Advances in Social Sciences and Management

Phytodiversity and Therapeutic Value within Traditional Communities of Luozi, Democratic Republic of Congo

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

The ethnobotanical study of medicinal plants is being carried out in the Luozi region of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The aim is to promote, conserve and even perpetuate endogenous knowledge and know-how, the basis of socio-cultural identity. Ethnobotanical data collection is based on a survey and personalized interviews involving local people in the 10 sectors. The group of informants, of all genders and aged at least 19, totaled 2,296 people. The survey revealed 146 medicinal species in 129 genera and 59 families, of which the Fabaceae are the most represented. According to ethnobotanical indices, Sarcocephalus latifolius, Morinda lucida, Chromolaena odorata and Crossopteryx febrifuga are the most popular taxa. Classification by disease area reveals that the group of symptoms, signs and ill-defined morbid states is the most important in terms of the number of indications and citations. In terms of therapeutic indications, malaria is the most popular in terms of the number of plant citations. Leaves are the most cited organs in terms of the number of recipes. Although the drugs are administered orally (pers os), the decoction remains by far the most common form of preparation. The people of the Luozi sectors do not form a single community when it comes to using plants in traditional medicine. Two distinct communities can be identified, depending on the medicinal species used from one sector to another.

Challenges of Adopting Sustainable Entrepreneurship Practices in Ifrane Hotels- Morocco

Mba Okechukwu Agwu, Md Asadul Hoque — Thu, 04 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This paper discussed challenges of adopting sustainable entrepreneurship practices in Ifrane hotels- Morocco. It assumes that adopting sustainable entrepreneurship practices will contribute to the realization of economic, social and environmental goals of Ifrane hotels. The research question addressed the extent to which lack of awareness and understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship concept, financial constraints, seasonality and low patronage and imposition of high taxes and levies constitute a challenge in adopting sustainable entrepreneurship practices in Ifrane hotels. A cross-sectional survey research design was used in the generation of primary data for the study. A sample size of 272 was determined from a population of 850 hotel employees using Yamane (1964), sample size determination formula. The sample size was selected from the population of study using simple random (shuffling and selection of cards without replacement) method. The results indicated that lack of awareness and understanding of sustainable entrepreneurship, financial constraints, seasonality and low patronage and imposition of high taxes and levies constitute a challenge in adopting sustainable entrepreneurship practices in Ifrane hotels. It concludes that hotels in Iframe are not achieving sustainable entrepreneurship goals due to the challenges associated with adoption of sustainable entrepreneurship practices. It therefore recommends among others: enlightenment to create more awareness about the concept, financial support for hoteliers to modernize facilities, government reduction of taxes and levies for hoteliers, use of energy-efficient, water conservation and waste minimization systems, increasing community engagement and offering more employment opportunities to residents of host community.

Exploring the Effects of Livelihood Programs on Radicalization and Migration Among Youth in Somalia

Abdulrazaq Yusuf Ahmed — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

Somalia's prominent "youth bulge" presents both a significant opportunity for national reconstruction and a potential source of instability if left unaddressed. Persistently high youth unemployment, estimated at 60-70%, creates conditions of marginalization that render young people vulnerable to high-risk behaviors, including recruitment by extremist groups and engagement in perilous irregular migration. While numerous livelihood interventions have been implemented, a critical gap exists in understanding their effectiveness from the subjective perspective of the youth they are designed to serve. Current studies frequently center on quantitative results instead of the qualitative processes by which these programs impact individual decision-making. This paper presents a qualitative study to investigate this gap. The objective is to examine the perceived effects of youth livelihood programs on reducing the factors leading to radicalization and migration in urban Somalia. The anticipated results encompass a nuanced comprehension of efficient program elements and the formulation of actionable suggestions to guide the development of more youth-centered and contextually sensitive policies and interventions.

Ethnographic Analysis of ‘SPEAKING’ and Textuality in the Conversation between Jesus Christ and the Thieves on the Cross

Thu, 18 Sep 2025 00:00:00 +0100

This study undertakes an ethnographic and textual analysis of the conversation between Jesus Christ and the thieves on the cross, as portrayed in the Synoptic Gospels. Integrating Dell Hymes’s SPEAKING model with principles of textuality, the research examines how communicative actions within this sacred speech event are shaped by socio-cultural contexts and structured through linguistic coherence. The SPEAKING framework facilitates an exploration of the setting, participants, purposes, and genre of the crucifixion dialogue, highlighting the contrasting roles and intentions of the repentant and impenitent thieves. Textuality analysis evaluates cohesion, coherence, intentionality, and inter-textual connections, revealing how the dialogue functions as a meaningful, unified text imbued with theological significance. Findings indicate that the interaction exemplifies ritualized communication embedded within socio-religious norms of first-century Judea and reflects core Christian themes of judgment, mercy, and redemption. The repentant thief's plea and Jesus's promise embody pragmatic and theological dimensions of faith and salvation, while the mocking thief symbolizes rejection and despair. This integrative approach unpacks how the conversation operates simultaneously as a culturally situated speech event and a carefully constructed biblical text. The study contributes to biblical linguistics, ethnography of communication, and discourse analysis by demonstrating the effectiveness of combining ethnographic and textual frameworks to analyze sacred dialogue. The study exhumes knowledge of how language functions as a medium of identity, belief, and social action in religious narrative, offering valuable insights for interdisciplinary research into ancient communicative practices and theological discourse.