The role of a resource centre in the empowerment of community based organisations in Cape Town's townships

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to assess the needs for a Resource Centre (RC) run byCommunity Connections (CC), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) based inPhilippi, Cape Town. The overall objective of the RC is the empowerment ofCommunity Based Organisations (CBOs). Community Connections' mission is tosupport community development in South Africa by building the capacity of CBOs toinitiate, manage and sustain local empowerment and self help initiatives.Research paradigms for the study were critical theory with its aim of emancipationand an approach that favours transformative action, as well as postmodernism with itsappreciation of local contextualised knowledge and value based action. The researchproblem was addressed through action research and a case study approach. Theresearcher did an internship at CC between March and November 2008. During thisperiod data was collected through participant observation as well as interviews,namely thirteen semi-structured interviews with CBOs and four additional interviewswith practitioners of the NGO and external stakeholders.The study was motivated by an approach to development that aims at transformationto increase social justice and the strengthening of vulnerable and marginalised groups.The transformative potential of development is discussed through an analysis ofrelated concepts such as social capital, participation and empowerment. It was foundthat discourses and social practices can shape the way people participate and that theenvironment also influences participation through the availability of space forparticipation and debate. Empowerment needs the critical consciousness of peopleand takes place when the inequality in power relations is addressed. Developmenttherefore needs to be people centred, value meaningful participation and aim atinverting existing imbalances in access to assets and resources in society. The reviewevaluates suggestions for civil society practice that supports a transformative, learningand partnership based approach to development.To address the research question of how an NGO Resource Centre can mosteffectively contribute to creating empowering linkages between CBOs and otherstakeholders, their external relationships were assessed. Relevant stakeholders includeCBO funders, NGOs and government departments and institutions. The findings ofthe research describe those relationships with a focus on the imbalances in power andhow they manifest themselves in practice. The relationship between CBOs andCommunity Connections was assessed as well as the relevance of specific servicesthat the RC would provide.The recommendations focus on how the RC can support the strengthening of CBOs intheir specific environment, and how they can be enabled to act upon theirenvironment through access to relevant information, knowledge and capacities.Specific recommendations for the RC focus on the learning in CommunityConnections through the integration of services, making the NGO more accessible forCBOs through the constant availability of certain services, and further research thatcan strengthen the work of Community Connections and the empowerment of CBOs.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University