Beyond Forgiving protagonists Ginn and Letlapa are coming to the UK! Come and meet them and listen to their story in person on the UK Speaking Tour ...
Initiatives of Change (IofC) and partners are delighted to announce that Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele will visit the UK from 18-30 May 2014. Ginn and Letlapa will visit London, Oxford, Bradford, Liverpool, Durham and Belfast to participate in private meetings and public screenings of the award-winning documentary Beyond Forgiving.
People will have the opportunity to ask questions and hear their story of forgiveness, healing and reconciliation and of moving from 'victimhood to survivor' in post-Apartheid South Africa.
Our hope is that, in combining public screenings of this new film with the chance to hear their powerful story first-hand, people will be inspired to reflect on how they too can seek to ‘build bridges’ across personal and community divides.
The UK tour is organised by IofC in partnership with The Forgiveness Project, The Wilderness Foundation other educational and non-governmental organisations (NGO) working in the field of healing and conflict resolution.
Ginn and Letlapa's Story
Beyond Forgiving, a beautifully crafted documentary and finalist at the Africa World Documentary Film Festival, presents Ginn and Letlapa's powerful South African story. Ginn’s only daughter was killed in the Heidelberg Tavern Massacre in Cape Town aged 23. Letlapa Mphahlele was at the time the Director of Operations of APLA (Azanian Peoples Liberation Army) who ordered the reprisal massacre in response to the killing of black school children.
How does one move from victimhood to survivor? - Ginn Fourie
Director, Imad Karam commenting on the making of the film says: 'As an example of the power of the human spirit, Ginn and Letlapa's story demonstrates how it is possible to work through pain and suffering and break away from the cycle of vengeance. In the film, Ginn says: “How does one move from victimhood to survivor?" Despite living through the horror of injustice, inequalities, violence and personal loss, it is possible to transcend the hurt of the past and go beyond forgiving to help others build bridges across divides. Their story shows us and inspires new ways of living.’
He adds: 'Our hope is that the Beyond Forgiving film and the UK tour will inspire people to be positive agents for change within their own communities and play their part in building a better world. Initiatives of Change believes that change comes from within and that individuals can take personal responsibility, whether it be in their own personal life or community, to make a real difference to help change society for the better.’
Register Today for Public Screenings
The tour includes six public screenings that starts in Oxford, Bradford, Liverpool, Durham, London and Belfast. The public screenings will allow people in different parts of the UK to ask their questions directly to Ginn and Letlapa as well as view the film. By screening Beyond Forgiving around the country the aim is to open up the debate to the general public, allowing people to reflect and join in the discussion on forgiveness, healing and reconciliation directly with the protagonists.
UK Tour Overview
The Beyond Forgiving screening in London on 27 May 2014 will be held at the Royal Geographic Society that marks the official celebration of the tour with a fundraising event to support Ginn and Letlapa’s visit and for the continuing initiatives and projects with partnership organisations. Ginn Fourie and Letlapa Mphahlele together set up the Lyndi Fourie Foundation, to facilitate conciliation across race, gender and differing ideologies.
A number of private meetings are also planned for Ginn and Letlapa. In London, Stephen Timms MP will host the All Party Parliamentary Groups (APPG) on faith and society, religion and conflict at the Houses of Parliament. Beyond Forgiving will be screened at South Africa House with invited religious, educational, community and political leaders. Community visits and private meetings are planned for London East End schools and inter-faith community groups. In Liverpool community projects and private meetings with individuals who share similar stories on forgiveness, healing and reconciliation. The tour ends in Belfast hosted by the International Conflict Research Institute (INCORE) who also share a vision for 'divided societies to be transformed from violent conflict to sustainable peace'. There will also be a visit to an interfaith school located on the Belfast’s peace line and a community youth outreach programme with peace building and restorative justice programmes in Belfast.
Join us on the Beyond Forgiving Tour
Over the next few weeks you can learn more about the Beyond Forgiving Tour. Find out about the places Ginn and Letlapa will be visiting, who they will be meeting and how you can get involved.
Join us and be part of the discussion on forgiveness, healing and reconciliation at the Beyond Forgiving events around the UK. Follow the conversation using Twitter #BeyondForgiving.
Tuesday, 27 May 2014 from 18:30 to 20:30
Royal Geographic Society
1 Kensington Gore
London, SW7 2AR
English