Participation of young mothers in peace building : an action research study of Cato Manor, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the participation of young mothers in peace building in Cato Manor, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The research aimed to explain how young mothers in Cato Manor could use peace-building methods to promote non-violence in their community. An investigation into the underlying causes of violence in Cato Manor was carried out in order to understand how young mothers could position themselves in the community to create a non-violent community. The study was qualitative in nature and it employed an action research design. The Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) approach was examined to explore its potential as an instrument which young mothers in Cato Manor can use. The study reviewed literature on the history of violence in Cato Manor; the contemporary violence in the community; the peace theories that could be applied to such a community and then detailed the Alternatives to Violence Project and its relevance to this research. Purposive sampling was used to extract 15 young mothers from the total population. The 15 young mothers participated in the Alternatives to Violence Project where data was collected. The data collected was analysed using thematic analysis. The salient findings of the study showed a positive reception by the young mothers to training on non-violence. Findings showed that the young mothers acknowledged that the skills that they learnt from the training would be vital in their daily lives and confirmed that they had gained some foundation to start building a non-violent environment in their community. Recommendations were made including the continuation of broader and inclusive AVP training in Cato Manor.