This article is about the challenge of father absence and fatherlessness in the South African context, and the involving of concerned fathers. To address this challenge, an intervention was crucial as well as the training and equipping of fathers. This intervention consists of different fathers from the North West Province who responded to the challenge of father absence and fatherlessness after workshops presented in a narrative form. The workshops were based on research on fatherhood as this is conceptualized from a Biblical perspective. The research is necessary because South Africa experiences a challenge of absent fathers and fatherlessness. This research showed that the greatest problem with regard to fatherhood is centred on a man’s failure to resolve an identity crisis in the 21st century, but men are generally afraid to admit it. This problem has consequences for families and communities. Furthermore, this article reports on the responses and feedback of fathers and the supporting of literature in the research.

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We, the supervisor and assistant supervisor, hereby declare that the input and effort of Miss. A. Bonthuys, in writing this manuscript reflects research done by her on this topic: The effect of the Lifeplan® programme on the psychological well-being of a rural community in South Africa. We hereby grant permission that she may submit this manuscript for examination purposes in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree Magister Artium in Counseling Psychology.

Background: The diagnosis of HIV is life-changing that requires people not only to deal with the disease but also to cope with the stigma attached to HIV. People living with HIV (PLWH) as well as their close family members (CFM) are stigmatised; however, CFM also stigmatise PLWH. This interaction affects the relationship between PLWH and their CFM.Aim: To explore and describe the experiences of PLWH and CFM during and after a community-based HIV stigma reduction intervention in both an urban and rural setting in the North-West.Method: A qualitative description approach through in-depth interviews was used in both settings. Purposive sampling was used for the PLWH and snowball sampling for the CFM. Data was analysed using open coding.Results: Both urban and rural groups gained a richer understanding of HIV stigma and how to cope with it. The relationships were enriched by PLWH feeling more supported and CFM realising how they stigmatised PLWH and that they should be more supportive. Leadership was activated in PLWH and CFM through the stigma reduction project that they participated in.Conclusion: No significant differences were found between rural and urban communities, thus the intervention can be implemented with similar results in both settings. The intervention showed positive outcomes for both PLWH and CFM. Bringing PLWH and CFM together during an intervention in an equalised relationship proved to be useful as PLWH felt more supported and CFM showed much more compassion towards PLWH after the intervention.

A practical theological investigation into the effect of absent fathers: an exploratory qualitative investigation in the Promosa community

In this article it is shown that empirical research can be used to confirm important findings in literature studies about the understanding of absent fathers and the devastating conse-quences such as social problems, socio-economic problems and psychological problems. A literature study was done on the role of the father and all the relevant aspects are viewed in a broader context. The results obtained through a qualitative investigation of eight women from Promosa (Potchefstroom) as a focus group confirmed the trends found in the preliminary literary research. The outcomes may have important implica-tions in the field of practical theology and pastoral guidance for absent fathers, the women involved with those fathers and fatherless children. Some guidelines are proposed towards an effort to help fathers to become more involved