determinants of these migrant wages are their formal level of schooling, language proficiency and the completion of vocational training courses
An exploratory study on day labourers in Elardus Park, Pretoria
(University of Stellenbosch., 2005) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Louw, Huma
On Barnard Street, Elardus Park in Pretoria men are standing, raising a finger or miming a skill to attract the attention of potential employees. It is also common to see men swarm around a car, pointing to themselves in an effort to get noticed ad thus hired. This study deals with these people, who are day labourers leading a difficult life as they manage to survive in an entrepreneurial way. Their main need is to access work more easily. Skills training would make this possible. Social work could make a contribution in this respect.
Learning through rediscovery and reclaiming local/ indigenous knowledge and skills
(Unisa Press, 2002) Louw, Huma; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
In this article the authors explain some of the attempts they make to ``in- digenise'' the training of students in social work, paying special attention to community work to assist the students in discovering the richness of their own knowledge base and in integrating and symbolising the theories so that they learn from within ± to grow their own horns because, as they say in Northern Sotho ``Naka tsÏa go rwesÏwa ga di gomarele hlogo'' (``One cannot stick the horns of one cow on another. The horns have to grow from within'').
"Life is not pap and vleis": poverty in child-headed households in Gauteng
(University of Stellenbosch, 2011) Blaauw, Phillip (Derick); Viljoen, Jacoba (Kotie) M.M.; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
Introduction: The objective of this paper is to describe the socio-economic conditions of child-headed households in Gauteng, so as to measure the extent of poverty among these children. In order to do this, the study includes an assessment of the size and sources of the monthly income of child-headed households in Gauteng. The contribution by the different sources of income to total monthly income is also analysed. Special attention is paid to the contribution of income generated by household members themselves, as well as to social grants. The data on income received are then further analysed in terms of poverty criteria, so as to determine whether the monthly income of child-headed households conforms to the minimum income necessary for material survival. The monthly income is compared to the different amounts required for material survival by different family sizes in the applicable urban centres in South Africa.
Living on what others throw away: an exploration of a socio-economic circumstances of people collecting and selling recyclable waste
(Unisa Press, 2011) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Blaauw, Phillip (Derick)
Street waste pickers are becoming a common sight on the streets of South Africa’s cities and suburbs. Little research has been done on this social phenomenon. The aim of this article is to explore some of the socioeconomic circumstances of the people who collect recyclable waste in South Africa’s cities. The research identifies the pivotal role played by the waste pickers in the waste management system even if they are unaware of it. Being a waste picker offers unskilled, unemployed people the opportunity to enter the informal economy in order to earn or augment their income. The social service professional can play a supportive role at different levels such as psychosocial support and at policy level. Several areas of further research are identified.
Participatory learning: a people centred way of working in community development
(Unisa Press, 1995) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Louw, Huma
In this article the authors propose a participatory learning approach to skill and knowledge acquisition in people centered community development knowing that it isn't always quick and easy but exciting and worth it.
A peoplecentred perspective on peoplecentred community development
(School of Social Work, Zimbabwe, 1995) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Louw, Huma
This article uses the concept of 'people centredness' to stress the fact that development requires that the people themselves - who are meant to be the beneficiaries of development initiatives - be placed in the forefront and fully involved in any projects or programmes which aim to assist them. The authors see this people centred perspective as providing a new paradigm which is vital in the process of learning, growth and development If empowerment of local people is to be achieved, this requires their complete participation - which implies sharing and working together and most importantly, for outsiders working with them, to trust their skills and abilities. The author's stress that development can only take place when agencies provide the services that people really want, rather than imposing pre-conceived policies and programmes on people.
The perception of the professional self of social workers in private practice
(University of Stellenbosch, 2006) Davidson, C.; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
Introduction: The professional self is that part of the social worker that is guided and informed by the values, ethics and principles of the social work profession. It represents a way of conducting oneself as a social worker. The manner or style in which this is done is informed by the personality and creates a certain image which is presented to the public and communicates a message of who this professional person is. The professional self is also that part of the social worker in private practice that has acquired knowledge, skills and experience used in the rendering of the service offered. These skills include, amongst other things, counselling expertise, and organisational and managerial abilities. The professional self aims to be trustworthy, reliable, responsible and accountable. The professional self engages in self-evaluation and personal growth on an ongoing basis. The professional self has the clients’ interests at heart and regards human beings as valuable and worthy of dignity, respect and the right to be self-determining.
Praktykillustrasie van die vorming en terminering van n terapeutiese sisteem volgens ekosistemiese denke
(Unisa Press, 1996) Conradie, A.; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Collins, K.J.
This article presents an illustration of how an ecosystemic perspective was used in a family therapy case study. Two ecosystemic concepts were used to discuss the case study. They are: the language determination of the therapeutic system as described by Anderson & Goolishian 1988; and the therapeutic formula: stability/ change/meaningful noise as used by Keeney & Ross 1985. The value of the language determination of the system is that a system such as a family does not determine the therapeutic system but that the system is determined by a problem. The system exists as long as meaning is given by that problem. A therapeutic system can therefore be described as a problem-determined and a problem-solving system. The therapeutic change is a process of co-construction of ideas/meaning that simultaneously makes the co-construction of new realities possible for all members of the therapeutic system. One possible application of the ecosystemic perspective in social work practice is indicated.
Problems rural social workers experience
(University of Stellenbosch, 2004) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
The research was an exploratory study of the views and experiences of 45 social workers related to their work and working conditions in rural communities This article describes the research results around aspects regarding problems that social workers experience when working in rural communities e.g problems of the rural community that the social worker needs to attend to and problems the social workers experience connected to their work situation in rural areas. It is hoped that this study will bring about an awareness and concern for the rural people and rural social workers who have to take up the challenges.
Reflection on an interprofessional community-based participatory research project
(Health and Medical Publishing Group, 2016) Frantz, Jose M.; Filies, Gerard C.; Jooste, Karien; Keim, Marion; Mlenzana, Nondwe; Laattoe, N.; Roman, Nicolette V.; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Waggie, Firdouza; Rhoda, Anthea
BACKGROUND. A collaborative interprofessional research project that involved community members was beneficial to community development. OBJECTIVE. To draw upon the experiences of academics relating to their involvement in an interprofessional community-based participatory research (CBPR) project. METHODS. A Delphi study was applied as a self-reflective evaluation process to reach consensus on the lessons learnt from participation in a CBPR project. Round one of the Delphi employed closed-ended questions and the responses were analysed descriptively using Microsoft Excel (USA). The second round consisted mainly of open-ended questions and responses, and was analysed qualitatively. Ethical clearance was obtained from the University of the Western Cape research committee. RESULTS. Based on round one of the Delphi study, it became evident that recognition of the community as a unit of identity, addressing health from physical, emotional and social perspectives and formation of long-term commitments were the CBPR principles most applied. Disseminating information to all partners and facilitation of the collaborative equitable involvement of all partners in all phases of the research were the principles least applied. Themes that emerged from the second round of the Delphi included the identification of clear objectives based on the needs of the community, a shift from identification of the needs of the community to the implementation of strategies, and the creation of capacity-building opportunities for all stakeholders. CONCLUSION. In a reflection on the research process, the interprofessional team of academics found that the basics of CBPR should be attended to first. A focus on clear objectives, implementation strategies and capacity building is important in CBPR.
Revisiting Paulo Freire as a theoretical base for participatory practices for social workers
(University of Stellenbosch, 2002) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
The role and linkages of buy-back centres in the recycling industry: Pretoria and Bloemfontein (South Africa)
(University of Johannesburg, 2012) Viljoen, Jacoba (Kotie) M.M.; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie); Blaauw, Phillip (Derick)
Purpose/objectives: The aim of this paper is to get a better understanding of the role and linkages of buy-back centres (BBCs) in the recycling industry. The first objective is to analyse the institutional profile of the BBCs in two different geographical areas – namely, Pretoria and Bloemfontein. The second objective is to discuss the role and linkages of BBCs with the informal sector activities and specifically the activities of street waste pickers. The third objective is to explain the linkages that exist between BBCs and recycling companies. Problem investigated: Recycling, and specifically the collection and sorting of waste, is currently receiving much attention on the national as well as municipal level. To understand the recycling industry, and to make informed policy decisions concerning the recycling industry, policy makers need to have an understanding of the role and crucial link of all role players in the industry. Knowledge on the BBCs, who act as a link between the formal and informal sector activities in the recycling industry, is of the utmost importance. Design/Methodology/Approach: A mixed method approach consisting of a quantitative survey coupled with qualitative questions was used. The mixed method approach is used to collect as much data as possible from the BBCs, which is beyond the scope of what a structured questionnaire on its own can achieve. A lack of accurate location information on BBCs necessitated an intensive search for BBCs in the two areas. Findings/Implications: The BBCs in Pretoria and Bloemfontein act as an important link between informal sector activities and recycling companies and therefore promote informal and formal job opportunities. Formal job opportunities are created at the BBC sites as well as formal jobs at the upper end of the recycling chain, namely at formal recycling companies. Informal income generating opportunities are created for the informal waste collectors. Any changes in the formal or informal recycling sectors will have a direct influence on the operations and existence of the BBCs. Originality/Value: The role of BBCs in the recycling chain has been neglected in the literature. This study is the first study on the linkages and role of BBCs in South Africa and addresses a gap in the literature. Conclusion: BBCs play an important role in creating formal jobs and informal income generating opportunities for the poor and unemployable. More research is needed to understand the industry and its role players. This study can form a basis for additional research in this field.
"Satsified and/or dissatisfied?" The experience-based perceptions of social work student customers of studying at an open and distance-learning university
(University of Stellenbosch, 2013) Alpaslan, Nicky; Angelopulo, George; Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
Introduction: When labelling institutions of higher education as “service industries”, the consumers of services of such higher institutions can no longer only be regarded as “students” but should be viewed as “customers”. They are customers who seem to be well informed about their rights as consumers, who demand effective and quality services, who voice their concerns and dissatisfaction through formal and informal channels (i.e. in communications to University authorities as well as through public demonstrations and in the media and on social networks (Sander et al., 2000:309)). As an example, one article in the printed media comes to mind (i.e. “Unisa students march to protest high fees, service” by Tsabeng Nthite in The Pretoria News on 23 September 2006:3).
The socio-economic realities of the social work students of the University of South Africa
(University of Stellenbosch, 2009) Schenck, Catherina (Rinie)
Introduction: When a tertiary institution such as the University of South Africa (Unisa) agrees to offer training for a profession such as social work, it accepts the responsibility of educating students according to the minimum standards of the Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) degree as registered at the South African National Qualification Framework (NQF). These requirements include a body of knowledge, required practical skills and the values and ethics of the profession. Social work is a profession which focuses on people and their socio-economic context. It is regulated by its professional Council, the South African Council for Social Service Professions (SACSSP), which expects the training institutions to deliver a certain quality of professional who can work together with troubled and marginalised people, facilitate processes with groups and communities in order to meet their basic needs, and improve their livelihoods, based on the principles of respect for people, social justice and equality. The training of social workers in South Africa is also largely determined by the South African context and the policies that guide the type of service delivery, e.g. the South African Constitution, Bill of Rights (Act 108 of 1996) and the developmental approach to welfare, i.e. the White Paper for Social Welfare (RSA, 1997). According to Van Delft (2002), the White Paper for Social Welfare (1997) and the Financing Policy (1999) changed the face of social welfare in South Africa from a residual model to a developmental model. Within the South African context, the focus of service delivery is aimed at the poor and unemployed, those with HIV/Aids, those that have been affected by crime and violence, pregnant teenagers, malnutrition, low levels of literacy and education, abuse and neglect, poor housing and public health, women and children, people with disabilities and the aged.

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