The Church's relationship to the agency and the assets of people living with HIV/AIDS in rural South Africa:a case study in Marapyane community, Skilpadfontein.

Abstract

This thesis explores the relevance of Asset Based Community Development (ABCD) as a development strategy with people living with HIV/AIDS. Contemporary development theory suggests that the assets and agency of the poor are crucial in any development process, and these ideas are important in ABCD. Many commentors have noted the relationship between HIV/AIDS and poverty and the community development is a key response to this. The question therefore is whether ABCD is still appropriate and relevant in a situation in which HIV/AIDS undermines the assets and agency of the poor.