The Influence of Ubuntu-Inspired Guidance on the Psychosocial Well-Being and Climate Resilience Preparedness of Adolescent Girls in Rural Zimbabwean Communities

Abstract

The influence of Ubuntu-inspired guidance on the psychosocial wellbeing and climate resilience preparedness of adolescent girls in rural Zimbabwean communities is increasingly significant amid intersecting social, environmental, and technological pressures. This study focuses on adolescent girls in Manganzo Village under Manhenga Rural District Council, Bindura, Zimbabwe, where traditional Ubuntu values continue to shape communal life in the face of climate vulnerability. Ubuntu, a philosophy grounded in interconnectedness, mutual respect, and solidarity, provides a cultural framework that nurtures psychosocial well-being and collective resilience. The research aims to explore how Ubuntu-guided practices support adolescent girls’ psychosocial strength and climate preparedness, while critically examining tensions arising from globalisation and technological change. Employing a qualitative case study design, data were collected through three focus group discussions with six household members each, and interviews with three community leaders. Findings reveal that Ubuntu-inspired guidance fosters emotional security, reinforces shared identity through totems, idioms, and environmental ethics, and enables collective action in response to climate hazards. The study contributes to contemporary debates on the sustainability of Ubuntu’s communitarian values amid globalised individualism and technological disruption, offering culturally grounded insights to inform policy and practice focused on adolescent girls’ well-being and climate resilience