أثر مركز أبو حليمة للتنمية الإجتماعية (ولايـة الخرطـوم) في تخفيف حـدة الفقـر

Abstract

The main objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the Social Development Centers in poverty alleviation and the process of rural development in Khartoum State within the experience of Abu Halima Social Development Centre. This Centre was established in 1975 as an attempt to raise the skills of the main target groups (women) and helping them in extra income-generating activities, which will be reflected in the improvement of their standards of living. The study involved finding out the problems, which detracted the success of the activities developed and introduced of the Center and aimed at coming up with recommendations to help in improving performance act to serve the process of sustainable rural development. To reach the objectives of the study, the researcher used descriptive methodology and case study methods. Both secondary and primary data were collected and used. Secondary data were collected from technical reports, books, periodicals and other relevant sources. The primary data were collected through questionnaire, observation and interviews. The study findings indicated that the Centre had succeeded in creating different sources of income for the beneficiaries, families will no more depend on one breadwinner. There is also a high level of saving awareness, which helped in improving the living standards of the concerned families. Moreover, women became more economically independent and the level of their illiteracy dropped significantly. The study also showed that there were improvement in the social services in the study area (i.e. health care and education), and drop in the number of pupils who left school. Also there was a drop in bad habits and traditions. The study also came to the conclusion that the productive family programme contributed positively to savings awareness and administrative awareness thus causing a positive socioeconomic ic transformation for the targeted group. According to the results obtained, the study recommendations proposed some recommendations including: 1. Establishment of such social development centres as an effective mean for community development. 2. The target groups should be involved in planning, execution, monitoring and evaluation of center programmes as an attempt to enable them to participate and carry the social + economic sustainable basis. 3. Training for building capacity of personnel working at the center in order to step up work. 4. Activation of productive families activities to meet the increasing need of the targeted group. 5. Formation of development committees in areas where development center units cannot be established.