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ToWoToWo
Media and Trauma-Healing ProjectMedia and Trauma-Healing Projectinin
South AfricaSouth Africa
““”Talking Out - Walking On”Talking Out - Walking On
""Like any other prejudice, Like any other prejudice, violence against women is a violence against women is a form of discrimination. The form of discrimination. The
law does not tolerate it and it law does not tolerate it and it is high time that we educate is high time that we educate
society not to tolerate it society not to tolerate it either…”either…”
““The equality clause…The equality clause…
to see a society where women can freely play a to see a society where women can freely play a decisive role in the development of our people, decisive role in the development of our people, including their role as leaders in the process of including their role as leaders in the process of
changechange””
Mapisa-Nqakula, RSA Minister of Home Affairs.Mapisa-Nqakula, RSA Minister of Home Affairs.
The Situation TodayThe Situation Today
The new R.S.A. constitution guarantees women's rights and protection,
butin practice these ideas have not filtered
down to rural areas at all.
Indeed the HIV/AIDS pandemic in South Africa has highlighted the plight of women in rural
communities.
Often the victims of oppressive practices, malicious superstitions, violence, rape and
eviction have been led to believe they deserve the abuse they are subjected to and
are strongly encouraged to suffer their lot alone and in silence.
and…and…
OUR MEDIA PROJECT PROCESSOUR MEDIA PROJECT PROCESS
proposes to empower women to break the agonizing proposes to empower women to break the agonizing oath of silence, to become observers of their own oath of silence, to become observers of their own
situation, to talk out with clarity and courage, paving situation, to talk out with clarity and courage, paving the way for others to do likewise. the way for others to do likewise.
Breaking the Silence
To give African women the opportunity to To give African women the opportunity to transcend their past trauma..transcend their past trauma..
Freeing old patterns and allowing themselves to Freeing old patterns and allowing themselves to become the powerful and inspiring women who become the powerful and inspiring women who will join in Co-Creating the New South Africa.will join in Co-Creating the New South Africa.
…The Aim
The project comprises two components:The project comprises two components:
The Project
Video documentation and editing .1Video documentation and editing .1
Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy .2Somatic Experiencing trauma therapy .2
- The women will be taught- The women will be taught basic camera, film andbasic camera, film and interviewing skills. interviewing skills. - They will then document their- They will then document their own personal experiences. own personal experiences. - The final stage will be an editing- The final stage will be an editing camp. camp.
- These short films will be formed- These short films will be formed into a dynamic oral history archive.into a dynamic oral history archive.
Video Filming Skills
- A film archive will open the channels for- A film archive will open the channels for community sharing and discussion, in thecommunity sharing and discussion, in the rural villages and internationally.rural villages and internationally.- Film helps seeing, treating and then shedding- Film helps seeing, treating and then shedding behavioral patterns that trauma and abusebehavioral patterns that trauma and abuse imprint on women's nervous systemsimprint on women's nervous systems and souls.and souls.- It is a strong lobbying tool for social change,- It is a strong lobbying tool for social change, locally and nationally.locally and nationally.- Film making as a sense of modern day mastery- Film making as a sense of modern day mastery
?Why Films
?Why Self-Documentation
The oral history tool has been usedThe oral history tool has been usedworld over as a means to freeworld over as a means to free
people from the psychologicalpeople from the psychologicaleffects of personal trauma.effects of personal trauma.
?Why Self-Documentation
By telling her story a woman healsand transforms her experience from aplace of internal conflict and shame
.to one of honesty and courage
The woman film-maker will become anThe woman film-maker will become anobserver of her own society therebyobserver of her own society thereby
allowing her to step outside and view the allowing her to step outside and view the trauma (hers and others) in a radically trauma (hers and others) in a radically
differentdifferentand creative way.and creative way.
?Why Self-Documentation
?Why Self-Documentation
These proud women can then contribute constructively to their society
and effect changes that will, in turn, make other women's lives.safer and better
Simultaneously the women will undergo a Simultaneously the women will undergo a psychotherapeutic body-oriented method, psychotherapeutic body-oriented method,
which provides individuals and communities which provides individuals and communities with effective tools for healing trauma.with effective tools for healing trauma.
Somatic Experiencing Therapy
ToWo Group - [email protected] 15
- The Traumatic experience narrows the victim’s - The Traumatic experience narrows the victim’s concept of reality and cripples her ability to realizeconcept of reality and cripples her ability to realize her potential.her potential. - Untreated Trauma often leads to perpetuating the- Untreated Trauma often leads to perpetuating the cycle of aggression.cycle of aggression.
About Trauma
- The woman will be able to retrieve a healthy - The woman will be able to retrieve a healthy connection to her body, retrieve her sense connection to her body, retrieve her sense of control, raise her level of self esteem and of control, raise her level of self esteem and remember her innate ability to create her reality.remember her innate ability to create her reality. - This is a process that nourishes her resilience,- This is a process that nourishes her resilience, flexibility and deep listening.flexibility and deep listening.
:Through SE therapeutic process
We are working with a Rural We are working with a Rural Women MovementWomen Movement
RWMRWM 45,000 strong, grassroots, 45,000 strong, grassroots,
women's movement in women's movement in KwaZuluNatal.KwaZuluNatal.
RWM works with poor, indigenous, landless women,- RWM works with poor, indigenous, landless women,- advocating women's independent land rights and advocating women's independent land rights and
addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS in the family.addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS in the family.
RWM
TheThe ToWoToWo GroupGroup::filmmakers, video artists, psychotherapists filmmakers, video artists, psychotherapists
body therapists, body therapists, theater and movement artists.theater and movement artists.
Israelis experienced in the fields of Israelis experienced in the fields of trauma resolution and media documentation.trauma resolution and media documentation.
We are keen to share these areas of expertise We are keen to share these areas of expertise beyond the scope of our everyday lives to African beyond the scope of our everyday lives to African
women who would benefit greatly from themwomen who would benefit greatly from them..
?Who are we
Detailed plans ofDetailed plans of the project have been made.the project have been made.
We are currently registering ourselves as a We are currently registering ourselves as a non profit organisation in Israel.non profit organisation in Israel.
We are starting to raise funds and gather equipment.We are starting to raise funds and gather equipment.
Current stage of the project - Israel
Sizani Ngubane, RWM’s director, is creating Sizani Ngubane, RWM’s director, is creating the groups.the groups.
Women most suited and eager to undergo Women most suited and eager to undergo such training would then be able to take such training would then be able to take these insights and skills into their own these insights and skills into their own
communities.communities.
Contacts with South African individuals Contacts with South African individuals from the film industry, who are willing to from the film industry, who are willing to
support the project.support the project.
Current stage of the project - South Africa
We are looking for collaboration and We are looking for collaboration and financial support.financial support.
We need Help with funding for flights, We need Help with funding for flights, camp residence and board, insurance camp residence and board, insurance
and film equipmentand film equipment(that will remain there after the first camp within (that will remain there after the first camp within
the villages for the ongoing phase).the villages for the ongoing phase).
?What do we need
We are also looking for appropriate We are also looking for appropriate connections in Israel, South Africa and connections in Israel, South Africa and
abroad. abroad.
People who are interested in promoting and People who are interested in promoting and supporting projects of this naturesupporting projects of this nature
and providing basic practical help.and providing basic practical help.
.…and
The only world we humans can have is the one we create together through the
actions of our coexistence.Maturana and Varela,
“The Tree of Knowledge"
