| Summary: | A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Community Psychology in the Department of Psychology University of Zululand, 2002. === From the beginning community psychology was concerned with social change, particularly in those systems of society where psychologists were active participants in the process of community empowerment. This study was an on-going attempt of community psychology to give psychology away to the people, especially those who were under-privileged.
The study emphasized community participation/involvement in the projects which were formed to assist the poor local communities of Empangeni in the fight against poverty. The specific aims of the study were, among other things, the:
* identification and optimization of local expertise within disadvantaged communities visited by co-researchers.
* sharing of information and knowledge, through co-researchers, on the prevention of illness and the promotion of health.
Participatory action research was used as it allowed all participants (professionals and non-professionals) to have equal partnership in the process of knowledge and information exchange.
What emerged from the study was that community development projects could play a significant role in uplifting the standard of living of the poor people. Moreover, ensuring effective community participation was a daunting task which necessitated patience and understanding among all those who were involved. It appeared that if community participation was to contribute towards achieving community empowerment, it should be approached holistically, recognizing the complexity of the community, and at the same time respecting its culture and uniqueness. Communal spirituality and intentionality, as opposed to individualism, were significant in restoring a sense of universality and belongingness to the group. These ideals instilled in each individual member of the group a sense of power, hope and self-reliance which they all needed for the sustainability of the community development projects. === National Research Foundation
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