C ONCLUSIONES

The participatory mental modelling exercise revealed a complex network of interactions between a variety of stressors, vulnerabilities and problems spanning social, economic and environmental systems. Many of these stressors were site-specific.

In response to initial prompting around HIV/Aids in the mental modelling exercise (see 6.1.3 a above), the group of women in Gatyana identified unprotected sex, a person’s fear of knowing his/her status, helping without gloves (i.e. exposure to infected blood), and having nothing to eat as the causes of HIV/Aids in the area (Figure 6.2.1 a (1)). The group identified that HIV/Aids caused weak immune systems, stress and strokes, deaths and orphans in the community.

Following this, poverty was the first main problem or vulnerability that the group chose to discuss (Figure 6.2.1 a (2)). Poverty was said to be caused by a lack of work opportunities, by corruption at multiple levels and by the difficulty to cultivate, and was worsened by alcoholism. The group described how poverty led to stress and strokes, crime, moral corruption within the community, lack of enough food, and a lack of education. This group identified many cycles around poverty: the cycle Figure 6.2.1 a: Women’s mental model indicating causal relationships of multiple stressors in Gatyana.

Numbered items indicate the order of discussion. Dotted arrows indicate that the relationship was identified in a separate exercise.

71 between poverty causing corruption and corruption causing poverty; poverty leading to crime, which decreased work, which caused poverty; poverty leading to a lack of education, which made it difficult to get a job, which led to poverty; and poverty causing crime which made it difficult to cultivate (as fences and cattle were stolen) which worsened poverty. In relation to HIV/Aids, poverty was said to affect the epidemic through the lack of food, and also worsened the situation of orphans in the community, as corruption (caused by poverty) led people to take in orphans in order to acquire the child support grant for their own use, not for the support of the child.

The group next identified livestock disease as a major stressor in the area (Figure 6.2.1 a (3)).

Livestock disease was reportedly caused by ticks, and led to the death of cattle and most importantly, caused difficulty in cultivating land due to the lack of draught power for ploughing. The group also identified drought, crime and a lack of resources as causes making it difficult to farm in the area.

Lastly, the group identified the absence of electricity as a major stressor in the area (Figure 6.2.1 a (4)), as it added a physical burden on the women as they had to walk far for fuel resources or use paraffin to cook which caused health problems such as asthma.

Amongst all the stressors identified in the mental modelling exercise, the women in Gatyana

identified poverty as the main stressor in the area and poverty was further explored in a problem tree (Figure 6.2.1 b). The group described poverty as equating to a lack of a steady income, which could be identified through its manifestations of abandoned land, illness and poor health, and poor housing.

The lack of adequate, reliable income was described by the group as resulting from the lack of jobs in the area and from over-population and an over-reliance on government grants.

The lack of jobs was due to the remote geographical location of the site, and from nepotism and lack of investment at a regional-level, and national-level changes in government and lack of social

cohesion and trust. In short the group felt that the new government prioritised areas of investment that benefited themselves or their kin, leaving areas such as Gatyana undeveloped and without jobs. The over-population and heavy reliance on grants also contributed to insufficient incomes. The group felt that their culture valued large families, and this, coupled with laws that allowed for personal liberties and social media which encouraged or valued promiscuity, led to over-population and a heavy reliance on grants.

In order to overcome poverty, the group felt that only more efficiency at regional government would lead to more jobs through Integrated Development Plans (IDPs), otherwise people would continue to rely on crime as a source of income. In order to discourage overpopulation and the heavy reliance on grants, the group felt that at national government should repeal laws that forbade parents from physically disciplining children, as this would allow schools to use stricter measures of discipline on children. The group also felt that more recreational activities would help with the perceived lack of

72 discipline amongst youth. By the end of the exercise, the group had agreed that only God could solve the problem of poverty.

The men in Gatyana identified alcohol, the lack of development in the area, lack of information and the distance to clinics as drivers of HIV/Aids in the area (Figure 6.2.1 c (1)). The group also spoke of infection spreading due to traditional healers re-using razor blades and people intentionally spreading infection so they were not alone with the disease. HIV/Aids infection leads to discrimination,

according to this group.

The men then identified crime as a major stressor in the area (Figure 6.2.1 c (2)). Crime was

principally caused by the lack of jobs, by hunger and by alcohol abuse. Crime led to fear and stopped people from investing in assets, notably cattle, as they feared these would be stolen.

73 The group next placed heavy emphasis on the absence of electricity in the area as a major driver of stress (Figure 6.2.1 c (3)), as without electricity the area does not develop and there are fewer job opportunities. The slow process of acquiring electricity in the area was responsible for this.

The lack of farming activities underway in the area was next identified as a major problem (Figure 6.2.1 c (4)). This was primarily attributed to not enough money to invest in equipment and cattle for farming, as well as difficulties with irrigation and ticks causing health problems for livestock. The loss of farming activity was described as leading to the loss of income as produce could not be sold, and as food for the household and for livestock had to instead be purchased. The group also felt that the loss of farming also entailed a loss of tradition. Following this discussion the group identified the shortage of taps and related water problems as a major problem in the area (Figure 6.2.1 c (5)).

Problems relating to education in the area were collectively described as a driver of stress and vulnerability in the area (Figure 6.2.1 c (6)). Problems in acquiring quality education in Gatyana was described as leading to failing skills development, which in turn contributed to the lack of jobs and unemployment in the area. When asked to identify the key stressor driving this web of problems, the group identified this lack of jobs and resulting unemployment (Figure 6.2.1 c (7)).

Unemployment was then further analysed through a problem tree (Figure 6.2.1 d). Like the women in Gatyana, the men described corruption at the national level as a cause for unemployment in the area, as no-one in Gatyana had the money needed to pay bribes to get employment. The group also felt that

Figure 6.2.1 c: Men’s mental model indicating causal relationships of multiple stressors in Gatyana.

Numbered items indicate the order of discussion. Dotted arrows indicate that the relationship was identified in a separate exercise.

74 the lack of development in the area contributed to a lack of skills and industry, the latter exacerbated by the absence of electricity. The groups further described how foreigners were taking the few jobs that were there, as foreigners agreed to work for very low wages.

The group of men felt that in order to bring employment opportunities to Gatyana, infrastructural developments such as improved roads and electricity were needed. These would bring jobs in the short-term while these were put in place, as well as allowing business and industry to grow in the area in the long-term. The group also discussed how free skills training would boost local business

opportunities. The group did not think there was anything that could be done to address

unemployment at a local level without these infrastructural developments and government support.