ABSTRACT
This article reports on the effect of a community-based social support programme offered through a government-linked centre that works on the resilience of children of families from low socioeconomic backgrounds. Purposive sampling was used to select four parents (mothers) and nine school-going children (N = 13) who all benefit from and attend a community-based social support programme (drop-in centre) that targets vulnerable learners and their families. A case study design was implemented to construct data using biographical questionnaires, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. The findings revealed that the socioeconomic status of families and the degree of vulnerability of primary school children are key determinants and identification strategies that are used by schools to refer learners to social support programmes aimed at supporting their resilience. Moreover, the identification of vulnerable children through the school system enhances and facilitates their family’s access to social support programmes.
Acknowledgements
The participants in this study are thanked for their contribution to this research. I thank the two Master’s in Educational Psychology students who were involved as co-researchers in the bigger research project, Ms Lee-Anne Lewis and Ms Thabile Nicholene Mtsweni.
Disclosure statement
No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.
Notes on contributor
Motlalepule Ruth Mampane is an Associate Professor of Educational Psychology, university of Pretoria. Her research focus is on resilience in families and adolescence. Her scholarly contributions is centred on the influences of context and developmental processes on adolescent and family resilience against multiple adversities that South African families are exposed to.