“…Here We Help Each Other”: Sense of Community of People Subjected to Forced Removals

Abstract

This study examined the sense of community of people with experience of forced removals in a South African setting. The participants were 200–108 men (54%) and 92 women (46%) between 18 and 61 years of age and selected using systematic random sampling from the Khuma community. Data were collected using a Sense of Community Index-2 and the Mmogo-method®, a visual representation procedure. The questionnaire data were statistically analysed and the qualitative data were thematically and visually analysed. Findings suggested that places were important to sense of community in meeting their needs for survival, to maintain intergenerational relationships, and to facilitate community interactions.

Key words:

• needs
• sense of place/community
• voluntary/forced removal
• interactions
• relationships