generosity but a rehumanising gift emphasising the
humanity of the perpetrator.
During the 10-day speaking tour, the story was
a public demonstration of how Ginn’s forgiveness of
the man who gave the orders for an attack that killed
her only daughter can rehabilitate the offender,
assist in a victim’s recovery and generate healing
on a personal and societal level. Again, as Letlapa
said, “It was only when people extended gifts of
forgiveness that the roots of my heart were shaken
and something was restored inside me.”
Their meeting and the subsequent work
they have done together to promote peace and
understanding round the world is an example of
reconciliation in a profoundly human sense, in
Letlapa’s words through ‘meeting soul to soul,
person to person.’ It would appear that to listen to
the other’s story when no one else will, or when
you’ve been deeply hurt or violated yourself, is the
greatest catalyst for change in countries with a
history of sectarian violence.
The story of these two remarkable South
Africans, a relationship clearly based on honesty
and integrity, was presented to audiences across
the UK as people unpacked their own stories and
related to the pain of others. Referencing her own
ancestors’ responsibility for their Anglo-Boer past,
at times Ginn would challenge the British audience
about their own complicity in the injustices of the
past, namely colonialism and the exploits of the
British Empire. The insinuation was that it is the
responsibility of the living to heal the dead.
The reason why this story was so compelling,
and why Beyond Forgiving is so important, is
that this healing narrative can illuminate the way
ahead on a dark and tangled road – whether for
groups or individuals. As Letlapa says, ‘Storytelling
is part of the healing process, you release and
share something verbally. It’s a catharsis.’ And this
catharsis isn’t just for the protagonists but also for
those of us who choose to embrace the journey
with them, to be able to see, as Ginn puts it, ‘the
woundedness of the other’.
Voices
‘Never believe there’s nothing you can do, it lies
with us to stand together for peace.’ – Terry Waite
‘I found the film to be extremely humbling and
moving. We have had our own well-documented
troubles in Northern Ireland and I found myself
feeling guilty that so many people here seem
unable to move on from the past when Ginn
& Letlapa have been able to do so in such a
profound way. I now find myself thinking twice
in situations where forgiveness is an option as
opposed to bearing a grudge or retaliating.’
Jordan McNeill, Year 11 Student, Hazelwood
Integrated College
‘Really powerful, moving and inspiring
#BeyondForgiving.’ – Dipesh Dhimar
‘It is amazing to see how just two people
can inspire change and reconciliation in
communities torn apart by wars and secularism.
We all have a responsibility to make this world a
better place.’ – Louise Cook
‘We’ve burdened our youth with the duty of
protecting us from a repeat of our dreadful past
#BeyondForgiving.’ – Matthew Pitman
Books and DVDs
Beyond Forgiving
is a documentary
film, which depicts
the journey of two
South Africans to
bring healing and
reconciliation to
their country postApartheid.
A beautifully crafted film about two people's journey of
forgiveness.
Emerging through trauma, pain and finally
towards transformation, the film gives voice to a humanity born
out of intense sorrow, and shows forgiveness as a way of living
creatively with the problem of irreversibility.’
No Enemy to
Conquer shares the
stories of people
of diverse faiths
and cultures who
against all odds
found the courage
to reconcile with
their enemies.
To buy your copy of
Beyond Forgiving
or No Enemy to
Conquer please call
Intiatives of Change
on 020 7798 6000 or
visit www.uk.iofc.org