Exploration of the utility of Ujamaa in social work practice

Author

Chipandire, Ruth W.

Title

Exploration of the utility of Ujamaa in social work practice

Abstract

The study investigated the utility of Ujamaa in social work practice. The objectives of the study were to analyse how Ujamaa is incorporated in the social work practice, to understand the effects of incorporating Ujamaa in social work, to explore the core tenants of Ujamaa and to understand the perceptions of social workers in regards to Ujamaa. The study revealed that, there is a gap between Ujamaa and social work due to changes happening and the introduction of NGOS and CSOS. The purpose of the proposed study is to comprehend the importance of Ujamaa as a perspective in social work practice and how it matters when dealing with the welfare of African communities. The study adopted a qualitative methodology through a case study research design and collected data from a number of in- depth interviews, to three different groups. Data analysed through thematic analysis based on the descriptive phenomenology revealed that social workers, policy makers and community members should work hand in hand to ensure that Ujamaa principles are incorporated in social work practice. The efficacy of Ujamaa as an intervention was supported with the idea that Ujamaa is a social and economic cooperative system that emphasizes the well-being of the community and collective responsibility which is supported by the well-being theory, which posits that the welfare of an individual is intertwined with the functionality of the community. Additionally, the policy makers emphasized that incorporating Ujamaa principles into social work practice can promote community cohesion and empower individuals by fostering a sense of collective responsibility.

Date

June 2024

Publisher

BUSE

Keywords

Ujamaa

Social work practice

Community development

Supervisor

P. Gonorashe