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The Effect of Social Skills Training on Self Concept of Teenage Mothers at St. Charles Lwanga Vocational Training College in Kibera Nairobi- County, Kenya
No full textTeenage pregnancy is considered as a global issue. A large proportion of teenage mothers give up on themselves and struggle with negative emotions resulting from societal stigma, rejection and isolation from friends and families, which can lead to poor self-concept. The purpose of this study was to explore the effectiveness of social skills training on enhancing self-concept of teenage mothers in Kibera. Hence, empowering them on decision-making, self-awareness, assertive behaviour, minimize repeated pregnancy .The study was anchored on person centered theory of Carl Rogers and Bandura`s social cognitive theory. Mixed method sequential explanatory design was adopted for the study. The target population was 150 teenage mothers. Census method was used to select all 150 teenage mothers. Self-concept questionnaire and social skills were used to collect data from the participants for quantitative data. One social worker and the school administrator were sampled for qualitative study and data were collected using interview guide. Data analysis was carried out using correlation analysis and thematic analysis aided by narratives. The first phase of Quantitative data collected was analyzed using (SPSS) version 21. On the second phase for qualitative study, those whose means score were between 1.0 and 2.5 were selected for the qualitative study which was an indication of low self-esteem after the analysis of quantitative data. Data were presented in tables using descriptive statistics in the form of frequencies, and percentages for quantitative variables. The study found out that social skills training has improved self-concept of teenage mothers in Kibera. The qualitative study revealed that teenage mothers go through psychological and emotional challenges in the hands of their parents. The study generally concludes that self-concept of teenage mothers is being affected by lack of psychological support, forgiveness and acceptance from the family. Intervention suggested included being emotionally present, psychological support, and love by parents to teenage mothers. The study recommended the need for strengthening policies on guidance and counseling services for parents and teenage mothers for enhancement of assertiveness. There is need for social workers to focus on policy development in low- income families on education, which is necessary to potspone teenage pregnancy.
Keywords: Training on Social Skills, Self-Concept, Teenage Mother
Perceptions of Clergy on Collaboration with Psychological Counsellors in Management of Mental Health: A Focus on the Anglican Church of Kenya, Nairobi Diocese
No full textStudies on perception of religious leaders about collaboration with other professionals in their pastoral care seem to be few especially in Africa, despite the indications that they are involved with people who also need psychotherapy and psychiatric attention. The study sought to examine the perception of clergy in the Anglican Church of Kenya, Nairobi diocese, regarding collaboration with psychological counsellors in management of mental health. The study used grounded theory and the triangulation mixed method research design targeting one hundred clergy currently serving in the Anglican church of Kenya, Nairobi diocese. Probability sampling was used to ensure that every member of the population gets an equal chance to participate. In-depth interviews were conducted on the emerging themes gathered through the initial random interviews and surveys and theoretical sampling using the constant comparative method of concurrent data collection. Data analysis adopted the coding method from which a report and theory was constructed. The study findings indicated that the clergy regularly encountered issues which they felt needed referral or consultation with a professional in matters of mental health. The study established that most of the theological training institutions that the participating clergy had gone through had a basic unit in psychology which made them aware of the basic information on the concept of psychology and common mental issues. However, there are no policies or organizational structures within their workplace to support in establishing a unit on mental health. The clergy who therefore saw the critical need of handling the mental issues professionally took it upon themselves to take on further training in psychological counselling and occasionally entrusted the persons to trained psychological counsellors who are known to them but not necessarily in their congregation. The clergy who have encountered cases for collaboration but have not made any referrals so far have relied entirely on spiritual intervention and the basic knowledge on psychology that they got in college as they plan to take on further training in Psychological intervention. The study established that the clergy would prefer taking on both the spiritual and psychological interventions because they see the two areas as very closely related. This has led the researcher to the concept of a Psycho-spiritual theoretical model for the psychological counsellors who intend to collaborate with religious leaders. Otherwise the clergy intend to adopt what the researcher refers to as “the Siamese model of psychotherapy in pastoral care”.
Keywords: Clergy, Collaboration, Referral, Perception, Mental Health Professionals, Psychological Counselling, Spirituality, Mental Illness & Dioces
Family Impact on Vocation Discernment among De La Salle Brothers in Lwanga District, Kenya
No full textThis study explored family impact on vocation discernment among De La Salle Brothers in Lwanga District, Kenya. Though family impact on vocation discernment can be both positive and negative, the researcher dwelt more in exploring the negative impact. The objectives of the study include exploring the impact of parents on the vocation discernment of aspirants to the Religious Life among the De La Salle Brothers; to study the impact of pressure for financial family support on temporary professed Brothers. The study was carried out among 90 targeted population and 90 sampling population, in Lwanga District of Africa, an Anglophone Province of the De La Salle Brothers Congregation in the Catholic Church. The Province comprises of six countries: Ethiopia, Eritrea, Mozambique, South Africa, Nigeria and Kenya, with the headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. The study has been able to find out the impact of family pressure on professed Brothers and young men aspiring to join the congregation. This impact could be negative or positive. When the family plays its role of good family upbringing, family prayers and bible reading, family devotion, unity and love in the family, parents’ faithfulness to each other, and participation in religious activities in the parish, there is positive impact on the child. All these prepare fertile ground for the child later in life to choose Religious Life of the Brothers. However, when the family fails in its role of proper upbringing, it has negative impact on the child. The research used a mixed method design comprised both qualitative and quantitative methods. The data was collected by the use of questionnaires and interview guide. The quantitative data was analyzed and presented in percentages and numbers while the qualitative data was analyzed according to the emerging themes in line with the research objectives. The study suggested some intervention strategies for addressing family impact on vocation to religious life among the Brothers.
Keywords: Religious Community, African Community, Affective Love, Religious life/Consecrated Life, Initial Formation, Lwanga District.  
The Role of Kuron Peace Village in Promoting Social Cohesion and Peaceful Co-existence in South Sudan
No full textPeace is a fundamental component of community development, personal growth, and survival of our planet. At the heart of every faith community, and culture, lies a need to advance peaceful co-existence to enhance productive, meaningful lives and sustainable societies; participation and inclusion can also start from the point of understanding a conflict, from conflict analysis. Since the independence of Sudan in 1956, South Sudan has been in war, till 2005 when the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) was signed between Sudan government and Sudan People Liberation Army and Movement (SPLAM). Subsequently, that led to the independent of South Sudan from Sudan Government in 2011. However, the war broke again in 2013 within the SPLAM. Compounding the human tragedy and narrowing the prospects for its peaceful resolution, the government’s military and security approach to the crisis has severely restricted space for civic engagement. South Sudan is one of the world’s least-free countries, where overdue national elections have yet to be held, and the incumbent leadership has presided over rampant corruption, economic collapse, and atrocities against civilians, journalists and aid workers. Humanity desires a peaceful environment and mutual coexistence, but in South Sudan, this is not the case where people still experience conflicts, which drives thousands into exile in refugee camps in Kenya, Uganda, and around the globe. The purpose of this study was to determine the role of Kuron Peace Village in promoting social cohesion and peaceful co-existence in South Sudan. The study was a literature based, in which relevant literature was interrogated to derive study themes. The study found that Bishop Taban is a living example of promoter of coexistence in South Sudan through his efforts to unite the population in the area and set an example of peaceful coexistence in war-torn South Sudan. The study also found that the Kuron peace village built a culture of mutual respect among the warring communities in Kuron and by building a culture of mutual respect it was then possible to overcome tribal divisions and build a new national identity. It was also essential to foster a culture of dialogue to avoid cycles of revenge and animosity. There had been progress towards this before the current crisis, and now perhaps there is an opportunity to start building programmes for the future once more. The study therefore concluded that the establishment of Kuron peace village, brought with it opportunities for the local communities as a few dozen people from different origins were now able to work in the health centre and primary school which were set up with the help of the Bishop. The study also concludes that the peace village was playing a big role in enabling the local communities to engage new modes of agricultural production, and were engaged in peace building, together with the local community which was not possible before the peace village was initiated.
Keywords: Kuron, Peace, Village, Social, Cohesion, Peaceful, Co-existence, South Sudan
Types of Emotional Abuse Against Elders, in Kilifi County, Kenya, A.C.K. Jilore Archdeaconry
No full textThis study assesses the types of emotional abuse against elderly people in selected churches within Jilore Archdeaconry in the Malindi Diocese. The researcher chose this topic because older people are emotionally abused, exposing them to psychological effects. In addition, the emotional abuse toward elders is not recognized as other abuses on children and young people. This stage of life is very critical and sensitive because the elderly people are now physically weak and vulnerable to disease and bullying by people around them. The elders are at the end of their lives on Earth. Therefore, these people must finish well, and this will depend on how family, caregivers and all society will be involved in treating them to promote their wellbeing. The purpose of this study was to create awareness about emotional abuse towards elders and help people understand that a person's dignity does not dispraise with age. The main objective was to find out types of emotional abuse towards the elderly, determine the effects of emotional abuse on elders, identify factors contributing to elderly emotional abuse, and suggest solutions on emotional abuse towards elders within, Kilifi County, Jilore Archdeaconry. The researcher considered elders, church leaders, and caregivers’ participants in the study held in Jilore archdeaconry. A descriptive survey was used as the research design. The researcher used quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The instruments were questionnaires and follow up interview schedules for church leaders. The quantitative data collected was analyzed using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 while the qualitative data was analyzed using content analysis technique. The study found that most elders are emotionally affected by the abusive acts done by caregivers, their children and people living around them. The study recommended that there be intensive awareness campaigns against emotional abuse meted on the elders in Kilifi County, specifically in Jilore. Further, the community should be educated on justice in families for the wellbeing of the elder person and family stability.
Keywords: Emotional abuse, Wellbeing, Elderly, Psychological Effect
Green Finance Strategic and Sustainable Development: An Empirical Study
No full textSustainability in organization has become an interest to organization in this 21st century. This enables the organization to live for more years that short term performance. Organizations are concerned with both short-term and long-term performance. The paper investigates the impact of green finance management on sustainable future business development. Sustainable resource theory as well as resource based view theory was adopted with resource for competitive advantages as well as sustainable development. Sustainable resources theory explains the important of resource that have long term gain for future development. Green finance strategic management has been supported by the theories since it enables organization to be sustainable as well as competitive in the turbulent business environment. A desk review of existing literature indicated that green finance strategic management is modern approach to dynamic macro-environment that has significantly affected organization. According to the finding green finance strategy is a rising concept that is concern with ensuring a sustainable finance planning that would ensure that sustainable development. Green finance strategic management approach would enable reduction of environmental degradation, cost reduction, clean energy, new job opportunity, reuse and recycling of materials and manageable future development. The study recommended that firms should adopt green finance in managing finance by purchasing as well as developing products, processes and resource that have long term utility and environmental friendly. Future recommendation of studies to conducted in green strategic management and performance of organization.
Key terms: Green Finance, Green Strategic Management, Sustainable Development
Relationship between Human Resource Strategies and Strategic Fit Realization: A Review of Conceptual and Empirical Literature Perspective from Japan
No full textStrategic formulation involves senior managers evaluating the interaction between strategic factors and making strategic choices that guide managers to meet the organization’s goals. Some strategies are formulated at the corporate, business and specific functional levels. The term ‘strategic choice’ raises the question of who makes decisions and why they are made. The notion of strategic choice also draws attention to strategic management as a ‘political process’ whereby decisions and actions on issues are taken by a ‘power-dominant’ group of managers within the organization. Strategy implementation is an area of activity that focuses on the techniques used by managers to implement their strategies. Strategic human resource management involves a future-oriented process of developing and implementing HR programs that address and solve business problems and directly contribute to major long-term business objectives. HR management was once largely an administrative function focused on day-to-day responsibilities such as employee recruiting and selection and managing employee benefits. Changes in Japan's overall alignment policy – both the recalibration of its US-alliance relationship and its diversified strategic partnerships – cannot be separated from the larger question of foreign and security policy adaptation which has occurred since the end of the Cold War
Keywords: Human, Resource, Strategic, Strategies, Realization, Fi
Link Between Resource Use and Customer Satisfaction: The Case of Charitable Children Institutions in Kibera-Langata Sub County, Nairobi County, Kenya
No full textDespite having ratified the United Nations regulations on alternative care for the deinstitutionalization of Orphans and Vulnerable Children, Kenya continues to rely heavily on Charitable Children Institutions to provide care to OVCs. However, majority of CCIs lack of standard care causing adverse effects on wellbeing of children and their developmental outcomes. Therefore, this study explored the link between resources and customer satisfaction CCI’s in Kibera- Langata Sub-County Nairobi County, Kenya. The study specific objectives included: to examine the relationship between physical resources and customer satisfaction; to assess the relationship between human resources and customer satisfaction; and to examine the relationship between operational process and customer satisfaction. This study was informed by the Resource Based View Theory. The study utilized a descriptive survey research design targeting 954 children, 11 managers, 12 social workers, and 87 care givers from 11 Charitable Children’s Institution. Stratified random sampling was utilized for purposes of selecting a sample of 286 children, 5 social workers and 26 caregivers from 4 CCIs while purposive sampling was used to identify key informants (Managers). Self-administered questionnaires and key informant interviews were used in data collection. Descriptive analysis was utilized in the analysis of quantitative data using the SPSS software. Thematic analysis was used for the analysis of qualitative data. This study established that there is a significant relationship between resources and customers satisfaction as independent variables: Physical Resources, Human Resources & Operational Process account for 55.7% change in Customer satisfaction. Findings of this study revealed that: Charitable Children Institutions in Langata- Kibera Sub County do not have adequate physical facilities to provide quality care to children as they lack adequate accommodation facilities and have insufficient playing ground for extra-curricular activities. Chartable Children Institutions in Kibera-Langate Sub County have a staff that is well qualified to provide quality child care services and highly committed to the care and protection of children however the CCIs have insufficient staff and do not have all the categories of the required staff; Charitable Children Institutions adhere to their operational procedures in the execution of their mandate and have programmes that ensure the children are well integrated into the society upon exiting the institutions. However they lack follow up and mentorship programmes for children who have exited the institutions and are not able to satisfactorily provide for accommodation, extracurricular and children’s psychosocial needs. The study further established that Children in CCIs are very satisfied with services offered. This study recommends that: State Department of Child Protective Services: increases funding to CCIs to enhance the capacity of these institutions to acquire resources to provide quality & satisfactory services; and first tracks implementation of the National Standards for Best Practices in CCIs to ensure compliance. Charitable Children Institutions in expand their accommodation and recreation facilities; increase the number of staff; employ missing staff; and establish follow-up mentorship programmes.
Keywords: Resource Use, Customer Satisfaction & Charitable Children Institution
Options and Futures in Market Risk Management for Financial Entrepreneurs in USA & Europe
No full textDerivative markets have, over time, become increasingly important in the world of finance and banking. The two main products that are traded in the derivatives market are options and futures. Since they are derivatives, they do not have value on their own; their value comes from an underlying asset. It is therefore possible to see that options are far better when it comes to managing risk associated with price movements. This is due to the fact that they are more accessible, flexible as well as capital efficient. Furthermore, they provide unique opportunities and can be used for both hedging and speculating due to the fact that they allow for advanced strategies.
Keywords: Options, Futures, Market Risk Management & Financial Entrepreneur
Determinants of Participatory Journalism and Communication for Development of the Contemporary Press: Perspective from the United States of America
No full textRecent years have seen a dramatic change in the relationship between online media and the audience, and user generated content is a common feature of news websites in the United States of America. Control over the contents of the media space, once held by traditional news outlets, today is shared by bloggers and other social media participants. Participatory journalism’ has been anticipated as a form of journalism in which the audience no longer ‘merely’ receives news, but, enabled by digital technologies, is involved in its production and dissemination. First, participatory journalism and communication is considered in the context of the historical evolution of public communication. A methodological strategy for systematically analyzing citizen participation opportunities in the media is then proposed and applied. A sample of 16 online newspapers offers preliminary data that suggest news organizations are interpreting online user participation mainly as an opportunity for their readers to debate current events, while other stages of the news production process are closed to citizen involvement or controlled by professional journalists when participation is allowed. However, different strategies exist among the studied sample, and contextual factors should be considered in further research. Because of such pressing factors participatory journalism and communication is marginalized and genuine participation is the missing link in the development of the press process. To avert such trends, the paper calls for professionalism for the development of the press communication, structural change of the organization and holistic approach of development of the press for successful development of the press endeavors.
Keywords: Participatory Journalism, Communication, Press development of the press, California, USA