The Role of Social Work in Empowering People Living with HIV (PLHIV) for Poverty Alleviation in the Huye District in Rwanda
Indigenisation and the Role of Intermediary Social Work Actors
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31265/jcsw.v20i1.744Keywords:
social work, intermediary social work actor, empowerment, poverty, PLHIV, indigenisationAbstract
People in need (PIN), such as people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV), are often discriminated against, isolated and disempowered. Consequently, it is not always easy for them to fight for their survival. However, the literature has shown that once empowered, PLHIV manage to cope with social problems, particularly poverty and its ramifications. This study aimed to examine and show how social work, as an empowering profession, has the potential to contribute to the mitigation of adversities, particularly poverty, that hinder the betterment of the lives of PIN. In particular, this study examined the phenomenon of social work indigenisation as a means of re-invigorating practice approaches by drawing on the case of Rwanda. This study is based on data collected in the Huye District for my PhD research project, which was completed in January 2023. The research adopted an exploratory sequential mixed-methods design, with great privilege given to the participatory action research (PAR) methodology. The research results showed that social workers are key catalysts, and are well positioned to empower PIN. For effective success, it is essential that they work with intermediary social work actors (ISWAs), and use mostly developmental approaches that should integrate indigenous practices. Ultimately, the findings of this study provide evidence that PAR is beneficial to the bridging role of ISWAs in the problem-solving process, and thus may be recommended to be adopted for adequately mitigating poverty.
References
Bosc, P. (2018). Empowering through Collective Action. IFAD. https://www.ifad.org/documents/38714170/40797323/29_Research_web.pdf
Chitereka, C. (2009). Social Work Practice in a Developing Continent: The case of Africa. Advances in Social Work, 10(2), 144–156. https://doi.org/10.18060/223
Corry, B. (2012). Policy Framework for Social Cohesion. Rwanda Public Observatory Report, 4, 1–28. https://opendocs.ids.ac.uk/opendocs/bitstream/handle/20.500.12413/9646/Policies for Social Cohesion.pdf;sequence=1
De Beer, F. & Swanepoel, H. (2000). Introduction to Development Studies. Oxford University Press Southern Africa.
Florczak, K. (2016). Basics of Participatory Research: Action Please. Nursing Science Quarterly, 29(1), 12–13. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894318415614622
Freire, P. (1970). Pedagogy of the Oppressed. The Continuum International Publishing Group, Inc.
Gray, M., Kreitzer, L. & Mupedziswa, R. (2014). The Enduring Relevance of Indigenisation in African Social Work: A Critical Reflection on ASWEA’s Legacy. Ethics and Social Welfare, 8(2), 101–116. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1080/17496535.2014.895397
Gray, M. & Fook, J. (2004). The quest for a universal social work: Some issues and implications. Social Work Education, 23(5), 625–644. https://doi.org/10.1080/0261547042000252334
Gray, M. (2009). Social Work Theories and Methods. Sage Publications, Ltd.
Gray, M., Agllias, K., Mupedziswa, R. & Mugumbate, J. (2017). The role of social work field education programmes in the transmission of developmental social work knowledge in Southern and East Africa. Social Work Education, 36(6), 623–635. https://doi.org/10.1080/02615479.2017.1310833
Heyne, L. A. & Anderson, L. (2012). Theories that support Strengths-Based Practice in Therapeutic Recreation. Therapeutic Recreation Journal, 46(2), 106128-.
Hossen, M. (2005). Empowerment-Based Social Work Practice: Issues and Challenges. Indian Journal of Social Work, 66(3), 198–210.
Kalinganire, C. & Gilkey, S. (2017). Social Work Practice in Rwanda: The Challenges of adapting Western Models to fit Local Context. In Handbook of Social Work and Social Development in Africa (pp. 315–327). Routledge.
Kalinganire, C. & Rutikanga, C. (2014). The Role of Social Work in Poverty Reduction and the Realisation of Millennium Development Goals in Rwanda. Fountain Publishers.
Kretzmann, J. & McKnight, J. (1993). Building Communities from the Inside Out: A Path toward Finding and Mobilising a Community’s Assets. ACTA Publications.
Larkin, S. (2018). A Field Guide for Social Workers: Applying your Generalist Training. Sage Publications. https://doi.org/10.4135/9781506379265
Maloka, E. (2001). Africa in the New Millennium: Challenges and Prospects. Africa Institute of South Africa.
Manyama, W. (2018). Where Is Developmental Social Work as Social Work Practice Method in Tanzania? The Case of Dar es Salaam Region. International Journal of Social Work, 5(2), 43. https://doi.org/10.5296/ijsw.v5i2.13401
Mbazima, S. (2017). Towards Indigenous Social Work Practice Guidelines for Assisting African Families Raising Children with Down Syndrome. University of South Africa.
McConville, K. (2020). Can we really end poverty? Concern US. https://www.concernusa.org/story/can-we-end-poverty/
Midgely, J. (2001). Issues in International Social Work: Resolving Debates in the Profession. Journal of Social Work, 1(1), 21–35. https://doi.org/10.1177/146801730100100103
Mupedziswa, R. & Sinkamba, R. P. (2014). Social work education and training in southern and east Africa: Yesterday, today and tomorrow. In Noble, C., Strauss, H. & Littlechild, B. (Eds.), Global social work: Crossing borders, blurring boundaries (pp. 141–154). Sydney University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv1fxm2q.14
Ngwanamont, J. (2014). The Progress of Developmental Social Welfare: A Case Study in the Vhembe District. University of Pretoria.
NURC (n.d.). Rwandan Cultural Values in National Development. The National Unity and Reconciliation Commission. https://e-ihuriro.rcsprwanda.org/books/rwandan-cultural-values-in-national-development/
Nyiransekuye, H. (2011). Social Work Practice in Rwanda: Drumming and Weaving for Healing. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 2011 (winter), 6-16. https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/download/631/473
Palma, R. (2005). Social Functioning: The Core of Social Work. CSWCD Development Journal, 2005, 1–20. https://cswcd.upd.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/CDJ-2005_01_Palma.pdf
RGB (2014). The Assessment of the Impact of Home Grown Initiatives.
Segal, E. A., Gerdes, K. E. & Steiner, S. (2013). An Introduction to the Profession of Social Work: Becoming Change Agent. Brooks/Cole.
Selener, D. (1997). Participatory Action Research and Social Change. Cornell Participatory Action Research Network.
Sewpaul, V. (2007). Lessons from Rwanda. Social Work/Maatskaplike Werk, 43(3), 199–200. https://doi.org/10.15270/43-3-268
Sewpaul, V. (2018, March 20-22). It’s in our Hands: Social Work and Sustainable Development. Professional Social Work and Sustainable Development in Africa [Conference presentation]. International Social Work Conference, Kigali.
Spitzer, H. (2017). Social Work in East Africa: A Mzungu Perspective. International Social Work, 62(2), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1177/0020872817742696
Twikirize, J. M. & Spitzer, H. (2019). Indigenous and Innovative Social Work Practice: Evidence from East Africa. In Spitzer, H. & Twikirize, J. M. (Eds.), Social Work Practice in Africa: Indigenous and Innovative Approaches (pp. 1–20). Fountain Publishers. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2tp73vt.7
Twikirize, J. M. & Spitzer, H. (Eds.) (2019). Social Work Practice in Africa: Indigenous and Innovative Approaches. Fountain Publishers. https://doi.org/10.2307/j.ctv2tp73vt
Uwibereyoho King, R., Bokoro, N. & Zudziak, S. (2017). The Significance of Indigenous Knowledge in Social Work Responses to Collective Recovery: A Rwandan Case Study. Journal of Indigenous Social Development, 6(1), 37–63.
Walter, M. (2009). Participatory Action Research. Social Research Methods. In Bryman, A. (Ed.), Social Research Methods (pp. 151-158). The Falmer Press.
Zhu, Y. (2019). Can Participatory Action Research Empower Participants in Adult Education Studies?. The Canadian Journal for the Study of Adult Education (CJSAE), 31(1), 63–73.
Downloads
Published
Versions
- 2025-07-08 (2)
- 2025-07-08 (1)
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Charles Kalinganire
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.