Browsing by Author "Mellows, Susan Pamela"

Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
  • Thumbnail Image
    Item
    Social transformation through affirmation of human dignity : a case study of ‘Learn to Earn’
    (Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University, 2022-04-04) Mellows, Susan Pamela; Bowers-Du Toit, Nadine; Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Theology. Dept. of Practical Theology and Missiology.
    ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Given South Africa’s humanitarian crisis, the intention was to explore a possible intervention to address the pervasive poverty and rapidly rising unemployment, by means of a practical theological study. The study aims to ascertain the contribution which spirituality in a Faith-Based Organisation (“FBO”) makes towards attaining social transformation through affirming human dignity. Throughout the study, ‘spirituality’ was given the meaning of the personal and relational side of the Christian faith, which shapes daily life. The evolution of the notion of ‘development’, as an undertaking intended to improve the lives of those experiencing material deprivation, was traced and it was noted how spirituality had long been excluded as a feature affecting the well-being of those to whom poverty upliftment was intended to be addressed. The study therefore argues in favour of a theological interpretation of development, known also as ‘transformation’, having its foundation in a kingdom of God theology with a focus on attaining ‘shalom’. Positioned within the discipline of Theology and Development, this qualitative research study selected a case study as its methodology, within an interpretive paradigmatic perspective, which incorporated the notion of self-reflexivity as an additional dimension of the data interpretation. The unit of analysis of the case study was the FBO, and an in-depth exploration was undertaken in order to understand the work of Learn to Earn (“LTE”), an FBO with an overtly Christian faith expression. LTE professes to focus on the whole person, including the spiritual dimension, in the course of providing skills training to formerly unemployed people in Khayelitsha, Cape Town and Zwelihle, Hermanus. Through empirical research, the integrated spirituality practices of LTE were explored in order to ascertain the extent of social transformation being experienced by its participants. The study’s findings were that the practice of spirituality within LTE resulted in the affirmation of human dignity of participants, in circumstances where there had been a focus on the imago Dei and where the kingdom of God was proclaimed holistically. The result was that ‘marred identities’ of impoverished people were healed as they recovered their true identity and vocation. As a consequence, the affirmation of human dignity through a recovery of vocation played a significant role in the participants overcoming powerlessness, caused by structural injustice. Through their own agency, they were able to escape poverty’s captivity and to progress towards shalom, whereby meaningful social transformation occurred. Based on the empirical evidence relating to the case study of LTE, it can be suggested that this FBO empowers those who are economically deprived, by assisting them to overcome powerlessness, through activating their agency, as their human dignity is affirmed and vocation subsequently recovered. It is suggested that the significant role of the FBO in development work is thereby evident. Recent interest in inclusion of spirituality within development discourse is thus to be welcomed as a beneficial addition to attaining social transformation.