THEME 3: COMMUNITY MEMBERS‟ PERCEPTIONS REGARDING THE

When participants were asked about their views regarding the role of the community in supporting youth-headed families, the responses revealed that communities were willing to help and to offer their support; however, due to poverty and high unemployment, they felt constrained in assisting in meeting the needs of youth- headed families.

5.3.3.1 SUB-THEME 3.1: FACTORS THAT IMPACT ON COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT AND SUPPORT

The participants referred to the following factors that pose barriers to their involvement in supporting youth-headed families:

172  Poverty-related challenges as barriers impacting on community‟s ability to

support youth-headed families

 Lack of awareness or limited understanding regarding how to help

 Perceived lack of initiative from youth to ask for help

 Others might question the intention to help

The following sub-section further elaborates on the barriers to supporting youth- headed families as experienced by community members comparing these with relevant theories and literature.

5.3.3.1.1 Poverty-related challenges as barriers impacting on community’s ability to support youth-headed families

The participants indicated a willingness to support youth-headed families. However, poverty and limited resources within communities were identified as major hindrances. The majority of the participants expressed strong feelings regarding unemployment as a deterrent to their ability to lend a helping hand. As a result of high unemployment, community members were more concerned about their own survival, as illustrated in the following excerpts:

Something that is difficult is that sometimes we see that the family really need support and that they do not have anyone working. But it is difficult to help while I‘m also not working, because what I can use to help is money. I would say to myself, I will give him/her rice, then I realise that I can‘t do that because I don‘t have it even myself.

Another participant said:

I really wish that I could help, but I need help myself, because I have nothing. If I had money or food, I‘d share with them, but how do I do that when I don‘t know what I will put on the table for my children for them to go to bed with something in their stomachs?

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As parents, we always worry. You often think this child is living like this, but there is nothing to do. We only talk about these things, you see. Everybody worries you see it‘s the say, it‘s just a say but we have nothing to support them.

It became evident from participants‟ narratives that some community members were willing to assist youth-headed families. However, limited personal resources served a hindrance to reaching out to others in need. Evans (2010:22) refers to resource constraints as one of the key barriers to community support. Similarly, some studies contend that unemployment, poor wages, unstable working conditions, and inadequate resources disproportionately place communities at a disadvantaged position, which makes it difficult for them to offer support to community members in need (Germann, 2006; Van Dijk, 2008).

5.3.3.1.2 Lack of awareness or limited understanding regarding how to help

Some research participants also reported that they did always know how to help youth-headed families. The lack of knowledge about what to do and the available resources limited their ability to help.

The following statements give testimony to this view:

I don‘t think people know where to go to first of all when they need to help. Where can I start? Where can I start to go to? How do I help?

I wish I could help, but I don‘t know what to do.

Van Dijk and Van Driel (2009:921) concur with this view and further state that lack of awareness as to how and when to help, can result in insufficient support being provided to children and young people in need. The findings of a study by Evans (2010:22) identified limited understanding among teachers and community members about young people‟s problems and how to support them as barriers to developing

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services and support for young people caring for their siblings in Tanzania and Uganda.

5.3.3.1.3 Perceived lack of initiative from youth to ask for help

Some of the participants blamed the young people for not reaching out for help. The participants viewed this lack of initiative as negative and as not wanting to be helped.

I don‘t know whether those youth are willing to be assisted, you know, because sometimes they just sit and keep quiet even if they struggle.

Another participant reported the following:

It is difficult to help a person who does not ask for help. I do not want to appear as though I am forward, so I sit back and wait for someone to ask for help. I do not want to offend anybody.

Studies conducted with child and adolescent-headed households reported that due to issues of discrimination, stigma, fear of harassment and fear of marginalisation, children and young people from these households tended to isolate themselves, which impacted on their ability to seek help (Nelson Mandela Children‟s Fund, 2001; Naicker & Tshenase, 2004; Van Dijk, 2008).

Evans (2010:9) refers to strategies used by young people to resist marginalisation and harassment, such as suppressing their emotional needs and being highly self- reliant.

5.3.3.1.4 Others might question the intentions to help

A few participants indicated that they were hesitant to help youth-headed families, due to fears that their intentions may be questioned. They referred to mistrust that existed among community members, which made it difficult to extend a helping hand.

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It depends, because we as Xhosa have our own beliefs. People have, I can say, I can do something to help, but people nowadays will wonder why I am interested in helping. I can say, I can help with this, and then there will be questions like, why all of a sudden? You see neighbourhood and family members can be a problem.

Another participant referred to the fact that some young people had been exposed to abuse and exploitation by those who claimed to help them. He reported that this resulted in suspicion and lack of trust among community members.

People no longer give for the sake of giving. They expect something in return and I don‘t want people to think I am also helping because I want something in return.

In a study with adolescents in youth-headed households by Nkomo (2006:91), participants showed scepticism and cynicism in terms of community support. Van Dijk (2008:133) raises questions as to whether communities are helping because of Ubuntu or reciprocity. The participants in this study felt that neighbours helped them because they expected something in return, and this influenced their appreciation of the support given. Contrary to the views articulated by members of youth-headed families about lack of care from communities for the well-being of these families, the community members reflected on contextual realities in their communities, such as crime, child exploitation and violence against women and children, which impacted on the ability of community members to offer the required support. These findings have highlighted the need to build the strength and capacity of communities to enable them to fulfil the crucial role of supporting youth-headed families. In addition, the findings have suggested the need to build social trust and community cohesion in order for the communities to serve as a strong social network for youth-headed families.

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