This article reports on the findings of an empirical study aimed at empowering ten selected educators to mobilise potential yet unused assets within a community, in order to support that community in coping with HIV/AIDS. Despite numerous studies on various aspects of HIV/AIDS, limited research is currently undertaken on intervention strategies, especially within communities facing the challenge. The application of the asset-based approach is explored, against the background of community-based coping. It is argued that asset mobilisation can indeed be regarded as a viable strategy for coping with HIV/AIDS. Findings reveal empowerment of
individuals (the participants), of the school where the study was undertaken, as well as of other community members.
AFRIKAANS: Hierdie artikel rapporteer die bevindinge van ’n empiriese ondersoek wat ten doel gehad
het om tien geselekteerde opvoeders te bemagtig om potensiële maar onbenutte bates
binne ’n gemeenskap te mobiliseer, ten einde die betrokke gemeenskap te ondersteun in die hantering van MIV/VIGS. Nieteenstaande talle studies oor verskeie aspekte van MIV/VIGS, word beperkte navorsing tans onderneem na intervensiestrategieë, veral binne gemeenskappe wat die uitdaging moet hanteer. Die toepassingsmoontlikheid van die bategebaseerde benadering word ondersoek teen die agtergrond van gemeenskapgebaseerde hantering. Batemobilisering kan inderdaad
as moontlike hanteringstrategie van MIV/VIGS beskou word. Bevindinge dui op die
bemagtiging van individue (deelnemers) van die skool waar die studie onderneem is, asook van ander gemeenskapslede.
