Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to explore and understand the strategies that unemployed caregivers use to enhance the resilience of their school-going children and the role they play in their children's education. Qualitative research methodology was used collect data. A qualitative methodology seemed appropriate for this study, because it attempts to understand how the participants acquire meaning from the cultural and social environments within which they live. Both purposive and snowballing sampling methods were used to select the participants. The sample consisted of seven caregivers. A case study design and focus group was used to further understand the caregivers’ personal experience.
The epistemology that guided the study is interpretivism. Interpretivism approach was employed to gain a better understanding of the participants' lived experiences. A focus group discussion was conducted in English and IsiZulu, with seven participants (5 females and 2 males) from the Mamelodi East community (Matimba/Sinqobile drop-in centre). A translator was also present to translate to those who do not understand English. Moreover, I noted down field notes as part of data collection. The session was audio-recorded and transcribed subsequently. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes that emerged from the participants' experiences from the transcripts. Based on the findings, a deeper understanding of how unemployed caregivers enhance the resilience of their school-going children was established through the themes that emerged. The main themes emerged from the data regarding the strategies unemployed caregivers use to enhance the resilience of their school-going children were: resilience enhancing strategies in families and barriers to resilience.
Ungar’s social ecology of resilience theory served as the theoretical framework for this study. The social ecology of resilience describes how relationship between school, family, society, and culture may help individuals develop positively. The focus of this framework is on what the physical and social ecologies offer to combat adversities and encourage resilience and growth when there are numerous adversities. The SERT is supported by the themes that emerged from the caregivers' strategies for enhancing the resilience of their school-going children. These themes and subthemes are crucial for people working with individuals challenged by unemployment because they highlight the significance of social support and interventions available in the community.
Key Words:
• Caregivers
• Unemployment
• Unemployed caregivers
• Enhance
• Resilience
