Back in Gulu Town

Logging on to post here, I realize Emily and I are behind in posting about some of our other trips recently. Oh well - that will have to wait - now I'm back in Gulu. I'm sure I won't blog as often as last time I was here but I'll try post a few times for those who are interested. Here I will quickly share why I'm here this time for those who don't know.

Some of you know that last time I was here with my Professor we tested the feasibility of a parenting program for mothers. However, fathers also said they want support and wives asked us to include their husbands next time. In a separate line of research, other researchers from the NGO I'm working with (vivo.org) have reported really high levels of substance use (mostly alcohol) and domestic violence. (Which are also things we hear people talking about often.) So - based on all of this information, I am hear to learn more about if and how we may be able to support fathers, whether that be through the parenting intervention or some other means. As a basic starting place, I'm going to be interviewing men about the role of a father in an Acholi family and the ways in which substance use impacts these roles and relationship with children. My big picture goal is preventing future substance use in children by supporting parents.

I've only been here a few days but I'm excited by the progress so far. I have two phenomenal local people working with me - Laura is a counselor for vivo and Thomas has worked with us in the past. They will conduct the interviews with me by interpreting, providing needed cultural knowledge, and discussing the interview results as we go. The three of us have met once so far to discuss the project and work out logistics.

Today, Laura and I met with the director of a local organization that has the only substance use treatment in the area. He also introduced us to another woman in the organization who is going to help us identify some men to begin interviewing. It was AMAZING to talk with each of them. They are doing such great work and have a vision for more if they find the funding. They are doing awareness campaigns, have AA groups, are doing workshops in secondary schools, are working in the prison, and had a one-week treatment group last year with 12 men - 10 of whom are still sober. The woman we talked to also works with a group trying to combat domestic violence. They each shared their personal stories with us and are interested in helping me recruit fathers to interview.

I have to say - I'm always skeptical about these projects - I really do question if I as a white, educated, man from the U.S. has any right to think I can support people here. I reflect on this a lot and I'm encouraged to continue to do so because I have great colleagues that make me continually challenge myself. On the one hand, I passionately despise the colonialistic, paternalistic, savior-complex, insensitive cross-cultural support that often occurs. However, I also believe that with power, privilege, and resources comes responsibility and so it would also be unfortunate if people decided to do nothing for others with need.

So my solution is to try be responsive to what the local community says they need and humbly share what I can, knowing that what I can offer may or may not be useful. The result is a slow, tentative, iterative process of all parties learning from one another. There are many great people here doing great work, people are resilient and outside support is not the end-all be-all, nor is it even always useful; and I/we have resources and knowledge that we can share if all involved think it may be useful. So this is where I'm at now - somewhere in this balancing act - right now definitely more on the side of learning rather than offering. After my conversations today, I feel validated in where I'm at with this process.

Also... it's mango season - the bananas are still delicious - people still laugh at me when I run - and the bodaboda is still an exhilarating mode of transportation/flirting with road-rash. In addition... the vivo house has running water now - electricity seems fairly stable these days - and Emily will visit this time!