Basilica of Mvolyé: the National President of Ekoan Maria and her regional leaders watch the film ‘Invisibles’ with passion.
Esther Nyacke Ntah
Community Manager WWO, French-speaking Africa Zone
Brigitte Essimbi, National President of the Ekoan Maria Association - or Association Sainte Marie - chose to watch the documentary film ‘Invisibles’ by the World Women Observatory (WWO) after a 6 a.m. mass in Mvolyé. As the Ekoan Maria Association is a member organisation of the World Union of Catholic Women's Organisations (WUCWO), and therefore of the WWO, it was only right that its National President should become an ‘Ambassador for the film Invisibles’, after the Dar Es Salam conference (Tanzania). During the conference, Lia Beltrami's documentary ‘Invisibles’ was chosen as support for the WWO's social campaign to raise awareness of violence against women. Ms Essimbi was keen to see the film in the courtyard of the Minor Basilica of Mvolyé after the morning service, because her association was preparing to organise screenings of the documentary in its various regions. To make this programme effective, the National President of the Sainte Marie Association and her regional leaders had to watch the film beforehand. Since all these leaders could only be available at this location and at this early hour, the WWO Community Manager was bound to honour the appointment.
To create a cinematic atmosphere in the open air of the church, the day's cinema lovers were seated on rocking chairs and the laptop, which served as the projection screen, was placed on a makeshift table. Despite these uncomfortable conditions, the Ekoan Maria ladies watched Lia Beltrami's film with great passion. They were moved by the painful life stories of Mamatou, Christelle, Rebecca, Agnès and her daughter. They also found admirable the mission of the religious sisters to help and enhance the status of women victims of abuse by giving them a professional training. Above all, the director's mastery was warmly applauded, as the testimonies of the protagonists were skilfully distilled in captivating scenes such as the ballet of the Foundation's students, the celebration of mass, the women singing and dancing, and the atmosphere of the streets at night.
At the end of the screening, Ms Brigitte Essimbi closed the session with these words: ‘It's a pleasure to become an ambassador for the “Invisible” women of Africa! By giving a voice to these vulnerable women, WUCWO is in a way helping to care for abused women in Africa. We now need to encourage the interests of the family by reminding parents to empower their daughters before sending them off to marry". By choosing to watch the film ‘Invisibles’ in the courtyard of the Basilica at such an early hour, the President of Ekoan Maria and her sisters in Christ are showing us that watching this documentary can be improvised in any environment and at any time. Their interest in this film also means that WWO is a serious project, because it restores dignity to women who are victims of violence. This can already be seen in the reassuring gestures and words spoken by Maria Lia, the project's Institutional Director, to the characters in the film ‘Invisibles’.
Comments