On Friday 30 May 2014, SERI partnered up with the directors of the full-length documentary film "Dear Mandela" and Local Government Action (LGA) to host a pilot Dear Mandela audience engagement workshop for approximately 40 people in Lindelane informal settlement outside Daveyton. Lindelani residents face a severe lack of basic services and are subject to constant threat of eviction.
The workshop consisted of a screening of the film, which portrays the struggles of a number of young activists that are members of the shackdwellers social movement Abahlali baseMjondolo as they resist illegal evictions. The screening was followed by a discussion facilitated by the directors' of the film. Using the film as a springboard for discussion and learning, SERI engaged the community about defending themselves from illegal evictions, their right to protest and ways to engage local government officials. Further workshops will be organised based on this model in future.
- See photos of the workshop here.