The evaluation of World Vision's Area Development Programme in Lesotho : the case of Taung

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This study was embarked upon to evaluate the contribution which World Vision as agent and catalystof development has made towards addressing social issues in Lesotho. Specifically, the studyevaluates Taung Area Development Programme which is one of the World Vision communitydevelopment programmes established to improve social conditions in the rural communitiesparticularly, in Tsoloane, Ha-Mopoane and Qhalasi. The study seeks to investigate three importantareas;1. Participation: to assess whether the communities have been involved in the planning of theprojects, identified their own priorities for the projects or used their lands and other resources toexercise control over their economic, social and cultural development.2. Empowerment: to assess how the projects have strengthened the capacity of local communities.This includes the transfer of skills through training for the purpose of equipping people to engage intheir own development.3. Sustainability: to assess the long-term viability of the projects.Data was gathered through the use of qualitative and quantitative data collection techniques. Toconduct both methods a snowball technique was applied. The data gathered was tabulated in graphsand pie charts. The results were then discussed and analysed in terms of the aims of this research.Regarding participation, the findings of the study revealed that to a large extent people were able toparticipate in the planning of the projects. People were able to identify their objectives and make adecision to embark on Income Generating Activities (IGA) such as raising poultry and pigs, sewing,and making baskets, candles and soap. The IGA enabled project members to feed and earn income fortheir families. The study further revealed that while certain people were able to participate in theplanning of their projects, in development activities such as the building of feeder roads, people'sparticipation was minimal. This blueprint and top down planning approach allowed for little publicparticipation. The study also found that World Vision's religious involvement was appreciated for themoral support it provided. Another important issue the study brought to light was that people had anopportunity to use their indigenous knowledge in their projects.Regarding empowerment, almost all the respondents believed that World Vision played an importantrole by training people to handle various activities within projects. Apart from the training given,people also acquired different skills and knowledge. Most of the respondents acquired technical andeconomic knowledge, while others became skilful in farming and health matters as well as inhandcraft. Empowerment in the Taung Area Development Programme has also manifested itselfthrough the improved living conditions of the local people. The study found that infrastructure such asschools and roads have been established. As regards primary health care, respondents indicated thatthey had access to clean water due to the presence of a community tap. HIV/AIDS awareness, disease prevention campaigns and the building of toilets have contributed to improved living conditions in theTaung Area Development Programme. Though HIV/AIDS awareness and disease preventioncampaigns were essential for primary health care, few people were knowledgeable about deadlydiseases such as HIV/AIDS. As a result there was still a need for World Vision to underpin the spreadof HIV/AIDS awareness within the communities.Sustainability has been attributed to the long-term survival of the development projects and theirfuture operation. The findings of this study confirmed that people in the Taung Area DevelopmentProgramme were optimistic that the skills and knowledge they have acquired, and the projectsthemselves will generate resources and continue to operate after World Vision's departure, especiallywith regard to IGA projects. The study results confirmed that people who mainly engaged indevelopment activities such as at Qhalasi showed that they could only utilise their skills andknowledge to a small degree.The main conclusion reached by the study is that the Taung Area Development Programme as one ofWorld Vision's programmes has to a large extent transformed the lives of the local people. As a resultof World Vision involvement in the Taung Area Development Programme, people-centreddevelopment is manifestly seen to promote the participation and empowerment of the people as wellas the sustainability of the development projects.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University