Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology

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Browsing Department of Sociology and Social Anthropology by browse.metadata.advisor "Berman, K."

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    Craft and poverty alleviation in South Africa : an impact assessment of Phumani Paper : a multi-site craft-based poverty alleviation programme
    (Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch, 2004-04) Cohn, Taryn Claire; Ewert, J. W.; Berman, K.; University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of Sociology and Social Anthropology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The cultural industries have been identified by the South African government as having significant potential to generate employment and hence alleviate the wide spread poverty suffered by many in the country. They have invested in the cultural industries with a view to developing SMMEs that have the potential to generate sustainable livelihoods. Craft, in particular is seen as an ideal vehicle through which poverty alleviation can take place, due to the combination of low technology requirements with high levels of manual labour. This study looks at one such multi-site craft-based poverty alleviation programme, Phumani Paper, and assesses the impact that it has had on the poverty of its participants (so far). Drawing on relevant theory “poverty” is defined as a deficiency with regard to three aspects of people’s lives: income, “human development” and capacity building. The results of the study indicate that the program did contribute to human development, but that income generation was less successful. In this regard success seems to depend on conditions at three levels of a programme: the programme management, the project model and the individual participants. Strategic intervention on these three levels will ensure that the impact of craft on poverty is more effective.