GOAL USA has empowered Uganda Christian University staff to fight substance abuse and has plans to; research and develop comprehensive culturally relevant treatment methods to African context, establish a faith based rehab centre, reach out to 490 schools, influence Policies and support the established support groups. Support if you can!
Hi,
My name is Ioana Ciobanu and and I live in Craiova, Romania. One of my life changing experiences was the encounter I had with Terry Webb. First I "met" her through her book, "The Tree of Renewed Life - The Church and The 12 Steps", which I translated into romanian language. It was through that book that I found out about alcoholism being a disease and about Alcoholics Anonymous. I was avidly reading that book, as I could relate very well. I was an alcoholic myself, just didn't know that alcoholism was a disease and there was a solution.
Later on, Terry, through her Goal project, came to Romania with one man who became my AA sponsor, Floyd F. The encounter with these two awsome people was the springboard into my own recovery process. After begining my recovery process I began an AA group in my home town and an Al-Anon group as well. Now, almost 13 years later, I am a grateful woman, whose life has changed around and whose progress is ongoing. I am still very much involved in AA and Al-Anon, passing on the awsome message of recovery and of God's love and power of changing human "wrecks" into human "beings" - His sons and daughters.
God works through people, and, in my particular case, this organization has reached its GOAL.
Thank you Terry and Floyd. Thanks to all involved in the GOAL Project.
God bless you!
Ioana Ciobanu
I am a donor, missionary volunteer, and serve as chair of the board. I have made mission trips to Romania (5), Russia (3) and Tanzania (1), most recently in 2010, where we have conducted trainings for clergy, medical professionals, and people in recovery. We are one of the few organizations making the connection between substance abuse and allied issues of HIV/AIDS, domestic violence/sexual abuse, and human trafficking. Treatment options and recovery groups have followed our work to a gratifying extent, especially in Eastern Europe, and our new work in Africa is off to a solid start in Kenya and an exciting beginning in Tanzania. Often we are the first ones to introduce the disease concept of addiction and twelve-step recovery into an area where it is badly needed. At our training in Tanzania in May, 2010, we trained over 100 pastors and 50 medical professionals in an area with few treatment options and no recovery groups. We need to build our infrastructure to continue this important work.
Review from Guidestar
I first met up with GOAL Project in 1998, while serving on a missions trip to Romania. We coordinated a training in addictions for the prison system, and this started our relationship of working together in Romania which has lasted up this this present day. Many times they have came to Romania with professional teachers in addictions, and taught in universities, at seminars, and worked individually with people in recovery to help develop the 12 Steps message of hope for the still suffering alcoholic and addict. In addition, they have helped sponsor professionals to go to the United States, and other countries, so that they could be better trained as addictions specialists.
Perhaps the most valuable assets that they bring to us are themselves. Their love for people, their obvious sincerity and caring, and their willingness to "go above and beyond" what could be expected inspires those whom they serve to themselves strive for higher ideals and greater accomplishments. In a world that is some times so desperately in need of hope this is perhaps their greatest work.
Floyd Frantz, OCMC Missionary in Romania
Review from Guidestar
My name is pastor Francis odhiambo,Director upako centre Nairobi.I was trained by GOAL Project on how to reachout to addicted members of our society in 2005 in Nairobi,and after the training,GOAL supported and we now have 5 AA and PLWHA support groups IN Nairobi.
We now do church ministry in a different way after we realised that addicted persons need a unique way of outreach and they find their identity with others in the support groups which is very helpful.
In my context,a slum in Nairobi where alcohol destroys lives of young people who could be resourceful in transforming the situation in the area,the addiction program is currently helping in a big way and we really thank God for the GOAL PROJECT work over the years.
Review from Guidestar
First as a volunteer, donor and now a Board member of GOAL Project I have been personally involved in every aspect of the organization's life and have had first hand experience of knowing that lives have been changed, men and women have been empowered and broken people have been made whole.
Review from Guidestar
Dear Sirs,
I would like to support the GOAL Project initiatives because my organization and me personaly got a lot of knowledge and support in the work with addictions in Russia. After that during several years I participated in the GOAL Project conferences and have taken very important current improvement of our expertise to make it update. Also I have participated in mission work in Tadjikistan and I can prove that all the work has been done with good intention and deep knowledge.
Review from Guidestar