Browsing by Author "Armand Fanze, Leopold"

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    Domestic Violence: A Pastoral Problem
    (Tangaza University College, 2001-02) Armand Fanze, Leopold
    Being in Kenya for about four years, I have been involved in youth activities in three different Catholic parishes of Nairobi. First, I was for one year with the youths of Christ the King Catholic Parish in Line-Saba (Kibera). There I discovered that the environment was not hostile to domestic violence. On the contrary, it was even somehow promoting domestic violence, as people got used to seeing family members fighting on the road. Then, my community's members asked me to take care of the youth group that was meeting twice a week in our compound (Don Bosco Utume, along Dagoretti Road, halfway between Dagoretti Market and Karen Centre). There I discovered that most of the youth coming from the neighbouring slums, Mutuini and Karinde. were experiencing abusive situations in their respective homes. In August 1999, I was sent to Dagoretti Corner Catholic Parish for my weekend pastoral work. Here, my involvement and sharing of experiences with the youth showed that some of them were deeply affected by violent situations in their respective homes. At the same time, from different reports of the media, I perceived domestic violence as being something occurring today in our midst more than ever. At first. I tried to convince myself that I could do nothing to bring about a positive change in this situation. However. I read in the book Salesian Youth Spirituality that for us Salesians of Don Bosco, -To dream the impossible dream ... sums up the hope we carry deep within us."' This motive continuously pushed and encouraged me in my weekly pastoral work. Abiding with this pastoral challenge, I started visiting the youth's families thus making myself familiar with their family members. This integration helped me to grasp more deeply the reality of domestic violence in these families.