Análisis de Varianza

This empirical study requires a mixed-methods approach that is in line with the cycle of mission praxis in order to identify the real issues that complicate the lives of OVCs in the community of Kawama, with a particular focus on girl children. This community has been chosen because it is one of the poorest compounds in Ndola, where the problems of extreme poverty, unemployment, congestion, poor housing quality, poor sanitation, noisy music, beer drinking, child prostitution, child abuse, HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and crime are increasing rapidly. All these problems raise many questions that require a paradigm shift to understand mission in the light of the girl child’s experiences. Another reason that motivated the researcher to choose this community is that it is located near her local church (Pamodzi Free Methodist Church) and some of her church members reside in this area.

The cycle of mission praxis is the key element guiding this study. As mentioned before, this cycle has four steps: identification, context analysis, theological reflection and strategy for mission.

Spirituality Context

analysis

Theological reflection

Identification Strategies for mission

Figure 1.3: A figure based on the cycle of mission praxis from Karecki (1999:14)

The first stage of this cycle is identification, which is about “being in communion and communication with local community… developing relationships and creating bonds with people” (Karecki 1999: 14-16). In order to achieve this goal, unstructured interviews and participant observation were used to capture the stories and experiences of women and girls who participated in this research. In order to obtain further information about their experiences, the researcher attended certain family gatherings such as weddings, funerals, kitchen parties and initiation ceremonies. In addition, she visited the homes of the participants, had discussions with them and participated in some of their domestic chores. By interacting with them, as a researcher, it was discovered that their “stories help discover the interconnection between faith and action” (Kanyoro 2002: 91). According to Wellington and Szczerbinski (2007: 80), “participant observations require time, acceptance, carefully negotiated access and tact.”

This participation helped her to become familiar with the culture and lifestyles of people in that community. In the process of collecting information, the researcher visited places where many children were often found as in marketplaces, streets and taverns or restaurants to see what happened there. Another way of gathering information was done through organising and conducting Good News Clubs for children that were often conducted during the long holidays at the Pamodzi Free Methodist Church, which is located near the Kawama compound. All these activities helped the researcher to gain the trust of the community members and children as well to obtain enough information for this study.

The second stage of the cycle of mission praxis is context analysis, which is crucial because it “provides information so that structures within a context could be changed in order to support the life of the local community” (Karecki 1999: 17). It requires analysing the socio-economic, cultural, political and religious structures in the community of Kawama in order to understand the factors that render the girl child vulnerable and destitute. In this regard, the researcher used purposeful sampling to select the key interviewees and the sites. Furthermore, questionnaires were prepared in both English and Bemba to conduct the structured interviews with five church

leaders (consisting of both men and women), five community members, three social workers, six children and four civil servants who either resided and/or worked in the Kawama community. These interviewees also participated in Bible study focus groups, workshops, meetings and retreats. The information gathered from the focus groups and interviews helped during stages three and four of the pastoral cycle, namely the theological reflection and planning for action. The structured interviews were carried out on a one-on-one basis, as a conversation. This provided the researcher with adequate qualitative data, as it opened up the opportunity for open-ended questions and answers. The interviews with the girl children and community members (women) were tape-recorded in order to facilitate the process of transcribing. In addition, this research has been supplemented with information from different kinds of literature, as a secondary source. Amongst these sources were various books, journals and newspapers, as well as electronic sources.

The third stage of the pastoral cycle (theological reflection) is helpful in enabling the community members of Kawama to “see their situation from a biblical perspective of their particular Christian heritage” (Karecki 1999: 18). In theological reflection, the researcher understands God as the initiator of liberation in mission and the church is called to participate in God’s mission or Missio Dei by joining the journey of the liberation process in order to secure the welfare of vulnerable girl children. As the researcher focussed on OVCs, with particular reference to girl children, the emancipatory approach was used to mobilise the community members and children to reflect on how the Christian heritage of male domination both in the church and secular society had contributed to marginalisation and vulnerability of the girl child.

This was realised through group discussions and debates during Bible studies, workshops, women conferences and youth retreats. This helped the participants to share their views and experiences and reflect on their roles and on the current issues that are explained in the problem statement. Consequently, the researcher used the following scriptures to conduct Bible studies: Mark 5:21-43 (the raising to life of the dead girl and healing of the sick woman), Luke 14:15-24 (which focusses on hospitality), Luke 18:15-17 (Jesus welcoming the little children) and Luke 9:46-48 (who will be the greatest in the Kingdom of God). These Bible studies helped the participants to reflect on Jesus’ attitude towards the vulnerable groups (such as lepers, poor, blind, women and children) and to draw lessons from his teachings for

their daily lives in order to help transform society in a constructive way. Such lessons entailed hospitality, justice, solidarity with marginalised groups such as women and children and human dignity.

The fourth stage of the pastoral cycle focusses on strategies for mission or planning for action. This stage “ensures that the theology of the community is rooted in real life and leads to concrete action” (Karecki 1999: 20) in order to bring about change.

Therefore, the focus groups during Bibles studies and workshops were helpful in determining the possible strategic solutions for responding to the community’s challenges, by translating the theological and cultural responses into programmes of care and support for the vulnerable girl children, with regard to their rights and dignity. To this end, the participants were the think-tanks behind new creative ideas and recommendations of what could be done to improve the lives of vulnerable girl children in Kawama. The researcher’s results from interviews with girls and women as well as from the Bible studies with women, children and youths were tape-recorded. It was not possible to record all the research results because of some inconveniences such as the limited time some participants had available, especially the workers who kept on changing appointments.