The Making of Tapestries of Hope

Local author, activist, and filmmaker, Michealene Risley, will be showing her latest documentary called Tapestries of Hope tomorrow night at Kepler's Books. 

The film covers the work of Human Rights Activist Betty Makoni as she works to help the thousands of girls and women who suffer from sexual violence in her native Zimbabwe. I spoke with Michealene about the film and her efforts to prevent violence against women around the globe.

What motivated you to make this documentary? 

When Betty Makoni and I met, we had an immediate and deep connection because we both are victims of child abuse. She told me of the work she is doing with the Girl Child Network which started because she was committed to helping girls who are raped because of a myth in her country that says a man can be cured of AIDS if he has sex with a virgin. I learned that babies as young as one year old have been violated. Betty has set up empowerment villages that offer refuge, counseling, and training to victims of rape and sexual violence.  She has done this in a country with no real government structure or support. I knew her story and the story of these poor girls and women had to be told.

What obstacles did you face in making this film?

The first was funding. Using my credit cards and seed funding from our initial producers, me and my assistant, Lauren Carara, took a high definition video camera, a small suitcase and we flew  to Zimbabwe and took raw footage for the film. When we returned, we were to raise funds from donors, investors and even online through Indigogo. Also, we received so many in-kind donations of services such as editing and publicity. It has truly been an example of the "little engine that could."

Beyond funding, we faced great risk to our lives in Zimbabwe.  After a week of visiting the empowerment villages and meeting the people who make Girl Child Network a reality, we were ready to return to the United States. However, we were arrested and interrogated for three days by Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Agency.

Were you tortured?

No, we were lucky. Our first day, after twelve hours of questioning, we were sent back to our hotel. But they insisted we return the next morning to retrieve our equipment. When we arrived, they fingerprinted us. We spent the day again being interrogated. It became clear they thought we were working for the United States' CIA. Eventually, the put us in a five by five holding tank with six other women: one who was in jail for being beaten by her husband, one who was dying of AIDS, one who was arrested for trying to cross the border. We spent the night listening to their stories. The next morning, we were able to bribe our way out of jail and were finally allowed to leave the country. The entire experience made me more committed than ever to fighting violence against women.

What do you hope to accomplish by making this film?

First, we want to get people to see this documentary and start talking about the issues of violence against women. We want to raise money to build more empowerment villages for the girls of Zimbabwe. Finally, this film has become a grassroots mobilizing tool for over forty women's groups who are trying to get Congress to sign the Violence Against Women Act.

What is the Violence Against Women Act?

I-VAWA is a bipartisan bill introduced by Senator John Kerry. It would support local efforts in up to 20 countries, assisting in public awareness and health campaigns; shelters; education, training, and economic empowerment programs.  And, it would also make the issue a diplomatic priority, making our government respond within three months to acts of violence against women and girls committed during conflict and war. In short, violence against women and girls will finally become a foreign policy imperative.

Short of making a documentary, what can one do to help prevent violence against women and girls?

We ask people to sign the petition to encourage Congress to pass I-VAWA. They can do so by going to www.Tapestriesofhope.com. We want them to consider donating to the girls of Zimbabwe. Finally, we hope they will come out to see the film and begin discussing this difficult issue. Amnesty International reports that one in three women around the world experience some sort of abuse in their lifetimes. Bringing the world wide scourge of violence against women to the forefront of our dialogues simply must happen.

Tapestries of Hope will be shown for one night at Kepler's Books. Advance tickets can be purchased here for $12. The movie begins at 7 p.m.