An award-winning film called Yemeniettes has proven that violent wars, poverty and gender constraints are no match for a determined teenager. The documentary follows the true story of a team of girls in Yemen, who use ingenuity and entrepreneurship to secure an education in an increasingly difficult country to survive in. Against the backdrop of conflict between Al-Qaeda and Yemen’s Houthi population, these girls were struggling to get ahead in their education, specifically when constant power-outages stopped them from being able to do their homework. Three determined girls came up with a clever way of overcoming their disadvantage – by starting a company that produces solar-powered lamps. Their story is captured by Layalina Productions – an organisation that aims bridge the divide between the Arab world and the United States. Layalina president and executive producer Leon Shahabian said he was honored to be a part of the story. “Yemeniettes is the story of three amazing teenage girls, from Yemen – the worst country to be a woman in, according to reputable polls,” Mr Shahabian explained. “They are 16-year-old and 17-year-old entrepreneurs from one of the worst public schools in Sa’ana, the capital. So, what do you do when you’re a woman in the worst country to be a woman in, when you don’t have a lot of opportunities for a good education, when your home – your country – is a failed state, when everything is stacked against you – between Al Qaeda, and the Houthis, and foreign intervention, and drone attacks by the West? You start a company,” he said. “That’s what these girls have done – they are saying ‘Ok, this is the hand we have been dealt, we are going to see if we can make things better. We are going to create jobs for us, for our friends, for our communities. We are going to bring money back to Yemen and it’s going to be a great line of business – we are going to harness the power of the sun, not to prove that we can do it, but because there’s not a lot of electricity and when the power is out we can’t study at night. We are not going to wait for the government to figure out how to provide enough power, we are not going to wait for the government to get us a job after we graduate, we are going to take care of things on our own.’”
Peace Village in South Sudan Provides Local Solution
One man’s amazing work in South Sudan has been recognised in a celebration. Former Bishop Paride Taban has been instrumental in establishing the Kuron Peace Village and reconciling local groups over cattle-stealing issues.
– This video contains footage by Simon Bingo from The Niles.
Fatal Flaws in UN plan to Prevent Violent Extremism
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon recently unveiled a plan to prevent violent extremism, appealing for a shift towards more preventative ways of dealing with the global issue of terrorism. The plan goes some way in identifying some of the contributing factors that lead to violent extremism, claiming that the problem “does not arise in a vacuum”. The UN highlights that “narratives of grievance, actual or perceived injustice, promised empowerment and sweeping change become attractive where human rights are being violated, good governance is being ignored and aspirations are being crushed.” The plan also acknowledges the importance of gender equality and the role of youth in preventing violent extremism. The plan recommends:
- Setting policy framework (Global Framework, National and Regional plans of action, Mobilising resources)
- Taking action (Dialogue and conflict prevention, strengthening good governance and human rights, empowering youth, engaging with communities, generating gender equality, providing education and employment)
- Supporting Member States, regional bodies and communities (through the UN) But the plan has drawn criticism from some experts in the field. We spoke with Richard Atwood from International Crisis Group on the strengths and weaknesses of the plan.
Rainbow Fish helps Syrian and Lebanese Cohesion
The recent influx of Syrian refugees has the potential to significantly influence the Lebanese economy, a burden which may have a substantial impact on development and could be a driver of further violence in Lebanon. One of the issue Lebanese communities face at a grass roots level, is the integration of Syrian refugees into the education system. But a program lead by global NGO Search for Common Ground is making strides in ensuring the next generation is a tolerant one, with their Rainbow of Hope initiative. Classes set up for 6- to 11-year-old children in 25 Lebanese communities focus on English language skills and conflict resolution through play and creativity.
Combating Extremism: Why do youths join al-Shabaab?
After entrepreneur and peace activist Elman Ali Ahmed was killed in 1996, his wife and children established the Elman Peace and Human Rights Centre in Mogadishu. Now, his Somali-Canadian daughter, Ilwad Elman, is following in the social activist’s footsteps through her work in Somalia.
