AOSIS scholarly books

Early childhood development and intervention in a majority world context

2026-06-09T15:32:18+02:00

Focusing on the realities of early childhood development in South Africa and other resource-constrained settings, Early childhood development and intervention in a majority world context: A multi-disciplinary perspective brings together interdisciplinary scholarship that responds to the urgent need for locally grounded evidence and contextually relevant interventions. As the third volume in the Human Functioning, Technology and Health Book Series, the book presents contributions from researchers across the health, education and social sciences, offering new insights into the complex factors shaping the well-being and development of young children and their families.

The volume examines the realities influencing child development in the early years, including poverty, prenatal exposure to harmful substances, HIV, unequal access to services and broader social and cultural influences on health and education. Across a wide range of themes — from maternal mental health, nutrition and feeding, to language development, hearing, play, motor development and education — the contributors demonstrate how context-sensitive interventions can improve developmental outcomes and advance equitable access to care and support.

A distinctive strength of this volume lies in its Afrocentric and evidence-based approach. Much of the existing literature on early childhood development originates in resource-rich, minority-world settings, whereas this collection foregrounds research conducted largely in the Western Cape province and other South African contexts. By documenting the lived realities of local populations, including children with foetal alcohol spectrum disorders, premature infants and children living with HIV, the book expands current knowledge while addressing gaps rarely explored in previous scholarship.

The volume also highlights innovative service-delivery models and community-based interventions designed to overcome barriers to health and educational services. In doing so, it provides valuable insights for scholars, clinicians, researchers, practitioners, policymakers and postgraduate students seeking to strengthen early childhood development systems and promote socially responsive, contextually relevant child development practices. Rich in interdisciplinary insight and grounded in local realities, this book makes an important contribution to the growing body of research aimed at improving developmental outcomes for vulnerable children in South Africa and beyond.

Ubuntu

2026-03-23T09:29:31+02:00

Ubuntu: A multidisciplinary perspective to understanding and application is a timely and significant contribution to contemporary African scholarship. This edited volume brings together a diverse group of scholars and practitioners who engage critically and creatively with Ubuntu as both a philosophical lens and a practical framework for transformation.

Spanning multiple disciplines, the book demonstrates the enduring relevance of Ubuntu across varied social, educational and health contexts. Rather than presenting Ubuntu as a static cultural ideal, the chapters explore its evolving meaning and application in response to complex contemporary challenges. Themes such as digital mourning, feminist mentorship, tele-audiology, early childhood development and community care illustrate how Ubuntu informs inclusive practice, ethical leadership and socially responsive scholarship.

Rooted in interconnectedness, compassion, dignity and solidarity, Ubuntu is positioned as a living and dynamic framework that shapes individual and collective responses to crisis, including the COVID-19 pandemic. The volume combines philosophical depth with thoughtful social critique, offering African-centred perspectives on justice, resilience and social cohesion in a rapidly changing world.

This book will be of value especially to scholars, but also to postgraduate students and research-practitioners seeking rigorous, contextually grounded approaches to equity, healing and institutional transformation.

Theological pedagogies

2026-03-20T10:32:48+02:00

In times of crisis, the role of theology in education becomes increasingly vital. The ability to navigate these challenging times requires innovative and effective teaching practices that are grounded in both traditional and contemporary pedagogical insights. This scholarly book seeks to explore changing theological pedagogies in teaching theology, with a particular focus on the person, place, process and practices involved in teaching and learning theology during times of crisis. The following themes are explored:

Person: How does the identity and background of the teacher and learner influence the teaching and learning of theology in times of crisis?
Place: How does the physical, cultural and social context of teaching theology impact pedagogical approaches during crises?
Process: What teaching methods and strategies are most effective in facilitating theological learning and reflection during times of crisis?
Practices: What are the best practices for integrating theory and practice in teaching theology, especially in times of crisis?