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Analysing the support systems for refugees in southern Africa: the case of Botswana

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dc.contributor.advisor Schenck, C.J. (Prof.) en
dc.contributor.advisor Van Delft, W.F. (Prof.) en
dc.contributor.author Okello-Wengi, Sebastian en
dc.date.accessioned 2009-08-25T10:51:03Z
dc.date.available 2009-08-25T10:51:03Z
dc.date.issued 2009-08-25T10:51:03Z
dc.date.submitted 2004-06-30 en
dc.identifier.citation Okello-Wengi, Sebastian (2009) Analysing the support systems for refugees in southern Africa: the case of Botswana, University of South Africa, Pretoria, <http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1256> en
dc.identifier.uri http://hdl.handle.net/10500/1256
dc.description.abstract The purpose of this study was to analyse the support systems for refugees in Southern Africa with specific reference to the Republic of Botswana. Qualitative framework as described by Lofland and Lofland (1984), Schensus and Schensus (1992) was used to conduct the investigation. Interviews were conducted with thirty refugees who currently living in Botswana as a refugee or asylum seeker. Focus group discussion was also held with twenty-six refugee workers. Interview findings were derived using Glaser and Straus' (1976) and Van Maanen, (1979) constant comparative method of qualitative analysis and were grouped into four major categories. Among the most significant findings were that the subjects agreed that on paper and by design, there are structures for providing the different services to refugees but refugees are not provided with adequate services. The second finding is that the support systems for refugees in Botswana are more focused on the provision of material support with little attention given to the psychosocial needs of the refugees. The third finding is that the Botswana government withheld some of the Articles of the 1951 UN refugee Convention, which deal with the socio-economic rights of refugees in Botswana. The fourth finding is that refugee workers need specialised training to enable them to address a wide rage of psychosocial issues affecting refugees. Last major finding is that there is no established clear system of service delivery in the participating agencies. The researcher concluded that because of trauma and stress experienced by refugees and refugee workers, there is a need to improve on the psychosocial support provided to refugees and refugee workers in Botswana by improving the knowledge and skills of refugee workers and promoting refugee participation. The researcher recommends two urgent actions that should be taken. First, the refugee management in Botswana need to improve on its service quality control mechanism, including evaluating its legal and operational framework. Second, psychosocial components need to be integrated into every aspect of the refugee programmes. This will support recovery for the many traumatised refugees and refugee workers in Botswana. en
dc.format.extent 1 online resource (xiii, 244 leaves)
dc.language.iso en en
dc.subject Refugees en
dc.subject Support system en
dc.subject Psychosocial support en
dc.subject Botswana en
dc.subject.ddc 362.87096883
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Government policy--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Social work with immigrants--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Services for--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Immigrants--Services for--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Mental health--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Mental health services--Botswana.
dc.subject.lcsh Human rights--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Counselling of--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Post-traumatic stress disorder--Treatment--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Social problems--Botswana
dc.subject.lcsh Refugeee--Legal status, laws, etc.--Botswana.
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Botswana--International cooperation
dc.subject.lcsh Refugees--Social networks--Botswana
dc.title Analysing the support systems for refugees in southern Africa: the case of Botswana en
dc.type Thesis en
dc.description.department Social work en
dc.description.degree DPHIL (SOCIAL WORK) en


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  • Decolonisation [1192]
  • Unisa ETD [12519]
    Electronic versions of theses and dissertations submitted to Unisa since 2003

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