The role of social workers in curbing girl marriages : a FAMSA case study

Abstract

This paper reports on a case study of Families and Marriage Society of South Africa (FAMSA) (Salim, 2019) that explored and described the role of social workers in curbing girl marriages. FAMSA is a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) which endeavours to promote social justice for those who are vulnerable. FAMSA social workers are given specialised training to support communities, offering programmes on themes such as youth mentorship, marriage preparation and enrichment, and domestic and gender-based violence (Families and Marriages Society of South Africa (FAMSA), 2018). The paper draws on the structural approach as theoretical framework to present four themes that emerged from the study: the reasons for girl marriage, the implications of girl marriage, the interventions and roles of social workers in curbing girl marriages, and the barriers to curbing girl marriage. The conclusion reflects on the findings of the study and on the way forward.