These ideas have been submitted to the UCT Knowledge Co-op; they are available to students at UCT who may choose them for their research topics toward a degree. They have been categorise for convenience purposes. 

N.B. Projects often do fit in more than one category and so may be listed in more than one category.

The ones listed below related to Community development or Social Development.

NOTE: This table was updated in September 2016. 
If you are interested in taking up any of these projects please TALK TO US.

Category 2: Community development/Social Development
Project Name Project Description

# 36. Thirty-year history

Write up the 30-year history of a movement focussed on children's rights; either as a whole or an in-depth look at one of its elements, for example child-to-child health centres, well-being, (massage and yoga).

Keywords: History, Resource development, Anthropology, Holistic health, Child health.

# 44. Government service delivery

Conduct and analyse surveys in communities regarding government service delivery, corruption and participatory development. Focus on issues like the effects of pre-paid meters, the (mis)allocation of housing, the effects of electricity cut-offs and/or lack of sanitation services.

Keywords: Politics, Sociology, Development, Public health, Anthropology, Geography, Poverty.

# 45. Project evaluation

Project evaluation of NGO supporting child-centred community groups in townships with capacity building.

Keywords: Empowerment, Social development, Human rights.

# 100. Language re prostitution

The importance of language use re prostitution/sex work; how to use terminology that conveys one's own approach without alienating the audience.

Keywords: Prostitution; Sex work, Language usage, Gender.

# 101. Sex work - supply & demand

Factors impacting on the supply and demand of prostitution in Cape Town, e.g. substance abuse, pornography, economic trends.

Keywords: Prostitution, Economy, Illegal activities.

# 102. Social norms re prostitution

Consider the impact of social norms and behaviour of high profile persons on prostitution & the demand for it.

Keywords: Prostitution, Norms & values.
# 105. Foster Mother Screening

Review HFH's process for screening & training foster mothers for cluster foster care; compare to alternatives for good practice.

Keywords: Soc Development, Psychology, Child Care

# 145. Baseline of municipal services

Establish baseline of municipal social services in two Overberg municipalities to enable comparison between them and over time in order to see to what extent they provide adequate services to the influx of people attracted by a big EPWP in the area.

# 157. Evaluate family support work

What role has the Family support programme in improving family life of children in ECD or Child & youth programmes?

# 213. Test for school readiness

Assess context of ECD project in Delft and develop school readiness testing programme

# 216. Upgrading informal settlements 

Document the National Upgrade Support Programme as it works in local townships.

# 236. Hate crimes against LGBTI

Document &/ analyse data on hate crimes against LGBTI persons.

Keywords: SAPS, justice system, psycho-social services, secondary victimisation, human rights

# 237. IPV in same sex couples

Study characteristics of intimate partner violence in same sex couples.

# 253. Gender dynamics within reading groups

Are girls / boys more present in reading groups: analyse this at different ages, gender of the leader and type of content.

# 255. Study of social/cultural practice in reading groups

Anthropological study of social/cultural practice in reading groups, or in home settings.

# 285. What are farmers willing to spend on?

Comparative willingness of farmers to spend on quality of life (accommodation/water) for labourers verses own safety?

# 294. Document successful local farmers

An NGO supporting 3300 home gardeners and 150+ farmers needs someone to pull out the “oldest, longest member, newest, youngest, etc.” and do short biographies on each.

# 301. Drug prevention in Mitchell's Plain

Impact of drug prevention: in depth interviews after/during intervention; Case studies; Impact at schools. Consider resilience, resources.

# 316. Land owners & restoring forest

Assess the potential of drawing land owners into tree planting as method to restore land / forest landscapes after removal of aliens.

# 322. Parenting support for resilient families

Evaluate/study a programme that educates parents to be more involved in their children’s lives, ages 3 - 12.

# 339. Integrated spatial planning

Assess the WC's first Integrated Residential Developmental Programme (IRDP) re provision of services (school, clinic) alongside housing.

Keywords: spatial planning, services, clinic

# 340. Crime and social cohesion

What prevents social cohesion between different income groups in Pelican Park, a Integrated Residential Development? How does crime and perceptions of it feed into this?

# 341. Skills for income generation

Collate research and develop a model for Skills development for income generation in Pelican Park

# 342. Poverty Stop Light

Internship for social work to implement the Poverty Stop Light tool in the Pelican Park community.

# 346. Success of survivor lead organisations

Determine what helps survivor lead organisations (SLO) to succeed. Case study: Arise, a voice for survivors of prostitution.

# 335. Reading club snapshots

‘Multimodal’ case studies of practice in reading clubs.

# 355. History of Gugulethu

Research the history of Gugulethu, its prominent citizens and important events – and photos of these. What happens to a place when you put people into it?