An exploration of the role of the Sarva Dharma Ashram in the development of youth and their families in the Welbedacht community

Abstract

Historically, faith-based organisations have been at the forefront of developing and empowering disadvantaged youth and their families. They have been known to provide not only spiritual support but also material relief to needy families and communities. Despite the fact that they play a salient role in spiritual and social development very little empirical research, exists which attests to their value in developing contexts. It is within this context that the current study was developed. It sought to understand the role of the Sarva Dharma Ashram in the development of youth, their families and the community in the Welbedacht area. A qualitative research approach was used in the study. Specifically a case study design was used, with the Sarva Dharma Ashram being considered as the case for analysis. Three samples were recruited to shed light on the Ashram, as the case of analysis. The samples included the Board members of the Sarva Dharma Ashram, family members of youth, and community members of Welbedacht. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with the Board members and family members. Data was collected till saturation. Four Board members of the Ashram were interviewed and ten family members were interviewed. A focus group discussion was used to collect data from ten community members. An interview and focus group guide served as the data collection instruments in this study. In total twenty-four people participated in this study. Data collection with all three samples took place at the Sarva Dharma Ashram. The data was analysed using the process of thematic analysis. The transcripts were read several times for patterns and similar wording. Thereafter, the main themes and sub-themes were identified which highlighted how the Ashram contributed to families and the community. There were five broad themes that emerged from the data. These reflected the experience of poverty and financial hardship endured by children, youth and their families in the community and the varied and multifaceted spiritual and material support extended to families and the community through diverse initiatives of the Sarva Dharma Ashram. The study found that the Ashram acted as a focal point within the disadvantaged community of Welbedacht and a huge immediate resource to youth, families and the community when any psycho-social or financial distress was encountered. The feeding scheme was found to be one such initiative where schools in the vicinity were provided with meals regularly. Moreover spiritual activities at the Ashram such as the Satsangh programme (group devotional singing), were found to uplift families and individual members who faced distress and isolation. Empowerment programmes for unemployed women were aimed to uplift women and enable them to become more financially independent. Faith is a core motivator for the work that faith-based organisations undertake and influences how the initiatives and activities of the Ashram are implemented. The transformational benefits of the activities being implemented at the Sarva Dharma Ashram provide tangible evidence of how crucial such organizations are within underresourced communities. The study highlighted the problems experienced by children, youth, and their families in disadvantaged communities and how spiritual and social support can enable family and community well-being. Clarke and Jennings (2008:15) wrote “the faith element of the faith-based organisation is not an add-on to its development activity, operating alongside. It is an essential part of that activity, informing it completely.” The Sarva Dharma Ashram was found to represent this through its services and programmes for the benefit of the Welbedacht community.