The MINTEK Employment Equity and Diversity Forum decided to make 7 May 2009 DIVERSITY DAY at Mintek! The idea was to create a general awareness around diversity in the workplace.

After a festive opening by the MINTEK choir, the chairperson of the Forum, Lina Hockaday, opened the event. She introduced the forum members and informed the audience of more than 400 MINTEK employees about their rights concerning employment equity and unfair discrimination in the workplace. Lina also related the rights of the employee to the duties and responsibilities of the forum in protecting these rights.

Then it was time for the lighter side of the event: The Learning Theatre introduced the theme of ‘stereotypes’ in a unique and entertaining way. The cast of two, Judy Ditchfield and Mothusi Magano, delivered a quick and sharp comical sketch filled with stereotypes and derogatory behaviour. This was followed by a video presentation on stereotypes and the consequences of it. The video presentation also gave techniques with which to counter stereotypical situations.

After the video presentation, the cast of two were once again called to the stage, this time with more interactive fun in mind. The director and facilitator, Juliette Jenner, asked the audience to pick techniques from the video presentation and then asked the actors to improvise these techniques on the sketch that preceded the video presentation.

The Learning Theatre succeeded in creating an interactive and dynamic approach to demonstrate the techniques that were introduced in the video. Not only were the spectators dazzled by the actors’ brilliant performances, but they were totally connected to the process. The audience was actively engaged in a process by which they learned to apply the techniques with the most fun imaginable.

Diversity day at MINTEK was one that brought vivid images and loud chuckles to each and every employee. Most importantly, it was a day that informed and educated people on an issue so easily neglected and so difficult to contain and control.