Hand-outs vs hand-ups: A case study exploring the perceptions of the participants on
the impact of a sewing project
Development has become a tool with which to tackle poverty and inequality globally with a
recent focus in African development on concepts such as participation, community
development and sustainability. Social development advocates for the harmonisation of
economic and social goals to redress distorted development, although much attention and
policies in South Africa have been directed towards social assistance and social insurance for
the country’s poor. While this may be helpful, concern exists about the creation of a ‘handout’
mentality and this study intends to explore the perceptions of participants involved in the
Hope Training and Development sewing skills development project in order to understand
this concern.