Die ACVV as welsynspionier : van welsyn vir armblankes tot eietydse uitdagings vir inklusiewe ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk
Date
2011-12
Authors
Engelbrecht, Lambert K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ASSAF -- Academy of Science of South Africa
Abstract
Die eerste formele welsynsorganisasie in Suid-Afrika, naamlik die ACVV, is amptelik in 1904
gestig. Dié betrokke welsynsdienste was aanvanklik op armblankes gerig en dit het in sekere
kringe die ACVV se besondere bydrae tot die daarstelling van gesofi stikeerde maatskaplikewerkdienste
en -strukture oorskadu. Teen hierdie agtergrond word die ACVV se historiese mylpale in
dié artikel ontleed, gevolg deur ’n oorsig van die organisasie se teenswoordige inklusiewe
ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplikewerk-konteks, ten einde eietydse uitdagings aan die ACVV en
soortgelyke welsynsorganisasies aan die lig te bring. Die gevolgrekking word gemaak dat die
bedoelinge en krag van veral vroue in welsyn nie altyd na waarde geskat word nie; en om die
ACVV slegs binne die konteks van ’n volksmoederdiskoers of kleurslagboom te beskou, is bloot
eendimensioneel, sonder begrip dat dit juis die organisasiekultuur en vrywilligerbasis van die
organisasie is wat dit oor geslagte heen die verskillende politieke bestelle laat oorleef het. Die
kapasiteit en dienste van die organisasie demonstreer steeds ’n beduidende positiewe impak op
die lewens van kwesbare mense en transformasie van maatskaplike werk in Suid-Afrika. Eietydse
uitdagings behels onder meer die behoud van ’n samebindende organisasiekultuur en vrywilligerskorps; die gerigtheid op gesinsorgdienste as kernaktiwiteit; die bestuur van die
organisasie as ’n waardegedrewe leeromgewing vanuit ’n sterkteperspektief; ’n situasiespesifi eke
balans tussen ontwikkelings- en remediërende funksies en ook maatskaplikewerk-metodiek; die
integrering van ekonomiese aktiwiteite met maatskaplikewerk-aktiwiteite deur bewustelike
fasilitering van sodanige aksies tydens alle dienste op alle vlakke; versekering van ’n volhoubare
fi nansiële inkomste vir die organisasie; en die behoud van personeel en vrywilligers.
The ACVV was the first formal welfare organisation in South Africa, and was officially instituted in 1904. The laudable contribution made by this organisation towards the establishment of sophisticated social welfare services and structures was however eclipsed by the fact that these services were in the main focused on poor whites. It is against this backdrop that the historical markers of the ACVV are analysed in this article, followed by an overview of the context of its current inclusive developmental social work, in order to present contemporary challenges facing the ACVV and similar welfare organisations. The most distinctive characteristic of the ACVV is in all probability the fact that it has a stable organisation culture, with women, language and religious persuasion having been the chief elements since its inception. This organisation culture has remained the defi nitive unifying factor for volunteers who make up the very backbone of the organisation, and this in spite of continuous criticism and pressures over the past century to make politically correct changes. For organisations like the ACVV to survive within a social development context subject to socio-economic and political transformation, an ongoing evaluation of the elements of the organisation culture and of the subsequent impact on the body of volunteers, is indispensable in order to distinguish whether these elements add value to sustainable social service delivery or merely serve the interests of current institutions.
The ACVV was the first formal welfare organisation in South Africa, and was officially instituted in 1904. The laudable contribution made by this organisation towards the establishment of sophisticated social welfare services and structures was however eclipsed by the fact that these services were in the main focused on poor whites. It is against this backdrop that the historical markers of the ACVV are analysed in this article, followed by an overview of the context of its current inclusive developmental social work, in order to present contemporary challenges facing the ACVV and similar welfare organisations. The most distinctive characteristic of the ACVV is in all probability the fact that it has a stable organisation culture, with women, language and religious persuasion having been the chief elements since its inception. This organisation culture has remained the defi nitive unifying factor for volunteers who make up the very backbone of the organisation, and this in spite of continuous criticism and pressures over the past century to make politically correct changes. For organisations like the ACVV to survive within a social development context subject to socio-economic and political transformation, an ongoing evaluation of the elements of the organisation culture and of the subsequent impact on the body of volunteers, is indispensable in order to distinguish whether these elements add value to sustainable social service delivery or merely serve the interests of current institutions.
Description
Please cite as follows:
Engelbrecht, L. K. 2011. Die ACVV as welsynspionier: Van welsyn vir armblankes tot eietydse uitdagings vir inklusiewe ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 51(4):597-612.
The original publication is available at http://www.assaf.co.za/programmes/open-access-scielo-sa/
Engelbrecht, L. K. 2011. Die ACVV as welsynspionier: Van welsyn vir armblankes tot eietydse uitdagings vir inklusiewe ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 51(4):597-612.
The original publication is available at http://www.assaf.co.za/programmes/open-access-scielo-sa/
Keywords
ACVV (South Africa), Nonprofit organizations -- South Africa, Social service -- South Africa, Public welfare -- South Africa, Organizational change -- South Africa
Citation
Engelbrecht, L. K. 2011. Die ACVV as welsynspionier: Van welsyn vir armblankes tot eietydse uitdagings vir inklusiewe ontwikkelingsgerigte maatskaplike werk. Tydskrif vir Geesteswetenskappe, 51(4):597-612.