63 4.3.3.2 Focus Group Discussions
Focus groups with up to twelve women living with HIV and AIDS were intended to bring respondents together in discussion groups that focused on a particular topic. The central aim was to draw testimonies and stories of respondents’ experiences. Described by Blanche a focus group is typically a group of people who share a similar type of experience.159
64 deprivation. He expressed the point that the issue of hunger, for instance, has spread to almost all families including his own family.160
The other traditional chief said that people are facing difficulties in getting food for their families. It used to be that when the country was struck by hunger, the government would distribute essential food stuffs to different places of the country so that people did not starve.
He pointed out that for years now, the government has ceased to help people, even in terrible times like the situation that the country and his people are facing now. He appreciated the help that is being offered by the Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and expressed that their efforts (NGOs) cannot be overlooked, although they cannot feed everyone in the community since the numbers of those starving is increasing at an alarming rate and therefore are not eligible for food assistance.
161
One of the community leaders explained that hunger has reached crisis proportions to the extent that people have lost a sense of self-worth in order to survive. Because of extreme hunger, a good number of people in the community are resorting to desperate measures to Another key issue raised by both traditional chiefs during interviews is the fact that poverty has a strong element of deprivation, which leads to increases in frustration, and potentially to violence. They both agree to the fact that the current political instability cannot be understood outside hunger and poverty, simply because some politicians are promising people food if they support them. This, according to the traditional chiefs, has caused division among people and some people are even fighting over such promises. The traditional chiefs also expressed their worries about the increase in numbers of people who are getting sick, the increase in the death rate in the area and even the incidents of the political violence. At this point the traditional chiefs may have been referring to the increase of sickness as a result of hunger or HIV and AIDS.
160 Chief M. N, interview conducted by Theresa Mugwidi on 15 October 2009 in Silobela, St Alois Mission Station.
161 Chief X. M, interview conducted by Theresa Mugwidi on 17 October 2009 in Silobela, St Alois Mission Station.
65 find something to eat. They go about looking for wild fruits and even killing their dogs and cats for meat.162
When asked which group among people in the community - meaning men, women, teenagers and children - feels the impact of poverty and hunger more than the others, community leaders stated clearly that women, by nature of being mothers to dependent children, feel the impact of hunger the most. This agrees with the research made by WARC that while both women and men often live in impoverished conditions, their experiences of poverty are different. Women’s roles and responsibilities include taking care of all aspects of home life.163
4.5.2 Interviews with Church Leaders
Asked what the community leaders would think can be done to help women living with HIV and AIDS to cope with the situation of poverty and hunger, a good number of them responded by showing no idea as to how such women could be assisted. One of the community leaders said that he is not even aware of women who are living with HIV and AIDS in the area. Two other community leaders shared the same view. One of the community leaders simply suggested that maybe the Church can help them in their problem of HIV and AIDS.
Asked what they think the government or the Church can do for them, they all suggested that the government should create projects for them such as gardens, carpentry, sewing, woodwork or any other projects that can help the communities. The community leaders also said the same thing suggesting that the Church of St Alois should also assist with creating projects for different groups.
4.5.2.1 Parish Lay Leaders
On the issue of poverty and hunger, the Church leaders expressed almost similar views as those expressed by the traditional and community leaders. They also said that poverty and
162 Community leader A. H. interview conducted by Theresa Mugwidi on 20 October 2009 in Silobela, St Alois Mission Station.
163 World Alliance of Reformed Churches Researches. 2003. pg. 108.
66 hunger is threatening everybody’s life in the area. Two of them shared that they feel that women are more vulnerable to hunger and poverty because of the nature of their responsibilities as mothers.
Asked what they think can be done to help women living with HIV and AIDS in their area to cope with the situation of poverty and hunger, they all indicated that they have not yet seen these women and would not suggest something for people who do not exist. By saying this, the parish leaders meant that they do not know of women living with HIV and AIDS in their parishes and therefore they cannot suggest anything. One of the parish leaders explained that all they see are women who look very thin and sickly and that no one would know if the women are suffering from HIV and AIDS or suffering from something else, perhaps hunger and starvation.
4.5.2.2 The Priest-In-Charge of St Alois Mission Station
Having been asked about the situation of poverty and hunger in the community in which they serve, the priest expressed that poverty and hunger are severe in the area. According to the report by the priest, women carry the heaviest burden of hunger, because most of the time they deny themselves food in order to give the little they may get to their dependent children and other family members like the elderly.
Asked about how the Church is engaged in the whole situation of poverty and hunger, he clearly confessed that the Church is not doing anything at the moment because there is also nothing to offer. The priest said:
As the Church, we are also stranded. We do not know how we can help people because even the Church itself is caught up in the same problem of hunger. I have personally applied for donations from well-wishers but I haven’t got any reply and besides, the communication network is too poor. I either go to the nearest town to post letters or to make telephone calls but another bigger problem is the shortage of fuel to drive to any town close by. The worst thing is that sometimes starving orphans, elderly or any other people come here desperately looking for any help but still we offer them nothing. It pains me to see them in that state but there is nothing we can do. The Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are trying their level best to feed people but they cannot manage the whole community. It seems it is too much for them and as a result they are giving to a few desperate individual families while the rest are left to starve. The situation is bad and
67 frustrating and yet the Church cannot help at the moment. It is the Church’s wish to help but from the way the situation is, it is not easy.164
Asked if the Church has ever been engaged with women who are living with HIV and AIDS, the priest answered by saying that it is not easy to know who is HIV positive and therefore, not easy again to make any plans for people who are not known to the Church. He went on to say that even if they were known, still it would be difficult to do anything for them because as said earlier, the Church does not have anything to give to the poor or the starving. The only thing that the Church does at the moment is to simply preach the Gospel, encouraging people to continue to remain steadfast in prayer especially during this trying period.165