‘What problems does alcohol bring in this community?,” Geoffry asked an old lady leaning against the edge of her hut, picking tiny stones from a shallow basket of rice.
“Alcohol breaks up families. Liver disease. Young boys steal from their families to buy alcohol. It makes men do nothing, no farming, they just sit drinking” Then solemnly she added.. “Impotence. Women are not satisfied these days.”
Wakonye Kenwa (our community organizing group) has been out and about with our survey, asking our community in Lacor about alcohol. What kind of alcohol brings the most problems? What time should bars open and close? Do you support a ban on sachet alcohol (100ml of ready to drink 40% spirits sold for 20 NZ cents)? And the trickiest last question… “Do you know anyone who is negatively affected by alcohol? Can you tell us about their life?”
Our survey served two purposes. 1) To hunt out keen people who care to recruit to our group. 2) To collect evidence to support our campaign for new alcohol laws in Gulu District.
Our research taught me a lot about alcohol use in my community. But I’ve learned more about how (and how not) to do research with keen but new-to-research volunteers. Take that last question. Each volunteer was asked to try and capture an example, a story, about how alcohol impacts on people’s lives. We did role plays to drum it in. Yesterday I translated and typed our 98 questionnaires into excel. Approaches to answering to that last question were varied…
The most unhelpful response: “Yes I know someone” or “I know lots of people!” (no elaboration)
The break-all-confidentiality response: A list of names (but no stories), usually followed by a plea of sorts “they need help.” One lady wrote, “my neighbor, David Komakech.” The next form I picked up was..wait for it…was David Komakech. In response to the last question he answered “Yes. Alcohol is a problem for me. I’ve lost all my money.”
The story response: And of course, some interviewers understood the question properly and got their interviewee to give a detailed example. Here are a few:
“I know many people, but the one closest to me is my mother. Any money she gets, anything you give her, she just sells it to drink alcohol… sugar, food, anything. If she drinks a lot then she gets accidents. I have taken her to hospital many times. It disturbs me so much. She is always asking for money. I don’t give it to her, because alcohol is killing her:” (41 year old man)
“Yeah, me. It can be a problem for me. Yesterday on the way back from the bar I stubbed my foot. My foot still hurts.” (24 year old man)
“My husband drinks, he uses all our money for drinking, and he is hardly ever home. When he is home he hits me when he gets drunk. I know he sleeps with other women. I’m worried I will get HIV aids” (30 year old woman)
“My uncle drank so much he passed out and has now been in hospital for one week with liver problems. He has drunken alcohol for many years now. He doesn’t work, he sells things like his land to eat food and drink more. Last week he sold his motorbike. He no longer sends his children to school” (32 year old woman).
I did 20 interviews myself with members of our group. So, so many people had stories like this.
Ugandapanda 
Hey Tess, this is brilliant research! You should be really excited about the theme/direction of your group at the moment. This is a HUGE need in Gulu and certainly one that should be addressed. Really excited by all the research you have gained and its potential for change. Looking forward to hearing more of this journey as it develops. xxx
Hi Tessa, Just read this article in my news feed and thought of you and the work you are doing on these lines. Thought you might be interested.
Plague of alcoholism and poverty in one Kenyan village led to despair, but Jesus brought freedom and hope
*By Mark Ellis, Special to ASSIST News Service*
*SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (ANS – June 15, 2015)* — In Chepkorio, about four hours northwest of Nairobi by car, one chieftain’s heart was burdened by the curse of alcohol and poverty that racked his small village.
“The chief is a Christian man who has been burdened by the plague of alcohol in his village and the poverty that has driven hundreds of women to brew illegal and dangerous alcohol which they secretly make and sell in their homes,” according to Samuel Teimuge, Kenya director for Empowering Lives International (ELI).
The illegal brewing and alcoholism had been devastating to families. The women said, “We will quit this brewing, but Chief, please help us know how we can feed and educate our children,” Samuel reports.
When Samuel spoke at a meeting the chief organized, he did not expect his audience would number almost 200 people.
He challenged the men and women to choose a new course in life and told the chief to let him know if a few of the women might choose to leave brewing and attend a few days of training at the Ukweli (Truth) ELI Training Center in Ilula.
Three days later a surprised chief called and said, “Samuel, there are more than 100 women who want to come for training! This is a miracle!”
When they arrived on a bright Monday morning, they did not realize that dozens of lives were about to change. “We were expecting 40 women, but there ended up being 44 women and two men. These ‘extra’ villagers made a pleading request, ‘Please do not send us away! We are looking for hope.’”
Their training took place at a 40-bed facility, so several women slept two-to-a-bed rather than miss out.
The first morning Samuel asked them what they were hoping for or expecting. A young woman named Anita raised her hand and said with sincerity, “This week I hope to find salvation.” Several others nodded their heads as well.
MORE
*About the writer: Mark Ellis is a senior correspondent for ASSIST News Service and also the founder of http://www.Godreports.com , a website that shares stories, testimonies and videos from the church around the world to build interest and involvement in world missions.*
** You may republish this or any of our ANS stories with attribution to the ASSIST News Service (www.assistnews.net )
Lea
Ma te aroha o te Atua ka manaakitia koe. May the love of God be with you.
Thanks for that Anna that’s really enourgaing 🙂
Hi Tessa. This is Lea Tovey, Anna’s Mum, in Auckland. Tessa, would you kindly get in touch with me in relation to your deputation. Thanks. My email is: dltovey@gmail.com
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