• AA Literature
    • A.A. Big Book
      • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
      • Big Book Stories Edition 1
      • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • A.A. Preamble
    • Singleness of Purpose
    • A.A. 12 Steps
    • A.A. 12 Traditions
    • A.A. 12 Concepts
    • 12 Traditions Checklist
    • 9th Step Promises (Pg 83/84)
    • The Serenity Prayer
    • Principles Of The Program
    • I Am Responsible
    • The Page Of Prayers
  • A.A. History
    • The Emmanuel Movement
    • The Washingtonians
    • Magazine & Newspaper Articles
    • Narrative Of A.A. Timeline
    • Timelines In A.A. History
    • Manuscript Of A.A. World History – Bob P.
    • Place And Things In AA History
    • Who’s Who In A.A. History
    • Big Book Story Authors
    • Writings Of A.A. Members
  • Influential Books
    • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
    • Big Book Stories Edition 1
    • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • Mel B’s Library
    • Dick B.’s Library
    • The Greatest Thing In The World
    • The Varieties Of Religious Experiences
    • In His Steps
    • As A Man Thinketh
    • When Man Listens
    • John Barleycorn
    • The Confessions Of Saint Augustine (13 Books)
    • Religion, Clergy & A.A.
  • Free Stuff
    • Free Audiobooks & Speaker Tapes
    • Videos Of Bill Wilson
    • The PDF Project (1000+ PDF’s)
    • Free AA Apps For iPhone
    • Free AA Apps For Android
    • 10-Days To Sobriety
  • Free 12 Step Toolkit App
  • Free AA Big Book App
  • AA Literature
    • A.A. Big Book
      • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
      • Big Book Stories Edition 1
      • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • A.A. Preamble
    • Singleness of Purpose
    • A.A. 12 Steps
    • A.A. 12 Traditions
    • A.A. 12 Concepts
    • 12 Traditions Checklist
    • 9th Step Promises (Pg 83/84)
    • The Serenity Prayer
    • Principles Of The Program
    • I Am Responsible
    • The Page Of Prayers
  • A.A. History
    • The Emmanuel Movement
    • The Washingtonians
    • Magazine & Newspaper Articles
    • Narrative Of A.A. Timeline
    • Timelines In A.A. History
    • Manuscript Of A.A. World History – Bob P.
    • Place And Things In AA History
    • Who’s Who In A.A. History
    • Big Book Story Authors
    • Writings Of A.A. Members
  • Influential Books
    • A.A. Big Book (164 Pages)
    • Big Book Stories Edition 1
    • Big Book Stories Edition 2
    • Mel B’s Library
    • Dick B.’s Library
    • The Greatest Thing In The World
    • The Varieties Of Religious Experiences
    • In His Steps
    • As A Man Thinketh
    • When Man Listens
    • John Barleycorn
    • The Confessions Of Saint Augustine (13 Books)
    • Religion, Clergy & A.A.
  • Free Stuff
    • Free Audiobooks & Speaker Tapes
    • Videos Of Bill Wilson
    • The PDF Project (1000+ PDF’s)
    • Free AA Apps For iPhone
    • Free AA Apps For Android
    • 10-Days To Sobriety
  • Free 12 Step Toolkit App
  • Free AA Big Book App
home/Alcoholics Anonymous/The Global Map/Middle East/Kuwait/Alcoholics Anonymous History In Kuwait – Ray Of Hope Group

Alcoholics Anonymous History In Kuwait – Ray Of Hope Group

112 views 1 aa

Alcoholics Anonymous History In
Kuwait
How it all started in the City of Kuwait.

http://www.aaarabia.org/#!group-history/urdvn

HISTORY OF HOW THE RAY OF HOPE GROUP IN KUWAIT EVOLVED.

It all started in 1982 in the home of one person, – (Charlie). Just 3 persons would attend (Charlie, Joe, Romeo). It was not a registered meeting because it was held in a private home and public knowledge of it might have compromised the resident of the apartment. (Kuwait has a culture that does not allow the use of alcohol by anyone residing in the country).

In 1983 another fellow arrived (Jim) and the 4 of them started to gather in the grounds of the Holy Family Cathedral on a Friday afternoon. Still the group was unregistered but one person – (Joe F.) became a contact for anyone looking for other recovering alcoholics. He allowed his telephone number to be placed in the WHERE TO FIND and was registered as a “LONER” in 1988.

This status continued until 1989 when another person (Doug B.) returned to Kuwait and made contact with Joe F.

There was no shelter available for them and nowhere they could sit down and so they would meet under the shade of the single palm tree in the compound of the Holy Family Cathedral for 20-30 minutes on a Friday afternoon.

During this period a few others looking for AA made contact but these were not local people and they stayed only temporarily. For the most part, only Joe and Doug were consistent attendees at the Holy Family Cathedral on a Friday afternoon. At these gatherings there was no Preamble or Serenity Prayer because there was no privacy at the time.

Thereafter, Joe and Doug made moves to get the Bishop (Micallef) to allow them the use of a very small room in the compound. With a small air-conditioning unit they could now think about starting a real meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.

In late 1989 the group had developed to about 6 persons attending regularly. All of them had contacted Joe because his home tel. number was registered with GSO and/or by way of the WHERE TO FIND.

In late 1989, Joe Doug and Bassam took the message of recovery to the local Psychiatric Hospital. They provided the hospital with some literature and supported them for a short while until they were able to get things going themselves. The meetings were mainly in Arabic.

In August 1990 the country was invaded by Iraq. This put an end to the meetings for obvious reasons.

In 1991, after the liberation of Kuwait, the meetings at theHoly Family Cathedral started again. In a short space of time there were more people arriving. We now managed then to get use of a porta cabin in the compound. It was like being in heaven.

In 1992 as a result of the reconstruction programme in Kuwait and also in Iraq there was a huge influx of visitors to our region.
As a result, some of these were in recovery and they spilled over into our meetings.

It was about this time when we decided to give our group a name. We decided it should be THE RAY OF HOPE GROUP OF ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS KUWAIT. We registered it with the GSO in New York.

Over the ensuing years literally hundreds of different people have found us when they arrived in Kuwait.
Our group expanded from just one meeting a week to 3 meetings a week.

In April 1997 we were informed by the Bishop that our porta-cabin room would no longer be available due to extensive renovation and new construction works. He agreed to provide us with a room in the New Building when the work was completed.

We now set about looking for temporary accommodation to hold our meetings in a public place that could be accessed by anyone looking for a meeting. This task was easy to say but quite hard to accomplish. One of our members had to compromise his anonymity on a number of occasions whilst searching for a place.

We almost succeeded in being allowed a room to use at the Evangelical Church but at the last minute someone in the Church administration objected to Alcoholics Anonymous members being on the premises and that was that.

Luckily, we had a friend who was one of those patients from the Psychiatric Hospital meetings that we had helped years earlier. This man was in recovery and his influence made it possible for a room to be made available in the Dasman Complex. This building was in fact owned by the Amiri Diwan.

In November 1997 the Bishop kept his word and provided us with the use of Room#7 in the New Building of the Holy Family Cathedral. We have been there to date.

In 2002 we placed the number of a pager in the local newspaper along with the announcement that Alcoholics Anonymous was available in Kuwait.

In 2003 a member set up a web site to help people locate a meeting when they came to Kuwait. This web site has enabled many people to find the meetings.

In April 2005 after much discussion a mobile telephone was donated to the group by one of its members to provide a more efficient means of contact to those looking for help and support.

This help line was published in all 3 local English language newspapers – The Arab Times, Kuwait Times, Daily Star.

During this period the group had decided to see if inroads could be made with practicing our Third Legacy of Service by developing our P.I.C.P.C. work.

A member of the group who had volunteered to undertake this part of Service approached various professional bodies in Kuwait and offered Conference Approved Literature on the subject of Alcoholism.

A letter was also published in the Arab Times through one of our members. This had the effect of bringing a very limited response from a few members of the local community. This was also a part of the P.I.C.P.C. work.

Our group member visited Hospitals, Schools, Companies, Embassies, and Community Groups etc. The disbursement of the literature was not readily accepted by many of the professionals he approached.

There was a great deal of hesitancy and downright refusal by more than one doctor and or company representative.

In fact on one occasion the group member who was trying to distribute leaflets announcing that there was indeed help available to those who had a desire to stop drinking was detained by security personnel and the police were called.

He had a hard time explaining that he was only trying to provide a public service………(When he relayed this to the group members later it was laughed at, but it could have been quite problematic. At the same time a hard lesson was learned.)

In November 2006 the Ray of Hope Group successfully hosted the Arabian Gulf Convention with 59 attendees (Theme – The Art of Living). To enable this to be conducted without the fear of intrusion by the local Ministry of Interior, our group P.I.C.P.C. representative had a meeting with the head of the (C.I.D.) department of the Ministry of Interior to explain our aims.

We were not provided with anything in writing as we had requested but our members were assured verbally by the (Head of the C.I.D. at that time) that that we could go ahead with our convention without hindrance.

Again in November 2012 the Ray of Hope Group successfully hosted another Arabian Gulf Convention with 75 attendees – (Theme – The First Step).

For several years past it is observed that the great majority of the newcomers to the ROH group make initial contact through our local website (www.aaarabia.org)

The webmaster estimates that around 75-100 persons each year make contact through the site. Many of these are just making cries for help and are pointed in what we hope is the right direction.

Some are looking for help for their spouses of relatives. Some are already in recovery and are hoping to come to Kuwait for work. Others are passing through and want to find a meeting.

It is plainly apparent that in Kuwait the medium of the Internet has become most effective way for people to find the ROH.

Over the years since 1992 our records indicate that we have an average of between 8 and 9 members per meeting over the year. The ROH has 3 meetings each week as follows.
Big Book……….. Step/Tradition………… Open Discussion.

The ROH group also freely provides to EVERY newcomer after they have attended 3 meetings, the following Conference Approved Literature.
Big Book
12 Steps and 12 Traditions
Daily Reflections
In recent times and in order to inform those attending meetings that our group has a single purpose the Group Conscience decided it has become necessary to include the following statement to be read out at the start of our meetings:

The Ray of Hope Group offers you a warm welcome to this closed meeting of Alcoholics Anonymous.
In support of A.A’s singleness of purpose, attendance at closed meetings is limited to persons who have a desire to stop drinking. If you think you have a problem with alcohol, you are welcome to attend this meeting. We ask that when discussing our problems, we confine ourselves to those problems as they relate to alcoholism.

NOTE: The above statement was first raised for group discussion in June 2013 and implemented as part of the group format in August 2013. This statement is also read out at the OPEN meeting on Fridays.

This action has resulted in encouraging most of our dual addicted membership to confine themselves to their problems with alcoholism. We are not quite there but there has been a lot of improvement.

THE ROH group encourages our dual addicted members to read the pamphlets available related to problems other than alcohol. We have ample supplies of literature that members are encouraged to use. There are no charges to members.

The above information is to the best of my knowledge reasonably accurate. Where I have put specific dates these are taken from my records.

Yours in service………………Doug …………………28th September 2015

http://www.aaarabia.org/#!group-history/urdvn

Tags:middle eastkuwaitaabig bookalcoholics anonymousresearch and studyaa growthglobal map

Was this helpful?

1 Yes  No
Related Articles
  • History Of International AA Women’s Conference – History Of The IAAWC (Formerly Known As The NAAWC)
  • International Lawyers In Alcoholics Anonymous – History – Philosophy.
  • The Washington Group : Foundations, 1936-1941
  • Early A.A. History In Virginia & Washington DC – The Boys Of ’39
  • A History Of The Clear Creek Club – At The Creek, Clear Creek Club, Seabrook TX.
  • Twin City Group – 1971 – Present, District # 80

Didn't find your answer? Contact Us

Popular Articles
  • Southwest U.S. – Meet Your Neighbors
  • Father Kurt, From Racine Wisconsin. At 35th. Fall Conference. Wisconsin, October 1986
  • Do You Think You’re Different
  • Edward Delahanty MD., Psychodynamics Of The 12 Steps
  • Docs Opinion
KB Categories
  • Audio Books 0
    • AA Assorted Speakers 195
    • AA Speaker Bill W. 100
    • Joe & Charlie 34
    • Videos 15
    • International Conventions – 2015 184
    • AA Speaker Chuck C. 111
    • AA Big Book Audiobook 14
    • AA Speakers Clergy 220
    • AA Speakers Doctor's 129
    • Sandy B. – Saturday Morning Live 12
    • AA Speaker Sandy B. 74
  • A.A. History – General 27
  • Literature 12
    • Big Book 18
    • A.A. Prayers 10
    • Big Book Stories Edition 1 29
    • Big Book Stories Edition 2 40
    • The Big Book Concordance 27
    • The Original Manuscript Of AA. 16
    • The First A.A. Pamphlet 8
  • Al-Anon 14
  • The PDF Project (1000+ PDF's 1
    • The Big Book (179 Articles 6
    • Bill W. (172 Articles 4
    • Dr. Bob (24 Articles 1
    • General Service Conference (157 Articles 6
    • Grapevine (51 Articles 5
    • History (437 Articles 52
  • Grapevine Articles 4
    • Grapevine Articles – Interviews 6
    • Grapevine Reproduction 8
    • Additional A.A. Grapevine Articles 20
    • Big Book Updates 13
    • Other Grapevine Articles 33
  • The History Of Alcoholics Anonymous 6
  • Other Articles 41
    • Printed Book Reviews 26
    • Religion, Clergy & A.A. 108
  • The Global Map 3
    • Europe 0
      • Hungary 1
      • Romania 1
      • Austria 1
      • Herzegovina 1
      • Russia 2
      • Andorra 1
      • Iceland 1
      • Scotland 2
      • Belgium 1
      • Ireland 1
      • Slovakia 1
      • Bulgaria 1
      • Italy 1
      • Slovenia 1
      • Croatia.html 1
      • Latvia 1
      • Spain 1
      • Cyprus 1
      • Liechtenstein 1
      • Sweden 1
      • Czech Republic 1
      • Lithuania 1
      • Switzerland 1
      • Denmark 1
      • Luxembourg 1
      • Turkey 1
      • Estonia 1
      • Malta 1
      • Ukraine 1
      • England 2
      • Macedonia 1
      • Wales 1
      • Finland 1
      • Monaco 1
      • Yugoslavia 1
      • France 1
      • Netherlands 1
      • Germany 1
      • Norway 1
      • Greece 1
      • Poland 1
      • Gibraltar 1
      • Portugal 1
    • General 3
    • Australia (Oceania 0
      • Nauru 1
      • New Caledonia 1
      • Niue 1
      • Palau 1
      • Australia 3
      • Papua New Guinea 1
      • American Samoa 1
      • Pitcairn Islands 1
      • Cook Islands 1
      • Solomon Islands 1
      • Coral Sea Islands 1
      • Tongi 1
      • Federated States Of Micronesia 1
      • Tokelau 1
      • Fiji 1
      • Tuvalu 1
      • French Polynesia 1
      • Vanuatu 1
      • Guam 1
      • Western Samoa 1
      • Kiribati 1
      • Wallis And Futuna Islands 1
      • Marshall Islands 1
      • Northern Mariana Islands 1
      • New Zealand 1
    • Asia 0
      • Malaysia 1
      • Maldives 1
      • Mongolia 1
      • North Korea 1
      • Nepal 1
      • Pakistan 1
      • Bangladesh 1
      • Philippines 1
      • Burma 1
      • Russia 2
      • Bhutan 1
      • South Korea 1
      • China 1
      • Sri Lanka 1
      • Hong Kong 1
      • Thailand 1
      • India 1
      • Taiwan 1
      • Indonesia 1
      • Vietnam 1
      • Japan 1
      • Kazakhstan 1
      • Laos 1
    • Africa 0
      • Eritrea & Djibouti 1
      • South Africa & Lesotho 1
      • Ghana, Togo & Benin 1
      • Sudan & Chad 1
      • Guinea-Bissau & The Gambia 1
      • Swaziland & Mozambique 1
      • Liberia & Sierra Leone 1
      • Tanzania & D. R. Congo 1
      • Libya & Tunisia 1
      • Uganda & Kenya 1
      • Madagascar 1
      • Malawi & Zimbabwe 1
      • Algeria & Morocco 1
      • Mauritania & Western Sahara 1
      • Angola & Zambia 1
      • Namibia & Botswana 1
      • Burkina Faso & Mali 1
      • Nigeria & Niger 1
      • Cameroon 1
      • Reunion & Mauritius 1
      • Central African Republic & Ethiopia 1
      • Rwanda & Burundi 1
      • Comoro Island & Seychelles 1
      • Saint Helena & Equatorial Guinea 1
      • Congo & Gabon 1
      • Sao Tome & Principe 1
      • Cote d'Ivoire & Guinea 1
      • Senegal & Cape Verde 1
      • Egypt 1
      • Somalia 1
    • Central America 0
      • Belize 1
      • Costa Rica 1
      • El Salvador 1
      • Guatemala 1
      • Honduras 1
      • Mexico 1
      • Nicaragua 1
      • Panama 1
    • Caribbean 0
      • Bahamas 1
      • Saint Lucia 1
      • Bermuda 1
      • Saint Vincent And The Grenadines 1
      • Cuba 1
      • Saba/Saint Eustatius 1
      • Cayman Island 1
      • Saint Kitts And Nevis 1
      • Curacao 1
      • Trinidad And Tobago 1
      • Dominican Republic 1
      • Turks And Caicos 1
      • Dominica 1
      • Virgin Islands 1
      • Grenada 1
      • Guadeloupe 1
      • Haiti 1
      • Anguilla 1
      • Jamaica 1
      • Antiqua 1
      • Margarita 1
      • Aruba 1
      • Martinique 1
      • Bonaire 1
      • Puerto Rico 1
      • Barbados 1
      • Saint Maarten/Saint Martin 1
      • Barbuda 1
      • Saint Barts 1
    • Middle East 0
      • Afghanistan 1
      • Turkey 1
      • Bahrain 1
      • United Arab Emirates 1
      • Cyprus 1
      • Yemen 1
      • Iran 1
      • Iraq 1
      • Israel 1
      • Jordan 1
      • Kuwait 1
      • Kyrgyzstan 1
      • Lebanon 1
      • Oman 1
      • Qatar 1
      • Syria 1
      • Arabia 1
      • Saudi Arabia 1
      • Azerbaijan 1
      • Tajikistan 1
      • Armenia 1
      • Turkmenistan 1
    • Canada 0
      • Manitoba 1
      • New Brunswick 1
      • Newfoundland 1
      • Northwest Territories 1
      • Nova Scotia 1
      • Ontario 18
      • Quebec 1
      • Saskatchewan 1
      • Yukon 1
      • Alberta 1
      • British Columbia 2
    • South America 0
      • Bolivia 1
      • Brazil 1
      • Chile 1
      • Ecuador 1
      • French Guiana (France 1
      • Falkland Islands (UK 1
      • Guyana 1
      • Netherland Antilles (NL 1
      • Peru 1
      • Paraguay 1
      • Suriname 1
      • South Georgia (UK 1
      • Uruguay 1
      • Venezuela 1
      • Aruba (NL 1
      • Argentina 1
    • United States 0
      • Alaska 1
      • Louisiana 1
      • North Dakota 1
      • Wyoming 1
      • Arizona 1
      • Maine 1
      • Ohio 5
      • Arkansas 1
      • Maryland 3
      • Oklahoma 1
      • California 4
      • Massachusetts 1
      • Oregon 1
      • Colorado 1
      • Michigan 4
      • Pennsylvania 6
      • Connecticut 1
      • Minnesota 2
      • Rhode Island 1
      • Delaware 1
      • Mississippi 1
      • South Carolina 5
      • Florida 28
      • Missouri 1
      • South Dakota 1
      • Georgia 1
      • Montana 1
      • Tennessee 1
      • Hawaii 1
      • Nebraska 1
      • Texas 6
      • Idaho 1
      • Nevada 1
      • Utah 1
      • Illinois 3
      • New Hampshire 1
      • Vermont 1
      • Indiana 1
      • New Jersey 3
      • Virginia/DC 3
      • Iowa 1
      • New Mexico 1
      • Washington 3
      • Kansas 1
      • New York 1
      • West Virginia 1
      • Alabama 1
      • Kentucky 1
      • North Carolina 2
      • Wisconsin 1
  • The Detroit Pamphlet 4
  • Writings Of A.A. Members 0
    • Lois W. 7
    • Doctor Bob 10
    • Henry G. (Hank P. 2
    • Clarence S. 6
    • Bill D. 2
    • Bill W. 19
      • Let's Ask Bill W. 41
      • Bill W. On The 12 Traditions 16
      • Letters – To Jim Burwell From Bill Wilson 18
      • Letters – To Bill Wilson From Jim Burwell 3
      • Talks At General Service Conferences 31
        • Alcoholic Foundation 4
      • Grapevine Articles Of Bill W. 34
        • Grapevine – 12 Traditions Of A.A. 16
        • Grapevine – 12 Steps Of AA 2
    • Ebby Thacher 2
    • Others 13
      • Letters – To Jim Burwell From Bill Wilson 18
      • Letters – To Bill Wilson From Jim Burwell 3
  • Influential Books 0
    • In His Steps 32
    • The Varieties Of Religious Experiences 17
    • As A Man Thinketh 8
    • When Man Listens 6
    • The Confessions Of Saint Augustine 5
      • Book Eleven 33
      • Book Twelve 34
      • Book Thirteen 40
      • Book One 20
      • Book Two 12
      • Book Three 14
      • Book Four 18
      • Book Five 16
      • Book Six 18
      • Book Seven 23
      • Book Eight 14
      • Book Nine 15
      • Book Ten 45
    • Other Books 9
    • John Barleycorn 39
    • Big Book Of AA 21
    • Personal Stories – Edition 1 29
    • Personal Stories – Edition 2 40
    • Mel B.'s Library 56
      • The Four Absolutes 17
    • Dick B.'s Library 128
    • The Greatest Thing In The world 5
  • Research & Study 14
    • A Narrative Of Timeline Of A.A. History 30
    • The Emmanuel Movement 12
    • Tiebout Papers 6
    • Timelines In A.A. History 14
    • Big Book Story Author's 78
    • AA Growth 135
    • Stepping Stone News 1
    • Timelines Of Historic A.A. Events 1
    • Charlie Bishop Jr. 3
    • Manuscript Of A.A. World History, 1985 – By Bob P. 23
    • Whos's Who In A.A.'s History 23
    • Big Book Changes 1
    • Magazine And Newspaper Articles 149
    • People In A.A.'s History 26
    • A.A. History – News Articles 8
      • Cleveland Plain Dealer 8
    • Place And Things In AA History 13
    • Dr. William Duncan Silkworth M.D. 12
      • Grapevine Articles Of Dr. William Silkworth 5
    • The Washingtonians 31
      • Grapevine Articles Of The Washingtonians 15
    • Gresham's Law And Alcoholics Anonymous 5

  Alcoholics Anonymous History In Your Area – Spain

History Of Alcoholics Anonymous In Australia – The First AA Group  

AA Anonymity Statement

Anonymity is the spiritual foundation of all our traditions.

Please respect this and treat in confidence who you see and what you hear.

About Silkworth.net
  • Privacy Policy
  • Legal Disclaimer
  • Contact Us
External Links
  • Free 12 Step Toolkit App
  • Free AA Apple Apps
  • Free AA Android Apps
  • Silkworth’s YouTube Channel
  • Alcoholics Anonymous (AAWS Inc.)
  • AA Grapevine, International Journal of Alcoholics Anonymous
  • Al-Anon Family (Includes Alateen)
Newsletter Subscription





  • 2023 Silkworth.net - © iByte Apps Limited