USING FILM TO DRIVE CONVERSATIONS ON GENDER EQUALITY

ICAPA Trust with support from the Canada Fund for Local Inititatives (CFLI) conducted a series of film-based community engagement activities aimed at promoting gender equality in the provinces of Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West and Harare. The screenings and focus group discussions were held on 10 October marking the International Day of the Girl Child as well as on 27 November and 12 December as part of the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence.

3 films were screened at Zimbiru and Chogugudza schools in peri-urban Domboshava dsitrict, Mashonaland East, 4 films were screened in Banket district in Mashonaland West and 3 films shown at Dzivaresekwa Community Hall 3 in Harare's Dzivaresekwa high-density suburb. The films addressed themes that included child marriage, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, economic exclusion and inheritance issues.

The project reached a diverse demographic, including young girls and boys, women, and men inclusive of community and religious leaders. Discussions revealed that despite increased awareness, significant levels of abuse against girls and women persist in Zimbabwean society. Participants also noted a gap between knowledge gained and the actual implementation of behaviour change, particularly among men. However, the dialogues also highlighted positive examples of male allies—men within communities who are actively working to challenge harmful norms and shift the narrative around entrenched cultural practices.

The Ambassador of Canada to Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi His Excellency Adler Aristidle attended the screenings in Domboshava and Banket, where he emphasized the global urgency of advancing girls’ rights. At the International Day of the Girl Child screening, he remarked:
“Despite progress made in improving the lives of adolescent girls over the past years, their rights are still being violated all over the world, not just in Zimbabwe.” He further urged collective action: “While progress is being made, it is too slow. We need to be part of the solution. We all must work together.”

At the Banket screening, speaking in his role as HeForShe Zimbabwe co-chair, His Excellency underscored the importance of male allyship in ending gender-based violence. He told those in attendance: “Change begins with dialogue, but it must lead to concrete steps—community programs, policy reforms and collective advocacy.”

 

ICAPA Trust noted that this initiative marks the second consecutive year that its film-for-advocacy programme has received support from the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives. The organisation notes that these screenings have helped to strengthen community dialogue and build momentum around advancing gender equality.