ICAPA USES NEW STORYTELLING TECHNIQUE TO ADDRESS GBV IN BINGA

ICAPA Trust, in partnership with Zubo Trust and the Ministry of Women Affairs, introduces an innovative approach to combat Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in Binga District through co-operative storytelling.

The Institute of Creative Arts for Progress in Africa (ICAPA) Trust, in a partnership with Zubo Trust and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives (CLFI), introduced into Binga District a groundbreaking approach to raising awareness about Gender-Based Violence (GBV). Co-operative storytelling in form of role playing sessions is an innovative technique that empowers communities to actively engage with issues at hand.  

Combining film screenings with role-playing exercises created for participants to experience and reflect on the impact of GBV in their communities, with the aim of sparking action and change.  The role-playing sessions, which took place across local communities in Binga, transformed the traditional approach to GBV awareness. In these sessions, participants stepped into the shoes of characters from films like AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW (Zimbabwe 2022, d. Dereck Nziyakwi) and EDO (Cameroon 2017, d. Nkanya Nkwai) by reenacting scenes of abuse, resistance, and empowerment. This participatory method allowed community members to explore traumatising real-life scenarios of GBV in a supportive environment, encouraging them to challenge harmful cultural norms and think critically about how to prevent and address GBV.

In Sinansengwe (Binga District, Ward 3), a particularly powerful role-playing session revolved around a scene from the movie AT THE END OF THE RAINBOW, where the victim of abuse, following pressure from her family, chooses not to report the case and marries the abuser. The community members who participated in the role-play portrayed a stronger family that stood by the victim until the abuser was brought to book. The exercise resonated deeply with the participants, many of whom acknowledged that this newfound understanding could help shift the community's approach to GBV, from passive observation to active intervention.  One participant from Sinansengwe remarked, "Before, we just watched things happen, assuming there was nothing we could do. But after participating in the film screenings and role plays, I now understand that we have the power to make a difference."

In Dongamuse (Ward 5), following the screening of EDO, the role-playing plot portrayed an abused wife deciding to escape from her abusive husband with her daughter, not looking back to consider anything but her own and her daughter’s safety. This gave a fresh perspective on empowerment, resistance and independence, amongst women who are living with GBV, and  encouraged participants to reflect on how they can challenge the status quo in their own lives and communities.

These exercises were complimented by some stakeholder training workshops, with the synergy between the two sets of activities creating a comprehensive approach to combating GBV.  A district-level meeting at the outset of the programme brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including the Ministry of Women Affairs, the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts, and Recreation, and the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe. During this meeting, the group highlighted factors such the effects of El Niño on local communities, the lack of mental health support services, and rampant substance abuse as contributing to exacerbating GBV.  “The root causes of Gender-Based Violence are not isolated; they are closely linked to socio-economic pressures and mental health challenges,” said a representative from the Ministry of Women Affairs. “If we are to truly address GBV, we must look beyond the surface and tackle the systemic issues that fuel this violence.”

Meanwhile, the Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA+) workshop, facilitated by Linda Mudenda, gathered stakeholders from all over the district to equip them with knowledge on gender based violence related terms. This is so that they may educate the communities they serve on the issues, provide a safe space for victims to access support and platforms to help bring perpetrators to justice. Addressing critical concepts such as intersectionality and gender roles, the workshop also unpacked the differences between gender equality and gender equity. TA screening of the film EDO during the session prompted robust discussions about the challenges children, especially girls, face in abusive environments. Participants noted the inadequacy of some institutions, such as churches, to engage meaningfully with GBV. Stakeholders were encouraged to reflect on how deeply embedded gender norms perpetuate gender inequality and violence in society, and to spread awareness on this in their communities.

“The films that were shown were so eye-opening, and when we reenacted the scenes and portrayed victims reporting abuse instead of protecting the perpetrators, I could feel the strength of that choice,” said one community member, who went on to say, “It made me realize that our community can and should support victims of GBV by not remaining silent and not being afraid to take action.”