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Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East

Mini Dissertation (MSW (Social Development and Policy))--University of Pretoria, 2024.

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Other Authors: Lombard, A. (Antoinette)
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: University of Pretoria 2025
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access_status_str Open Access
author2 Lombard, A. (Antoinette)
author_browse Lombard, A. (Antoinette)
author_facet Lombard, A. (Antoinette)
collection Thesis
dc_rights_str_mv © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria.
description Mini Dissertation (MSW (Social Development and Policy))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
format Thesis
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institution University of Pretoria (South Africa)
language English
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:37:23.306Z
license_str Other — see source repository
provenance_str_mv Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
publishDate 2025
publishDateRange 2025
publishDateSort 2025
publisher University of Pretoria
publisherStr University of Pretoria
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source_str UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository
spelling oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/101016 Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East Lombard, A. (Antoinette) nzimande20@gmail.com Thabede, Patience Ntombifuthi UCTD Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Child participation Climate change Floods and disaster risk reduction Mamelodi East Resilience Mini Dissertation (MSW (Social Development and Policy))--University of Pretoria, 2024. Floods have affected the community of Mamelodi East twice in less than four years (Mahlokwane, 2023), resulting in property loss, loss of life, and displacement. The local government has been accused of making empty promises regarding the relocation of families to alternative spaces (Mabona, 2022; Mahlokwane, 2023), raising concerns about what might happen if the community is affected again. Children, as a particularly vulnerable group, are affected by floods through loss, injury, and illnesses, yet they are seldom meaningfully consulted in decisions related to disaster risk reduction (DRR). The study used resilience theory as its theoretical framework, emphasising how vulnerabilities and protective factors affect the community’s preparedness for floods and adaptation strategies. The goal of the study was to explore the perspectives of primary school children on DRR and adaptation through a case study of their flood experiences in Mamelodi East. The study employed a qualitative research approach and used participatory action research as a subtype of applied research. The research design was an exploratory case study. Purposeful sampling was used to select four learners from grades four, five, and six at Viva Independent School as participants. Data were collected through photovoice and semi-structured one-on-one interviews. The data were analysed using the six phases of the reflexive thematic approach. The findings indicate that human behaviours, such as waste dumping in the river and vulnerable infrastructure, contribute to flooding in the community. This results in deaths and injuries, destruction of assets and infrastructure, adverse effects on livelihoods, and forced displacement. The findings further suggest that the community’s resilience is undermined by systemic issues such as poverty, inadequate access to resources, infrastructure vulnerabilities, safety during floods, and the lack of early warning systems, factors that all affect the community’s preparedness for future floods. The study concluded that behaviour modification, especially in waste management, along with good governance, could reduce the factors contributing to floods. furthermore, limited awareness of DRR and structural issues contributes to the disproportionate impact experienced by the community during floods. Additionally, a comprehensive pathway for strategic changes such as “building back better,” should be implemented with meaningful community participation. The study recommends comprehensive education on DRR, key partnerships, and sustainable development as strategies to enhance the community’s preparedness for future floods. Social work can play a role through systemic planning and interventions aimed at integrating the developmental approach in disaster risk reduction. This includes advocacy for improved service delivery on basic needs by local government, such as the relocation of informal dwellers living along floodplains, and the implementation of measures to prevent new residents from settling in vacated areas. Social Work and Criminology MSW (Social Development and Policy) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities SDG-13: Climate action 2025-02-18T11:13:52Z 2025-02-18T11:13:52Z 2025-04 2024-11 Mini Dissertation * A2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101016 DOI: https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28429688.v1 https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28429688 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria
spellingShingle UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Child participation
Climate change
Floods and disaster risk reduction
Mamelodi East
Resilience
Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East
title Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East
title_full Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East
title_fullStr Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East
title_full_unstemmed Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East
title_short Exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation. A case study of flood experiences in Mamelodi East
title_sort exploring the perspectives of primary school children on disaster risk reduction and adaptation a case study of flood experiences in mamelodi east
topic UCTD
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Child participation
Climate change
Floods and disaster risk reduction
Mamelodi East
Resilience
url http://hdl.handle.net/2263/101016
https://doi.org/10.25403/UPresearchdata.28429688