Abstract
The community of uMbumbulu rural community located in KwaZulu Natal, like many rural areas in South Africa faces challenges of limited resources such as health facilities. The project identified mental health education support as a major challenge. Many lost their lives between 2020-2022, leaving the community traumatized. Therapy and financial support were offered to those in need. However, the main aim of the study was to offer education literacy about mental wellness. The are two frameworks used to engage with the women: Community Education Model and the Asset Basse Community Development. Community Education Model (ABCD) argues that community members have the right to formal and informal learning about social issues that affect their lives. According to the ABCD model resources and assets already exists within communities, it is therefore, the responsibility of community developers to help community members realize these resources to better their lives. The methodology used was mixed methods. Training of 20 women from the community of uMbumbulu who in turn became teachers to different spaces. Four steps were followed: community organizing, visioning, planning and implementation and evaluation. Results indicate that educating women in rural as a strategy enable community developers to reach a wider audience that could’ve not been accessed as the time and financial resources were limited. The use of the Zulu language as a tool for engaging with both the women and the community at large. Lastly, working with existing social programs proved to be beneficial to the achieving the goals of the project.
Presenters
Nyameka MbonambiLecture/Academic Researcher, School of Human and Community Development, Wits University, South Africa
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
Health Promotion and Education
KEYWORDS
Mental health, Rural Communities, Literacy, Inclusion, Women
