Christian Science Monitor feature + Women@Google Speech

Christian Science Monitor recently wrote a feature about filmmakers successfully leveraging their online / social network fans to help with fundraising, and Tapestries was featured in this story. An excerpt:

Filmmaker Michealene Cristini Risley has connected with activists concerned about sexual abuse by blogging about her experiences, which include being arrested and detained in Africa for filming without a journalist’s permit. “[The documentary] goes after that niche audience that is aware of the issue, that is somewhat socially conscious,” says Anand Chandrasekaran, one of the film’s producers.

The film is well into post production and preparing to be completed in the Fall. Also, director Michealene Risley was invited to the Women@Google series, which has featured Sen.Hillary Clinton among others in the past. Below is the video from the talk:

"Tapestries of Hope" DONATION RAFFLE!

Dear Tapestries of Hope Supporters!

“Tapestries of Hope” has teamed up with IndieGoGo to raise significant funds for the making of this important film.

We have some GREAT prizes in addition to VIP Perks if you donate by MAY 1 on INDIEGOGO.COM (www.indiegogo.com/tapestriesof hope)

For all donations of $100.00 or more, you will be eligible to receive one of the five following prizes:
- 1 three-month membership (there are 3 of these available) to Women’s Independent Cinema (www.wicinema.com)
- A brand new Play Station 2
- An assortment of Chocolates from Seattle Chocolate Company

For all donations of $500.00 or more, we will enter those names into an additional SPECIAL RAFFLE. The lucky winner will win a private screening for your friends and family with the director Michealene Risley, who will travel to your home with a DVD of the completed film in hand. There will be a Q and A session afterwards.

**The raffle drawings will take place once we've completed this round of funding. Anonymous donors will not be included in the raffle.

This is also a reminder that you can receive a tax deduction on your donation. However, you MUST let us know if you would like to receive this after you donate.

Please go to www.indiegogo.com/tapestriesofhope to donate and help us reach our goals.

Even if it’s 5 dollars, it will help tremendously. Please take the time.

Please forward this message to all friends, family, and co-workers who might also like to help.

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

The “Tapestries of Hope” Team

#1 on YouTube

2007 was not an easy year - as a lot of supporters know - for the project. After a challenging pre-production schedule during which many who understood the subject matter and/or the geo-political dynamics in Zimbabwe recommended against doing the project - the crew ran into some 'difficulties' in Zimbabwe during production. As a result, all blogs written during the shoot had to be temporarily removed out of concern for safety of director Michealene C Risley & the crew!

We've come a long way since then and are very excited about where the project is headed in the next several weeks and months. Here is a re-cap at some of the key recent milestones:

- Huffington Post carried a series of blogs written by Michealene Risley describing the incidents during the shoot.

- The Tapestries trailer (recently updated for better readability) is featured as the #1 video under "Film and Animation" Category on YouTube. Stay tuned for more teasers!

- IndieGoGo, a new community site which connects filmmakers with their fan bases and supporters and launching at an exclusive Sundance 2008 event and party, will feature Tapestries as a launch partner. Other filmmakers signed up include Steven Starr (For Love or Water, 2008 Sundance selection), M dot Stange (We are the Strange, 2007 Sundance selection), and Chris Roberts (The Believer, 2003 Sundance Grand Jury Prize Winner).

- This blog recently won the New Communications Review’s ‘Award of Excellence’ due to the live blogs Michealene posted while in production in Zimbabwe.

- Our Facebook Group “Silent Bravery: Women of Africa” has close to 1,000 members and our continued collaborations include Stanford University to make headway on the social initiative leading up to the film's release.

- Keplers' bookstore in Menlo Park and La Belle Day Spa in Palo Alto are carrying a line of silver jewelry (also available online at http://savehope.blogspot.com) that designer Janelle Gibson co-launched with Freshwater Haven (the non-profit side of Fresh Water Spigot) to support the project.

We look forward to your continued support!

Cinematical covers TAPESTRIES Trailer launch

Cinematical, the top blog covering independent film, makes a mention of the recent Tapestries trailer launch on YouTube. From the post by Kim Voynar:

While it's always fun to enjoy a big, effects-laden blockbuster or the latest rom-com at the theater, it's little films like this, driven by the filmmaker's passion for the project, that really speak to the dedication it takes to make a doc. like this.

Stay tuned for news and updates throughout the year! Contact us to get involved!

Other blog mentions about Tapestries trailer launch:

- George Karahalios' blog
- Srihari's blog
- TED Fellow Ethan Zuckerman's blog (I left my heart in Accra)
- AfricanLoft feature article

An interesting week...

Admittedly, the last week has been a crazy one. Director calling a producer from a Zimbabwe prison and crew detained for 24 hours after day-long interrogations isn't exactly dream scenario for any project. Here's an excerpt from one of the press reports:

Internationally-acclaimed child activist Betty Makoni was arrested in Harare on Tuesday. Two other women - American filmmakers - were also arrested on the same day.

According to media reports, 15 state security agents descended on the home of Betty Makoni on 21 August 2007. They arrested her for allegedly bringing in foreigners (the two American women) to cover Zimbabwean issues without state accreditation. The two women were actually documenting the experiences of Girl Child Network that enabled the organization to win a World Prize on Child Rights for Zimbabwe.

If you are a member of the media and would like to contact Michealene Risley, feel free to email michealene(at)freshwaterspigot(dot)com directly for inquiries or if you would like to schedule an interview.

The crew did come back with footage from filming at the end of 3 very difficult days.

UPDATE:
Interview With Michealene Risley (on Voice of America)
Listen to Interview With Betty Makoni

POSTCARDS FROM AFRICA - #8 of Michealene Risley's live-blogs from Zimbabwe

Ed. Note: Sincere apologies for the delay in posting this. These blogs were written during the production/filming of TAPESTRIES OF HOPE in Zimbabwe. Between sporadic electricity in Africa and getting to blogs back in California, we lost a couple of days. Afterwards, the crew was arrested and interrogated by the Zimbabwe Police, and the blogs were temporarily taken down out of concern for their safety.

8/19/07
A train approaches and I awake to its distant horn. The roosters' persistent crow prohibits me from further sleep. I give up and climb out from the bed. My mind begins to race so it is impossible to attempt to sleep again. It is 3:40am in Rusape, Zimbabwe.

Betty and I stayed up last night, sprawled out by the fire in the Lodge's community room. We talked of our husbands and kids and the difficulty of being away from them. She is a force of energy and commitment and I am humbled by her.

Yesterday was a day that has forever shifted my level of consciousness. The day started early at the market in Rusape. I ached to tape the activities but it was too dangerous. Many of the rural people support President Mugabe, even though they suffer greatly. So, they support Mugabe's ban of journalists and those documenting their way of life. Ru, the matron who oversees the Girl Child Empowerment Village, tells me a story about a man who pulled out a camera here at a filling station and was chased away. Camera smashing by the police is a common practice.

So, we just observe as we enter the market. Lauren, who is helping me to tell this story, is very tentative to the idea of bringing out the camera at all. But nonetheless, we both get out of the car without cameras. The market is a hub of activities as people are constantly moving and carrying food from local farms. There is far more food here than I have seen in Harare.

Our driver, Concelia, tells me that it is because the area is less populated and is in close proximity to the farms. Young women carry sugar cane and babies strapped to their backs at the same time. Ru purchases a variety of goods quickly and confidently. The back of the car is suddenly filled with fresh vegetables and sugar cane.

We arrive back quickly at the Mugabodo Lodge. I take a walk with the camera. Where we are staying it is much easier to use the camera. These areas of Rusapa do not want to have cameras recording anything that would be negative on the President, but in the residential areas it is okay.

Every person walking on the road stops to greet me. I wonder if it is my white skin or the camera but either way, I am reminded of the friendliness and hospitality of these people. There is something unique and interesting about the lack of any white people here.

Betty and our crew eventually get started to the empowerment village. It is a little later than we had planned. The traditional healers have arrived by bus and are milling around outside the main hut waiting for us. This room is called the "Princess Room". There is no electricity in this room, but a fire pit lies at the center. I am a bit dismayed that the fire is not going, as it is very cold here. The "Princess Room" is the hut where all greetings are made. It is the sacred place where little girls come to tell their stories to the princess. There is an old lady here, whose job is nothing but taking care of this small hut.

After introductions we move to the "Women as Role Models" museum of achievements hut. It is similar to the Princess hut but much larger. There is much formality in this culture and I have to remind myself of this, as we go through another round of introductions. I thank the healers for coming from so far away. The traditional healers dressed in their native dress begin a dance that enchants us all. We then begin the questioning.

As many of you know I came to Africa to explore the increased rape and sexual abuse here and the myths and traditions associated with this culture that have been detrimental to its eradication.

As we explored the issues, the conversation get complicated and heated. The local language here is Shona and in the midst of the debate Betty stopped translating. I struggled to decipher what was going on, with a few scattered comments from Betty. I become acutely aware of the dark looks I am getting from some of the traditional healers. A crazy, naïve thought goes through my head. I am suddenly concerned about a hex being placed on me. My imagination runs through various snippets I have heard about witch doctors here. I am suddenly sober.

The arguments continue as the healers deny any responsibility for the widely held belief that men with AIDS should rape a virgin to cure their illness. It gets worse as we discuss the "avenging spirit" practice here. In tribes, if a man kills someone from another tribe, they must provide a girl child to replace the one killed. This is considered fair compensation. She is to bear children for that tribe until a boy child is born. Then she can go back to her tribe. The practice not only uses women as a commodity but increases the rape and sexual abuse in Zimbabwe.

The heated debate continues and Betty listens to all of the voices. She then whispered to me, "I am going to crush them" and stands up to speak. She is passionate and clear as she addresses their denial and platitudes and makes it clear that there are laws now in place and they will be jailed. She speaks a bit of English throughout and I struggle to understand her. As she sits down, I notice the traditional healers are very angry. Some of them walk out of the hut.

The last to speak is Mapako, second to Chief Makoni. Again, the passion and anger are apparent even through the language barrier. When he stops speaking, I glance at the healers. All of their heads are bowed and their eyes are cast to the floor. Betty whispers, "He has told them to learn how to tell the truth". The group gets up to go to the Greeting Hut. It is time for the meal. The traditional healers stick together in the corner of the room and the tension is high. After the meal, I leave to go see the girls. I leave Betty to this situation.

More to come…

Michealene Risley

POSTCARDS FROM AFRICA - #6 of Michealene Risley's live-blogs from Zimbabwe

Ed. Note: Sincere apologies for the delay in posting this. These blogs were written during the production/filming of TAPESTRIES OF HOPE in Zimbabwe. Between sporadic electricity in Africa and getting to blogs back in California, we lost a couple of days. Afterwards, the crew was arrested and interrogated by the Zimbabwe Police, and the blogs were temporarily taken down out of concern for their safety.

8/18/07
Sleep had eluded me in this barren beauty of a God-forsaken place. My mind rocks back and forth with the intensity of an animal caged. I am imprisoned, myself.

Last night in the comfort of a bed, I vacillated between feeling grateful and ashamed. How was I lucky enough to be born in a place where the very basics of survival come easy? Why me? Why not someone else?

I am grateful that my life has been less about these hardships, these difficulties that my parents faced. Both of my parents have scars from the Great Depression. My father started selling newspapers on the street corners at five years old. There were nine children in his house, every penny counted. My mother's father died in a gas explosion at Chrysler Corporation. Her mother became a widow with three children and no job. So I understand and grew up with some understanding of hardship and suffering. But nothing compares to the suffering I see here.

My feelings of personal shame run deeper. That shame has to do with the country I was born in: America. It is my country, and my next-door neighbors', and the people who live across the street from us. We have a serious disease that is more ravaging than the illness and poverty I see here: apathy. I despair, even in Zimbabwe, of the world's opinion of us. The voices of Zimbabweans are strangled by persecution and poverty. Our voices are forgotten behind a fascination and celebrity adulation, by drug-induced athletes who are poor role models and our ever elusive thirst to make money and buy things.

I cannot comprehend why the world continues to fight against the equality of women and making personal choices about our bodies. In America, the majority supports the right to choose - yet, a small portion of people continue to force their opinions on us all. Their arrogance makes them blind.

A woman yesterday in Harare took her newborn, placed it in a plastic bag and put it in the garbage to die. When arrested, she was asked why she killed her child. She said that it was impossible to feed the child. The Magistrate is sending her for a mental evaluation and he will not address the complexity of the issues; in this way, his response is very American. Issues are not black and white but with many shades of grey. The woman did not want her child to suffer from starvation - I understand that. What a horrible decision to have to consider at all!

We can send spaceships into space and have Rovers land on Mars but we can't stop the rape and sexual abuse of women on this planet. And because I mention this, someone will insist that I am a feminist, like the word is a slur and the request is unimaginable. I am confused.

We were in Chitungwiza yesterday. I saw this precious little five year old. She came in the Girl Child Network white van with "Mr. Rescue". That is the nickname his fellow GCN people call him. The girl was tentative. She had a light brown dress and limped noticeably as she walked towards us from the car. If you look into her eyes, you could not help but feel the pain. She had these knowing brown eyes that were shell-shocked. Her stepfather had raped her. She is being tested for HIV and has genital warts on her vagina that are so bad that it has forced her to limp. I wanted to weep and hold her in my arms and take her home with me. I wanted to promise her the world was going to change, that we adults were smart and that we could stop these acts and educate people so that this never happens again. I had to stop the words from tumbling from my mouth unheeded. I can't promise what I cannot deliver.

"Practice what you preach", I tell my boys. So, I stayed silent and held my grief.

Michealene Risley

POSTCARDS FROM AFRICA - #5 of Michealene Risley's live-blogs from Zimbabwe

Ed. Note: Sincere apologies for the delay in posting this. These blogs were written during the production/filming of TAPESTRIES OF HOPE in Zimbabwe. Between sporadic electricity in Africa and getting to blogs back in California, we lost a couple of days. Afterwards, the crew was arrested and interrogated by the Zimbabwe Police, and the blogs were temporarily taken down out of concern for their safety.

8/17/07
We drove two hours from Harare yesterday to the rural town of Rusapa. The land is as incredibly rich and beautiful as the souls of the Zimbabwean people. We drove by rolling hills and spots of trees. There were patches of the hills that had been scorched by fire. Spring has just begun here, so there is still much brown along the countryside. There was a Zebra munching grass in a reserve along the way. We were one of three cars on the road, the whole two hours. There seems a forced isolation to these people caused by the hardships of their country.

Betty pointed out that much of the land we drove past was at one time all thriving crops. In fact, much of the area we are driving through was farmland a few years ago. In neighboring towns, the lack of food and petrol was severe. We stopped to buy 36 loaves of bread for the girls, but there was nothing else to buy in the stores. When staple foods arrive, long lines form quickly. We were lucky to have gotten there as the delivery arrived. A couple of buses were broken down along the route. People were milling about outside of the stranded vehicles. The stranded riders either start walking from a broken down vehicle or hope that another bus will come along. Many times they are stranded overnight. Automobile and bus parts are in short supply here. Betty has a couple of vehicles that remain in a shop waiting for parts. They have been there for two years.

Zimbabwe's current population is about 13 million people. Betty's tribe, the Makoni's, are the largest tribe of Zimbabwe. Their land stretches from Macheke to the Osborne Dam. Betty had to get permission to have us come to the village. We are the first white people to be allowed to come to the village in 6 months. She is also a princess here, and she is revered. Back when GCN started, she worked out a deal with Chief Makoni to create a girls empowerment village on the land. At that time she had 10 girls clubs already established.

As we drove up, I saw a number of huts set up somewhat of a circle. The kids of circle my four year old would draw. They huts were all painted a bright boy blue. Betty said she made the decision to paint the huts a color that had always been associated with boys. She wanted to take back the color for girls. "Blue is the color of the sky, and girls should know that anything is possible because there are no limits in the sky".

As I sat on the stone steps waiting for everyone to gather, I looked out over the mountain. It was stunning. I think God must have been born in this spot. The empowerment village sits on the mountain of Chitsotso, which means Fire Wood. It is breathtaking with its panoramic view.

We went in to the "greeting hut", which is circular with a fire pit in the middle. There was a feeling of sacredness in this place. A marble shelf held offerings and carvings. A woven basket was there as well, as when someone puts an offering in the basket it is thought to multiply. The girls all came in to pay their homage to "Princess Betty". One of the tribal elders came to ensure that all people present paid their respects to Betty.

On this day as well, there was a workshop being done with journalists from various parts of Africa. The Girl Child Network set the workshop up to sensitize journalists to the particular struggles of these young girls, and explain how to write and report about it in away to educate the public about what exactly the GCN does.

We stopped in the workshop a bit and introduced ourselves. There was a woman, Petra… from the African University here as well. She had lots of questions for Betty and needed some private time so I wandered around with a camera in hand. The girls were curious and I began to videotape them and then play it back. They were delighted.

A meal was prepared and served to us in the "greeting hut". The food was delicious. I am not much of a risk-taker on international trips, but the local greenery called Covo was rich with flavor, color, and taste of spinach. It is quite good.

Afterwards both the journalists and are team listen as the courageous girls stand up to tell their personal stories. Betty is a brilliant marketer. She understands that if her voice is going to be heard she needs to get others to help spread the word. There is so much widespread abuse that it is almost impossible to comprehend. It is the father who pays his wife to keep quiet as he rapes their 6 year old. It is the girl that is orphaned and ends up in the sexual slavery market to survive. Betty rescues all of these girls. Truly remarkable and tireless. I watch her field phone calls and requests of help on her cell phone by the minute. She is many people's only hope. I do not know how she does it. GCN is struggling to survive and she is the director, chief fundraiser and social worker.

There are so many cultural and traditional issues here with regards to gender. Not only is there the battle to examine and destroy the myths but also much of these beliefs are deeply entrenched in the culture. It will take a lot of time.

In this particular culture there are issues of the Traditional healers counseling men with aids that if they have sex with a virgin, they will cure AIDS. Many here believe that the blood of a menstruating female can bring them luck and riches. There is a long held belief here that once you marry, you wife's sisters are fair game for sex. They are part of your family. Part of this has to do with the practice of Polygamy. There seems no barrier between wives and sisters and incest in not truly understood by many. In fact, I have never heard the word here. Obviously there is a lot of work to do.

Today will be an interesting day. The Makoni tribe has called Traditional Healers to come sit with us. Even more interesting is that Chief Makoni believes that "virginity testing" can stop AIDS from happening. He is in favor of Virginity Testing. The process goes like this. A girl is told to strip, her legs are spread and they determine she is virgin by inserting a finger a portion of the way into the vagina to ensure that the hymen is still intact. Another way they do this is to look at the vagina and see if the hymen is pink. If it is not, there are many consequences.

It is hard to imagine that this practice happens anywhere in the world today. Many of these issues that I am exploring happen in the rural areas of this country. They traditional practices rarely happen in the big cities. However, rape is rampant both in large cities and the outlying areas. Betty is bombarded with requests for help. I am trying to talk to her about having her staff help out more, because she is on call 24 hours a day. The NGO's here are not much help with what she is focused on. She needs help!

More to come...

Michealene Risley

POSTCARDS FROM AFRICA - #4 of Michealene Risley's live-blogs from Zimbabwe

Ed. Note: Sincere apologies for the delay in posting this. These blogs were written during the production/filming of TAPESTRIES OF HOPE in Zimbabwe. Between sporadic electricity in Africa and getting to blogs back in California, we lost a couple of days. Afterwards, the crew was arrested and interrogated by the Zimbabwe Police, and the blogs were temporarily taken down out of concern for their safety.

8/16/07
Yesterday was our first day in Zimbabwe. We were picked up by our driver Johannes. He is a slender, happy guy with a big heart. He has worked for Betty and GCN since the beginning. I have taken to nicknaming him Johannesberg, like the city. He laughs at me. He took us to meet with Betty at the Girl Child Network Headquarters. As we drove along in the car, I started shooting some of the local scenery from the backseat. At one point, we stopped on the side of the road so that we could get something from the trunk. I noticed that a small red car in front of us was now reversing back to where we had parked.

“Johannes,” I said. “Look at this car.”

I wasn’t expecting for the car to get a ticket, but it was certainly a dangerous thing to do on a busy road. He looked and quickly said, “Ah! It is my wife.”

Since we had already parked and Johannes had went to talk to his wife., I took out the camera onto the sidewalk. I started capturing cars and trucks on the camera as they zoomed buy overloaded with people. The gasoline crisis is so bad that people were stuffing themselves like Sardines in the back of every available vehicle.

After a few minutes, I went to Johannes to introduce myself to his wife. He quickly asked me for a business card and got one. I passed this onto the woman driver and grabbed her hand to introduce myself. She was not smiling back. I was surprised. Johannesburg is such a gregarious man that I could not imagine him married to this woman. She nodded at me, as she fingered my business card between her hands.

Tipping her head in the air as if dismissing me she said “maybe we will see you at the Girl Child Network.” When we got back in the car, Johannes said, “That was the Central Intelligence Office (CIO) in Zimbabwe. That is the equivalent of your FBI/CIA.” “What?” I asked incredously. “And you gave them my card…?”

Besides our introduction to the CIO, the day was incredible. I will share more of that later on. I can say that between the five-year-old who was limping because of genital herpes that she got from her step-father, and the grandmother who sat on the cement with seven starving grandchildren and nowhere to sleep, I will never be the same again. I scrambled through my bag to find anything to give her. Money does not help, as there is no food to buy. I found some beef jerky to give her and the kids. I don’t think I will every eat beef jerky again and not see her face.

As I mentioned earlier, the gasoline crisis is already bad. There are only two working filling stations in Harare. There are large groups of people at intersections that wait for buses; sometimes the transport comes, sometimes it does not. Many people have to walk for miles to get home or they wait in the dark for hours in hopes that a bus will come.

The food shortage is bad as well. There are lines everywhere when certain foods come in: sugar, oil, and bread - basic necessities. The grocery stores are empty. The government is arresting those who hoard goods. The Herald, a Zimbabwe newspaper, reported that one man was arrested yesterday for hoarding food. Those people caught selling goods on the black market are fined and sometimes arrested. The lines look familiar to me only through the photos I have seen of the depression in America. It is sad.

As much as there are difficult times here in Zimbabwe, it is a beautiful country. Though there as many people fleeing in desperation, there are those who love Zimbabwe and refuse to leave. Their love for this country shows on their face and through their stubborn refusal to leave. This is the part of Zimbabwe that I have fallen in love with. It is the kind of character that emanates from Betty as she risks her life to save families at risk in a country where there is nowhere to turn or escape. People like Betty should be the kind of people we celebrate in the world, the kind that survive by helping others.

More tomorrow...

Michealene Risley

POSTCARDS FROM AFRICA - #3 of Michealene Risley's live-blogs from Zimbabwe

Ed. Note: Sincere apologies for the delay in posting this. These blogs were written during the production/filming of TAPESTRIES OF HOPE in Zimbabwe. Between sporadic electricity in Africa and getting to blogs back in California, we lost a couple of days. Afterwards, the crew was arrested and interrogated by the Zimbabwe Police, and the blogs were temporarily taken down out of concern for their safety.

8/15/07
Johannesburg Airport was a wild cornucopia of bright colors and an assortment of people from all over the world. This airport is one of the major hubs on the continent; there was an electric, contagious energy about it. A woman’s voice with a British accent continued talking intermittently on the loudspeakers. “Frankfurt passengers Rigell please report to your departure gate, Paris flight arriving at Gate 75”. The sounds, the languages, and the colors of the native dress were almost overwhelming.

Headscarves, native drums, books on Nelson Mandela were everywhere. A collective pride echoed through the terminals. You could not walk ten feet within the airport without an employee that was ready to help you. The airport staff wore these vests over their clothing, with a faint glow from the yellow reflection tape; the kind of vests we might see on traffic workers in the United States.

Everywhere I walked, people actively asked where you were going. Two women had just come back from a Safari in Zimbabwe. They had hand-carved walking canes, with the signature of their maker, Jobu, at the end of the stick. There were lion teeth marks, as well! Both women lifted the sticks to show me the teeth marks. Apparently, the lions liked to chew on the sticks when people would take their walks. I could not imagine how that actually worked, but nonetheless it fueled my imagination.

One tall young man asked me if I was to go hunting in Zimbabwe. No, I nodded, surprised that I could consider this option. I asked, “What would they do with the carcass after it is shot?” He shrugged, “I do not know, but after you shoot the lion, you take a picture.”

After almost two days of traveling, we finally boarded the last plane for Harare. The plane was small and somewhat empty. I immediately noticed the difference in the atmosphere on the plane as we prepared for landing. As we descended, I looked out the window of the plane and noticed barely any lights; no skyline, not even a sunset. Compared to the tall skyscrapers and the “scene” of Johannesburg, this was quite a shift. It felt like we had just left Downtown Oz, and slid into a bad B-movie. I could physically feel the change as well.

My assistant Lauren and I looked at each other a bit nervously. When we departed the plane, again there were many airport employees in yellow traffic vests, but no one was smiling. Each of them lined up against the wall - suspicion their only form of greeting. At this point, I began to question my own sanity. Of course, I would not go to a country that was not safe...I thought.

When I went through immigration the woman asked me “whom are you visiting.” I quietly said “Betty.” The worker looked up, “Betty Who?” I said “Betty Makoni,” hesitantly, not sure if that response would land me in jail. She said, “The one that does the Girl Child Network?” “Yes” I nodded solemnly. She nodded and let me through.

After discovering one bag of luggage was missing we filed a claim, and immediately went out to meet Betty. She had her hair curled up, looking quite glamorous, and beside her was her husband, Ivan. Ivan loaded the luggage in their car. Like England, we left the airport driving on the left side of the road, something that always takes getting use to. The streets were deserted. Betty said, “It is like a graveyard here; no one is about because of the fear. It was more than deserted; there was a palpable damper in the air.

Betty reiterated that we are safe. She has constant protection with her, probably the best in the country. “I have been under surveillance from the government for at least three years”, she said. I anxiously look back over my shoulder.

Investigative reporter, I am not.

More soon...

Michealene Risley

POSTCARDS FROM AFRICA - #2 of Michealene Risley's live-blogs from Zimbabwe

Ed. Note: Sincere apologies for the delay in posting this. These blogs were written during the production/filming of TAPESTRIES OF HOPE in Zimbabwe. Between sporadic electricity in Africa and getting to blogs back in California, we lost a couple of days. Afterwards, the crew was arrested and interrogated by the Zimbabwe Police, and the blogs were temporarily taken down out of concern for their safety.

8/14/07
I am often asked about how I got involved with Betty Makoni. As I sit here, I laugh about it because I had never intended on going to Africa. Not because it isn’t a beautiful continent. On the contrary, I’ve dreamed of going on a Safari, before all of the animals disappear and to actually see the beauty of this great continent. But, after two serious bouts of parasites, one in the Phillipines and one in the West Indies, I had decided to stay closer to home.

Last year in late September, photographer, writer, and friend, Paola Gianturco and I met for a luncheon at the Global Fund for Women in San Francisco. I believe they were honoring Lorraine Jobs for her work and support of the fund. As we had lunch, Paola told me the amazing story of this group of young rape victims and the feisty, courageous lady named Betty Makoni, who had become their protector. I was shocked by the number of rapes and abuse in Africa and of the myth that raping a virgin could cure a man of AIDS. I was horrified that this ignorance was destroying so many children and families. Many times, fathers will rape their daughters in desperation. I thought for a few minutes about what an inspirational story it would be. Yes. But, no way was I going to go to Africa to film it. That was the end of that.

A few months later, as a part of the book tour for my co-authored book “This Is Not The Life I Ordered”, we spoke at a UCSF gender studies luncheon. At this event, I happened to sit next to Amy Levine, head of the program, and her sister Gloria Simoneaux.

After the lunch, Gloria asked if we could have lunch; she seemed to need to speak with me and was persistent. When we finally met, she showed me the incredible work she was doing over in Africa. She had been using art as therapy for kids, creating schools, and making a huge difference. Once again, the plight of the girls in Africa came up and I politely dismissed it. I have three boys that I love deeply and I did not want to take any unnecessary risks.

In late March, I received a call from Paola again (damn her! :-) ) Betty was going to be speaking in San Francisco for IDEX and Paola invited me to attend. I was anxious to hear Betty speak, so Paola and I planned to meet at the event and have dinner afterwards.

To better prepare myself for the event, I went on-line and did some research on Betty and the Girl Child Network. I also called IDEX to see if there was a way to meet Betty face-to-face. Now you might think that I had already decided to do the film at this point but instead, I really was just so fascinated by the courage of this woman that I had to meet her. I didn’t imagine that it would actually happen.

I believe that there are no accidents in life. At least I have come to see that in my own. In less than a week, I found myself sitting across from Betty at breakfast with the help of Sara Dotlich at IDEX. Betty was every bit as compelling and passionate as Paola had described. That night, I heard her speak and found myself quietly crying. It was then I started to have that conversation in my head, “She is incredible, but I am not going to Africa. Maybe I can send someone there, and I can start work from back in the States. I have to…” it was then that I heard a deep soul-filled laugh. I looked around, there was no one standing there. I got quiet…and finally got the message.

I looked up at the sky and said, “Okay, Okay, I get it. I’m going! You don’t have to hit me with a two by four.”

Michealene Risley

"I AM DAILY ROBBED OF MY INNOCENT GIRLS" by Betty Makoni in memory of little girls who died as a result of rape

Death, death like Brutal Brutus
Remember the historical bloody murder
So cruel and so unkind
Uncaring and no courtesy
You come like a robber by the night
To rob me of my passion, my lifeline
My girls my little innocent girls
I am daily robbed of my innocent girls

Two of them I remember clinging to breath
Faith the little baby girl from Rusape rural
Watched her taken from the freezing cold
Just wrapped round with torn rags
By the arms grandma held her
She wept endlessly, flows and flows of tears
I cuddled her into my own hands
Into the car we drove to the graveyard
There thousands of other little girls heard me make them prayers
If no life dignity , then last body viewing your last dignity Feyi
I saluted you my innocent girl, Faith
I am daily robbed of my innocent girls

From Norton, mid July 2004 broke news of one Norton girl
He raped her, brutally murdered her
He wanted her genital organs for ritual purposes
Such beauty, innocence swamped into a coffin
What loss, grief, death, murder, brutal murder
The worst murder, rapist he is
Some let my little girls live on after rape, the first murder
This one raped, extracted bodily parts, murdered her
Reason not pronounced for this is brutal murder
Pain, panic, my little girls perish just so
Oh my own little girls, my innocent little girls my own life
I am daily robbed of my innocent girls

Wish they were all here to sing, “Betty Makoni----“
Like you they initially murdered me
Memory from Chivhu murdered , infected with the deadly virus
Died, too scared to break silence, too intimidated
Simply said, “ Girl Child Network should continue”
Spirit lingers on my little girls, so brave so strong
Endured it all, injured you were, reason not pronounced
Male dominance, overpowering the most vulnerable
I am robbed of my little innocent girls

Totally robbed, just remnants and girls’ memories
Daily raped, used, abused, overused
Daily cornered, sexually harassed, suffocated
Reason not pronounced, just brutal rape and murder
As if we only the desires men hunger for
So many infected and affected by AIDS
They think they are a cure for AIDS
How dare I let go robbers, rapists of my little innocent girls
Next time you rob, you rape one of them
If not death then curse you for life
My sword up, my dagger up
Communities swords up, their daggers up
Up forever by our front doors
To stop this robbery, brutal murder of my innocent girls
Sick and tired of this daily robbery of my innocent girls

One day we assemble my little girls
Raped, half murdered from all walks of life
With tears flowing down our cheeks
We want justice, compensation and compassion
Wear your black in memory of Faith, Memory, Isabel and them all
For they died, fighting, struggling
March we will do to the fathers of this country
Every bail should be reversed
Raped, half murdered by rapists, murderers
Show them our tattered torn genital organs
What brutality, cruelty, for murder is rape
Rape is murder, oh no murder is rape
I am daily robbed of my innocent little girls

Way home, way to school
Tie them innocent souls to your hands
Tell them Betty Makoni witnesses so many rape cases of minors daily, hourly
She mourns, weeps even more and more
This is death of my passion, robbed of my constituency
Armour of my activism, my little girls, my little innocent girls
I am very bitter, angered, evoked
For I am robbed of my little innocent girls

(This poem was written by Betty Makoni – Director of Girl Child Network in memory of little girls who died as a result of rape)

Betty Makoni putting a stop to Zimbabwe's rapes

At the end of the summer, I am planning on going to Zimbabwe to film a documentary about Betty Makoni and the Girl Child Network. Betty is an incredible human being. I came to know Betty in March of 2007 through an introduction by my friend, Paola Gianturco. Last year, Paola and I had gone to a Global Fund for Women event in San Francisco. It was at that luncheon that she had mentioned the plight of young girls in Zimbabwe. She spoke of Africa’s traditional healers who were guiding AIDS infected men in Zimbabwe to rape virgins to cure their disease; this includes their own daughters. I was horrified, but having had tremendous luck in catching every exotic parasite when I traveled internationally, I did not even think of going to Africa.

About a year later, Paola invited me to meet her at the International Women’s Day 2007 event presented by IDEX at the World Affairs Council in San Francisco, featuring Betty Makoni. When I called IDEX for a ticket, Sarah Dotlich, who is the Africa Program Director, answered the phone. Less than a week later and the morning of Betty’s speaking event, I found myself sitting across from Betty Makoni and Sara. Wow. It happened so fast. Betty stood with this big hug smile and lots of black hair, pulled together in a pony tail. I could feel her determination, and she was so genuine in her passion and beliefs. We shared our childhood stories and talked about sharing her story with the world. I gave her my short film on child-sexual abuse, "Flashcards" and she held it to her chest. The act of clutching those materials to her chest was so endearing to me! She actually valued a film and curriculum that helped educated people on abuse, something that has not been my experience in the United States. I suggested I ship the materials to Zimbabwe so that she did not have to carry them with her. She said no. She did not want them out of her hands.

That night, she was introduced at the World Affairs Council event by Walter Turner, who is a professor of History and Ethnic Studies at the College of Marin and Chair of the Department. He is also the President of the Board of Directors for Global Exchange. As these two individuals engaged in conversation and I listened to Betty talk, I started to weep. I don’t know what made me cry, as I am a public speaker and I talk about my own sexual abuse as a child to large audiences often. I even co-authored a book called, “This Is Not The Life I Ordered”, which talks about my abuse. Here I was being reduced to a puddle by her fierce protectiveness of the girls and her absolute conviction. She didn’t get caught up in the feminist bullshit that many of us do in the United States. “Women have a voice” she says as a matter of fact, “and I am going to die using it if I have to”.

Since Betty has gone home, we have been coordinating the details and logistics for the trip and documentary. I have recently asked her to start sharing her daily stories so that I can share them with others. I get notes from her when she has electricity. Last week she wrote me from her computer in the dark. Here is what she wrote:

“Today, I am out to help in the burial of a ten year old girl. She died today of HIV and AIDS as a result of rape. Her body has been lying in the home for 6 hours because due to poverty they could not afford the funds to hire a truck to take the body away. I arrive there at 10 pm and give some help. Tomorrow the uncle buries her and what pain I have to see such innocence lost. I will pay my courtesy call to the girl and try to make her a decent burial and eternal rest. Then this Sunday in Rural Mutasa, we will go to a village where a church leader allegedly raped 7 girls and he is behind bars. Two of them were herding cattle and one girl took her torn clothes with blood stains and this must have traumatized a lot of people-it is so sad.

I will be back on Monday and pass through the Girls Empowerment Village and meet rape survivors you will all meet when you come.

I will email about my experiences and what I would have seen. This is part of what I enjoy doing, being in the remote parts of the country listening to many stories and offering help wherever I can. That way I heal. I just leave my home without anywhere specific to go.”

This is the beginnings of an amazing story that needs to be told. Help us do that.

You can send a donation to the Girl Child Network through FreshWater Haven.

Please make your check out to: FreshWater Haven
Mail to:
455 Old La Honda Road
Woodside, CA 94062

More to come…