Interdisciplinary Journal of Rural and Community Studies

Health challenges and coping mechanisms of female street children in Harare, Zimbabwe

2024-08-03T19:22:56+02:00

This study explored the health challenges and coping strategies of female street children aged between 8 and 15 years. Existing studies on street children have generally viewed the problems faced by both girls and boys. This paper contributes to this body of knowledge by investigating the phenomenon of street children from a gender perspective, specifically focusing on female street children in Harare, Zimbabwe. A qualitative approach was employed, and data were collected through 17 in-depth interviews. The findings indicate that female street children face challenges such as a lack of sanitary pads, poor diet, inadequate hygiene, and substandard living conditions, all of which often result in mental health problems. To cope with these challenges, female street children engage in drug use, undertake marginal work, scavenge, beg, and rely on donations from NGOs and the government. The findings also revealed that they use clothes as facemasks and consume lemons as coping mechanisms against health needs induced by COVID-19.

Rural students' pathways to higher tertiary education in Zimbabwe: Overcoming barriers, promoting inclusion and success

2024-12-23T15:58:25+02:00

Accessing higher tertiary education for rural students in Zimbabwe is a complex journey shaped by various socio-economic, cultural, and geographic factors unique to their circumstances. This study examines the experiences of rural students in accessing, participating in, and attaining higher tertiary education through the lens of Freire's theory of critical consciousness. It employs a critical emancipatory research paradigm, utilising participatory action research methodologies. Twenty participants were purposively selected and actively involved as co-researchers throughout the research process to identify empowering practices that can transform their educational realities. Data was collected using focus group discussions and Photovoice, allowing participants to share narratives and visually represent the barriers in their educational journeys. Critical discourse analysis revealed various factors that shape educational trajectories, such as geographic isolation, financial constraints, a lack of collegiate guidance, and the internalisation of negative perceptions about rural identities. Findings also highlighted protective factors, including strong family and community support systems, self-determined mindsets, and engagement with college-bridging programmes. Through critical dialogues, participants explored ways to challenge internalised stigmas and develop critical literacies to navigate systemic barriers. The PAR process enhanced participants' critical consciousness and enabled them to collectively generate rural student-led solutions for equitable educational access. The importance of adopting strengths-based and culturally sustaining approaches that amplify the voices of rural students in transforming policies and practices was highlighted. Importantly, this study demonstrated the emancipatory potential of PAR in fostering resilience and self-advocacy among rural students, thereby promoting higher tertiary education as a means for social and economic mobility.

The elusive ‘promised land’: South Africa’s rural community struggles after thirty years of democracy

2024-09-29T05:35:40+02:00

This study highlights the struggles of Black South Africans in rural communities, which define inequalities and socio-economic conditions thirty years after the first democratic elections in 1994, regardless of the ANC's promise of “a better life for all.” The purpose of discussing these challenges was to explore selected areas relevant to these issues as a delimitation. A closer look at the socio-economic history of a people reveals factors and circumstances that either promote, sustain, or challenge the livelihoods of a society or community, as in South Africa, race and geographical location define social status and quality of life. Such circumstances have particularly affected Black South African rural communities, who continue to experience abject poverty and destitution. This points to a departure from the Batho Pele Principles, which aimed to focus on socio-economic development programmes. The data used was ‘desktop’ from secondary sources, reports, and policy papers deemed relevant to the study and related to the experiences and struggles of rural communities against inadequate education, sustainable livelihoods, water and sanitation, and health, among others. The study concluded that, despite the gains of democracy, more needs to be done. An Afrocentric perspective was preferred because it is suitable for conceptualising, operationalising, and understanding social human problems such as rural community struggles outside the confines of Eurocentric knowledge ‘paternalism’. An Afrocentric method was used to present the findings of the study, based on the identified subtopics.

Reclaiming epistemologies of woundedness: Pain and the politics of knowledge in African higher education

2025-02-17T09:40:17+02:00

This paper argues that epistemologies of woundedness are essential for transforming knowledge systems historically shaped by Eurocentric and exclusionary frameworks. It explores how wounded epistemologies disrupt traditional knowledge paradigms by centring the lived experiences of communities impacted by colonialism, systemic racism, and historical violence. In postcolonial societies, such as those in Africa, where the legacies of colonialism persist, epistemic healing becomes crucial in reclaiming Indigenous ways of knowing and addressing the psychological and cultural wounds inflicted by these histories. This paper advocates for actively decolonising education systems, curricula, and research practices to restore dignity to marginalised epistemologies and create inclusive spaces for diverse perspectives. Examining the implications for education, social justice, and knowledge production, the paper highlights the need for curricula that recognise Indigenous and African philosophies, dismantling colonial structures within academic institutions, and research practices that amplify voices traditionally excluded from scholarly discourse. Ultimately, the paper calls for a comprehensive rethinking of African knowledge validation processes to foster a more just, democratic, and inclusive intellectual landscape.

Enhancing harvested rainwater quality through nanofiltration and storage practices in a rural community

2025-04-21T19:21:33+02:00

Water scarcity remains a persistent global challenge, particularly in rural communities where untreated harvested rainwater is often the primary source of water for domestic use. This study investigated cost-effective strategies to improve the quality of harvested rainwater in a selected rural community in South Africa. A sequential mixed-methods approach was adopted to explore the community’s existing rainwater harvesting practices, associated challenges, and perceptions of rainwater harvesting. The quantitative part of the study gathered data from 221 households through convenience sampling and was analysed using inferential statistics. The qualitative part of the study gathered insights from 16 interviews using convenience-based voluntary sampling and was analysed thematically. The results revealed that the majority of the households collected and stored rainwater using rooftop harvesting systems combined with plastic storage tanks. The harvested rainwater was primarily used for cooking, drinking, and cleaning. However, contamination from inadequate storage conditions, lack of filtration systems, and exposure to environmental pollutants frequently resulted in health-related concerns surfacing within the community. The study proposes using a simple wood-based nanofiltration system as a low-cost sustainable intervention to improve water quality. In addition, the study recommends promoting hygienic practices to reduce contamination risks and improving storage practices to preserve water quality. By advocating for accessible filtration technologies and encouraging safer water storage practices, the study contributes to the advancement of safe rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management in rural communities.