Resource and support programmes for poor families in a rural residential area

Abstract

During the present social, economic and political changes in South Africa poor families experience many different problems which affect their daily functioning and it becomes more and more demanding for them to meet their basic caring responsibilities without the assistance of other systems in the community. They need the support of formal systems such as churches, schools, welfare agencies and community resources, as well as informal systems such as their family and
friends. These are crucial for promoting and maintaining the quality of these families' daily lives (Sviridoff & Ryan, 1997; Unger & Powell, 1990). In this paper some attempts to improve the quality of family life made by a welfare agency where final-year social work students are placed for their fieldwork are explained. At this welfare agency the students were working in projects specifically aimed at building the strengths of poor families . A theoretical overview of how these projects were planned and implemented will be pres.ented. Where applicable, practical illustrations or examples will be given.