Twenty Yemeni women narrated their story at the “Ehaki” event organized by Basemant Cultural Foundation on Thursday 15 November 2018.
Ten stories were told by 10 women in live show on the Basement platform, and ten stories embodied in paintings by a group of artists who were inspired by the details of these stories.
Artists: Laila Yassin, Adham Al-Zakri, Ghada Al-Haddad, Nizar Al-Sanfani, Nahla Al-Salami, Fahmi Al-Hababi, Jihad Jarallah, Mohammad Al-Hashidi, Hanan Al-Obaidi and Jalal Al-Shumairi. They presented in their colors the stories of Yemeni women who performed positive acts for the benefit of society during the war. They came from several governorates: Aden, Taiz, Hodeidah, Sana’a.
Mona Al-Hajri’s story, which conveys pictures of those in need in hospitals to find donors to treat them. Hanaa Asda, who made her own bakery, helped those who wanted to learn to create their own businesses. Sarah Al-Jahmi, who works in the field of psychological relief and assistance to children affected by the war. Mona Al-Dehi, who opened a bakery with her team, offering free bread to needy families. Jamal Saleh, which provides rehabilitation and care for women prisoners and convicts. Iman al-Anisi, who sponsors the institution of the disabled and provides them with rehabilitation, psychological support and treatment. Haifa Ali, who opened free literacy classes at the school she runs to help women overcome their disability in these circumstances. Amani Muthanna, who provided training for girls to open their small businesses. Fatima al-Ghouli, who struggled to become a role model in the care of science and work and provided training for women in the secretarial profession to get jobs in these circumstances.
Ten other stories on Basement podium were raised by the women. Tell public audience in minutes the turning point that made them positive, active women who were doing their best to redress the disaster that was taking place in the country.
Manal who she is deaf, who helped other deaf of her students to discover their dreams and stood next to them in their realization. Faryal Magdy, who supported the cultural participation of women in society through the creation of the Women’s Cultural Salon. Nadia al-Khulaifi, a lawyer who made her difficult path to become a lawyer at a time when women could not reach this status, and defended the oppressed who find no one to defend their rights. Fatima Fakher, principal of the school, who overcame the crisis of teachers’ salaries, received continuous donations from traders and potentials to provide the basic needs of teachers so that education would not stop. Asma Abdel Wahab, who has courageously opened the door for Yemeni women workers in these circumstances to provide them with jobs rather than foreign women. Buthaina Al-Qurashi, who donated her stone-built home to a humanitarian institution that sponsors women and provides them with psychological and moral support, training and rehabilitation. Abeer al-Amir, who adopted the idea of coexistence and renunciation of sectarianism, and applied this principle in the provision of humanitarian aid without discrimination. Suad al-Maghrabi, who volunteered to bury the unidentified bodies in the hospitals and find no one to ask about them. Shaima al-Saqqaf, who used the means of communication to collect donations, help the disabled and ensure orphans and others. Sumaya al-Hussam, which contributed to ending a tribal dispute that lasted 15 years.
Our society is filled with many models of these active women. Basemant has presented these stories to indicate the good hands that no one sees, and perhaps many have not heard of. There must be many stories that multiply and increase in our society, where women have emerged strongly in this crisis as usual, bearing the burden on her head to extend her hand to others and help them to overcome pain in peace.
Jehad Babrik, the project assistant, spoke about the “Ehki” that chose these stories based on a participation form that was previously shown on the Basemant Foundation page and 20 stories were selected for presentation.
In the event, artistic performances were presented by talented pianist Amjad al-Dhibibi and young artist Nourhan Khalid.