An Appreciative Inquiry into the Leadership Development of Zulu Male Youth in a South African Township
Abstract
This study involved a research collaboration between the researcher and a community-based organization located in a South African township. The purpose of this research was to learn about the experiences of Zulu youth who were demonstrating leadership in their own community. Specifically, this study sought to answer the following research questions: (1) What factors do male youth in a South African context perceive to contribute to the development of leadership skills?; and (2) How do the perspectives of male youth inform how future leaders can be created and supported? Despite efforts to develop leaders in the country, a review of the literature showed that research is lacking about how to effectively foster youth leadership development in township communities. Appreciative inquiry was the methodological framework that guided data collection and analysis, due to its emphasis on strengths and participation. Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted and the researcher guided participants through a process in which they identified the findings of the study. The inclusion of Zulu males living in a township who were serving as leaders in their community offered a unique perspective about leadership development that has been absent in the research literature. Results of this study strongly support the need for specific programs aimed at developing young leaders. Consistent with the published research, participants reported that learning new skills/concepts and having opportunities to practice and apply these skills was critical to their own leadership development. Participants shared that understanding that they have a choice or a sense of control over their own lives allowed them to see that they could be leaders. Community and relationships also facilitated leadership development before, during, and after participation in a leadership program. Participants identified increased access to leadership programming, having choices, access to education, and developing communities as priorities for developing future leaders.
Description
Keywords
Educational Psychology
Citation
Bremner, D. (2017). An Appreciative Inquiry into the Leadership Development of Zulu Male Youth in a South African Township (Doctoral thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca. doi:10.11575/PRISM/24835