Abstract
The developmental approach to social welfare in South Africa is intended to address poverty, oppression and inequality, and in the process make welfare just, equitable, participatory and appropriate to the needs of all South Africans. Within a broader framework of social development, the aim is to build a self-reliant nation through an integrated social welfare system, in which the government – in partnership with civil society, namely non-governmental organisations and grassroots communities – maximises the potential for equitable, sustainable, accessible and people-centred developmental welfare programmes.
Highlights
The developmental approach to social welfare in South Africa is intended to address poverty, oppression and inequality, and in the process make welfare just, equitable, participatory and appropriate to the needs of all South Africans
The social development perspective attempts to harmonise social and economic development goals through investment in human capacity. In practice this meant moving away from the old welfare service model, which relied mainly on institutional care and specialised welfare agencies organised around the particular needs of client groups, where professional social workers offered mainly casework services (Republic of South Africa, 1997)
ASHA started its work in Soweto in 1949, during the early days of the Nationalist apartheid government in South Africa, as a community outreach support initiative of a group of concerned liberal white women with access to funding resources
Summary
Within a broader framework of social development, the aim is to build a self-reliant nation through an integrated social welfare system, in which the government – in partnership with civil society, namely non-governmental organisations and grassroots communities – maximises the potential for equitable, sustainable, accessible and people-centred developmental welfare programmes. ASHA is one of the leading NGOs in South Africa and has won acclaim from government and civil society for its alignment with developmental welfare policy In this way it has transformed its preschool facilities in Soweto, a major urban township south-west of Johannesburg, into multi-purpose community centres, providing interdisciplinary services to all family members of the preschool children of ASHA. In 1999 the ASHA/University of Johannesburg Soweto Community Leadership Partnership Programme (SCLPP) was established to build the capacity of leaders through training managers, preschool teachers and family members of the preschool children, working in its 40 community-based preschool centres. The establishment and development of ASHA will be discussed before the results of the training programme are provided
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