Community Outreaches 2023

ICAPA Trust continues to promote gender sensitivity, inclusion, respect, equality and build agency in communities through exhibiting films that have female protagonists. In addition, post screening discussions are held to interrogate the themes and issues identified in the films.

Community screenings are always a great way of creating a platform for conversations to be had around various issues that exist within society. The common factor in all the communities that we have gone to whether in Harare or elsewhere in the country is that societal issues are similar across the board with varying degrees of intensity. With the rights of girls and women being the main highlight, it is evident from the discourse that ensues after the screenings that there is still much that’s needed to be done to bring about transformation in our society regarding the attitiudes, thoughts and behaviour towards women and girls. It is not enough to just call for action there needs to be a realization from society of why it is important to respect the rights of women and girls and when that realization happens it must form a change in attitude.

 

3 screenings were held in the communities of Dzivaresekwa, Hatcliffe and Mbare on the 22nd of September, 29th of September and 6th of October respectively showing the films Across The Rainbow, Four Walls and A Roof, Ibala and Picture My Life video spots. All these films led to intense passionate conversations amongst the audience who were mostly female as is usually the case with outreach screenings in local communities. The films exhibited had various themes such as child sexual abuse, sexual reproductive health, harmful cultural practices and norms, discrimination and social commentary on issues such as immigrant life.

 

 

These film screenings are part of a long standing outreach program that aims to create awareness and stimulate conversations in the communities where a lot of the issues touched on in the films are happening. These films become a catalyst to spur dialogue on sensitive and traditionally shunned topics and as storytelling is often very direct in the message that is being portrayed, it can lead to behavioral change .

 

After the programme had ended audiences were given contacts to referral services they can contact in the event that they encountered similar challenes in the community.

 

Thanks to the Open Society Foundation Africa for further facilitating the platform for the screenings.