Undergraduate Projects/Long Essays

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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.
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    The Akan (Ghana) Concept Of Witchcraft: A Pastoral Problem.
    (Tangaza University College, 2000-02) Kofi, Kodom Patrick
    In the following work, I have tried to examine the Akan concept of witchcraft as a pastoral problem, which both foreign and local missionaries face, and how to help the victims out of it. The focus of the work has been trying to understand in a deeper way the roots of the fear of witchcraft. Though the fear of witchcraft is so pervasive in Africa, so far the response of the Christian Church, especially the established Churches has been one of denial and rejection. Should this continue the way it is now, or something has to be done? This is one of the basic questions that I have tried to answer. Although I personally doubt the existential substance of witchcraft, I firmly believe that the reality of the belief in witchcraft is indubitable. The conclusion of the work then is, witchcraft is a pastoral problem in the African Church and all efforts must be made to fully understand it.
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    African Debt Crisis
    (Tangaza University College, 1997-04) Gonzalez, Armando Ramos
    The Third World debt crisis has been dragging on for over 15 years'. In 1990, the Third World debt exceeded a trillion dollars. With dimension so gargantuan, one wonders if it is not beyond hope and repair. In the face of so many issues, why should we look to the Third World debt? Debt is first and foremost a human problem. It both directly and indirectly affects the lives of people all around the globe. The dignity of persons, the sacredness of life, the bonds of community, the concern for the poor, all this is assaulted by the debt crisis. To live responsibly as a global citizen today one cannot ignore the extent and consequences of the global debt. Africa is the continent most affected by the debt crisis. By November 1992, Africa's total debt was then the equivalent to more than 100% of the continent's GNP. Latin America's total debt, in comparison, was equivalent to 50% of her GNP. Of the total debt servicing payment coining from Sub-Saharan Africa (excluding Nigeria) nearly 30% of it goes to paying loans given by private banks.2 This essay is going to present a picture of the African debt problem in order to encourage the Churches and Christians to consider the problem as a human problem and therefore a problem which can be considered in the pastoral programmes of the churches. Because it affects the lives of the poor. African debt crisis is a pastoral problem to be known. The first Chapter deals with the actual situation and an historical overview of African Debt Crisis. Chapter two explains the causes and effects of debt problem in the lives of the people, above all, the poor. Economic effects are presented separately in the third chapter. The ethical aspects are considered in the fourth chapter. Can the African debt be paid? It is a difficult question. The fifth chapter presents a possible solutions taking into account the "worldly", Christian and social ministry approaches. It is the goal of this paper to provide stimulation to encourage the faithful, the church hierarchies and everyone who feels concern with the gospel of Christ to be informed about a real pastoral problem which can make the future of our generation unbearable.