Youth leadership development programs in Africa : assessing two case studies

Date
2004-12
Journal Title
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Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The central focus of this thesis is Youth Leadership Development programs in Africa. These programs are viewed within the context of the circumstances the youth currently face in their lives, and also the important role the youth in Africa have to play in the future of the continent. It is argued that leadership development holds the key to addressing the social, economic and political challenges Africa currently experiences. The Youth capacity building program in Uganda and the Joint Enrichment Project in South Africa were chosen as two case studies of Youth Leadership Development programs in Africa. The two case studies were benchmarked against the assessment tool that the International Youth Foundation (IYF) has created for making youth programs work. The above two programs differ greatly in their cultural, economic, social and political contexts. The aim of this study is to determine whether a single set of criteria for Youth Leadership Development programs in the African context is possible, despite the aforementioned differences inherent in the programs. To this end separate qualitative comparisons have been conducted on both the case studies. Shortcomings with regard to the assessment tool as well as the chosen youth programs were also identified. This study highlights that community development includes youth development, and therefore also the training of future leaders. Africa cannot rely on previous models of leadership development for today's youth. Further research in this field is needed, but this study confirms that Youth Leadership Development is vital in Africa.
AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die sentrale fokus van die tesis is jeug leierskapsontwikkelingsprogramme in Afrika. Hierdie programme word benader binne die konteks van die omstandighede wat die jeug se lewens beinvloed, asook diebelangrike rol wat die jeug in Afrika speel in die toekoms van die kontinent. Die uitgangspunt is dat leierskapsontwikkeling die sleutel is tot die verbetering van sosiale, ekonomiese en politieke uitdagings in Afrika. Die "Youth capacity building" program van Uganda, en die "Joint Enrichment Project" van Suid-Afrika is twee gevallestudies wat gekies is as voorbeelde van jeug leierskapsontwikkelingsprogramme in Afrika. Hierdie twee gevallestudies is gemeet aan die "International Youth Foundation" (IYF) se riglyne vir die bepaling van suksesvolle jeugprogramme. Die twee gekose programme verskil grootliks ten opsigte van die kulturele, ekonomiese, sosiale en politieke konteks waarbinne hulle plaasvind. Die doel van hierdie studie is om die moontlikheid te bepaal van 'n enkele stel kriteria vir jeug leierskapsontwikkelingsprogramme binne die Afrika konteks. Vir hierdie doel is afsonderlike kwalitatiewe vergelykings getref tussen die gevallestudies en die bepaalde riglyne van die IYF. Verder is tekortkominge van beide die riglyne asook die jeugprogramme bepaal. Volgens hierdie studie vonn jeugontwikkeling 'n integrale deel van gemeenskapsontwikkeling, en daarom behels gemeenskapsontwikkeling ook die opleiding van toekomstige leiers. Daar kan nie op vorige modelle van leierskapsontwikkeling gesteun word vir die huidige jeug in Afrika nie. Daar is verdere navorsing in hierdie rigting nodig, maar hierdie studie bevestig dat jeugleierskapsontwikkeling in Afrika van kardinale belang is.
Description
Thesis (MPhil)--Stellenbosch University, 2004.
Keywords
Leadership in children -- South Africa -- Case studies, Community development -- South Africa -- Case studies, Community development -- Uganda -- Case studies, Leadership in children -- Uganda -- Case studies, Dissertations -- Sociology, Theses -- Sociology
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